If asked to name a type of art, most folks might suggest a painting or maybe theater. Poetry and music might also come to mind. But if you stop and think about it, the buildings and monuments around us also have a lot of artistic qualities. Perhaps they were not made to be “art,” but, just like the applied arts, there is a lot of thought and creativity put into everything from churches to bridges.

We’ve gathered some beautiful examples of possibly lesser known architectural wonders from around the world. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your thoughts and personal examples in the comments section below.

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#1 Wat Rong Khun, Thailand

Image credits: DSwarthout

#2 Chand Baori, India

Image credits: Chetan

#3 Stari Most "The Old Bridge", Mostar, Bosnia And Herzegovina

Image credits: Ramirez

#4 Trakai Castle, Lithuania

Image credits: Skelanard (Aleksandr Petukhov)

#5 Meenakshi Amman Temple, India

Image credits: Viswa2625

#6 Urnes Stave Church, Norway

Image credits: Bjorn Erik Pedersen

#7 Tiebele Village, Burkina Faso

Image credits: Alexander Leisser

#8 Baalbek, Lebanon

Image credits: © Vyacheslav Argenberg

#9 Himeji-Jo Castle, Japan

Image credits: Bernard Gagnon

#10 The Pyramids Of Meroe, Sudan

Image credits: hansbirger

#11 Great Mosque Of Djenne, Mali

Image credits: Baron Reznik

#12 Taos Pueblo, New Mexico, USA

Image credits: John Fyfe

#13 Yungang-Grottoes, China

Image credits: xiquinhosilva

#14 Sacsayhuaman Fortress, Cusco, Peru

Image credits: Apollo

#15 The Lion Gate, Hattusa, The Capital Of The Hittite Empire In The Late Bronze Age, Bogazkale, Turkey

Image credits: Following Hadrian

#16 Ruins Of Andesite Sanctuaries And Solar Disk At Sarmizegetusa Regia, Romania

Image credits: Oroles

#17 Derawar Fort, Pakistan

Image credits: Fassifarooq

#18 Leshan Giant Buddha, China

Image credits: xiquinhosilva

#19 Rila Monastery, Bulgaria

Image credits: Raggatt2000

#20 Chan Chan, Peru

Image credits: UNESCO

#21 Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Isfahan, Iran

Image credits: Ninara

#22 Wooden Churches Of Maramures, Romania

Image credits: Rita Willaert

#23 Monastery Of Batalha, Portugal

Image credits: Ingo Mehling

#24 Habitat-67, Montreal, Canada

Image credits: Sylvain Pastor

#25 Ruins Of The Tachara, Persepolis, Iran

Image credits: Following Hadrian

#26 Castle Of The Teutonic Order In Malbork, Poland

Image credits: DerHexer; derivate work: Carschten

#27 Miagao Church, Philippines

Image credits: Alienscream

#28 Pont Du Gard, France

Image credits: Krzysztof Golik

#29 Wartburg Castle In Eisenach, Germany

Image credits: A.Savin, Wikipedia

#30 Haghpat Monastery, Armenia

Image credits: Diego Delso, delso.photo, License CC BY-SA

#31 Ziggurat At Ur Temple, Iraq

Image credits: jmcfall

#32 Grand Kasbah Of Ait Benhaddou, Morocco

Image credits: cliffwilliams

#33 Roman Ruins Of Djemila, Algeria

Image credits: Alioueche Mokhtar

#34 Cristo Obrero Church, Uruguay

Image credits: Nicolas Barriola

#35 Temples Valley, Sicily, Italy

Image credits: Ludvig14

#36 Anjar, Lebanon

Image credits: © Vyacheslav Argenberg / http://www.vascoplanet.com/

#37 Qasr Amra, Jordan

Image credits: Paul Mannix

#38 Cordouan Lighthouse, France

Image credits: Selvejp

#39 Holy Trinity Column In Olomouc, Czechia

Image credits: Pudelek

#40 Chateau De Peyrepertuse, France

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Image credits: mclcbooks