Historic ruins

Ruins are the remains of human-made architecture: structures that were once complete, as time went by, have fallen into a state of partial or complete disrepair, due to lack of maintenance or deliberate acts of destruction. Natural disaster, war and depopulation are the most common root causes, with many structures becoming progressively derelict over time due to long-term weathering and scavenging.

There are famous ruins all over the world, from ancient sites in China, the Indus valley and Judea to Zimbabwe in Africa, ancient Greek, Egyptian and Roman sites in the Mediterranean basin, and Incan and Mayan sites in the Americas. Ruins are of great importance to historians, archaeologists and anthropologists, whether they were once individual fortifications, places of worship, houses and utility buildings, or entire villages, towns and cities. Many ruins have become UNESCO World Heritage Sites in recent years, to identify and preserve them as areas of outstanding value to humanity.

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    Gagron Fort

    The fort of Gagaron is a very good epitome of a fort surrounded by water and thus is popularly known as “Water Fort” and “Jal Durg” in Hindi.

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    Gamzigrad (Felix Romuliana)

    Gamzigrad is an archaeological site, spa resort and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Serbia, located south of the Danube river, near the city of Zajecar. It is the location of the ancient Roman complex of palaces and temples Felix Romuliana, built by Emperor Galerius. The main area covers 10 acres (40,000 m²).

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    Genoese Fortress (Ruins), Balaklava

    Genoese Fortress, Balaklava. In the mid 14th century in the bay of Symbols Genoese merchants have founded the Cembalo castle (the name derives from greek Symbolon). In 1475 Cembalo was taken by the Ottoman Turks who renamed it into Baliq-Uve (Balaqlava).

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    Glanzenberg, Town Monument Reserve, Old Town, Banska Stiavnica

    The protective zone of the Town Monument Reserve - Glanzenberg - the Old Town: The fortified premises with the central tower building (from the 12th century) and protecting the mining district (the veins of Spitaler and Bieber), at the turn of the 13th century rebuilt into an extensive castle.

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    Gymes Castle (Ruins)

    Above the village Jelenec in the Tribec Mts. in west of Slovakia, at the height of 514 m there are ruins of the originally Gothic Gymes Castle, built in the second half of the 13th century on the site of an older fort.

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    Hadrian's Wall (Place 1)

    Hadrian's Wall, also called the Roman Wall, Picts' Wall, or Vallum Hadriani in Latin, was a defensive fortification in the Roman province of Britannia, begun in 122 AD during the reign of the emperor Hadrian. It ran from the banks of the River Tyne near the North Sea to the Solway Firth on the Irish Sea.

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    Hadrian's Wall (Place 2)

    Hadrian's Wall, also called the Roman Wall, Picts' Wall, or Vallum Hadriani in Latin, was a defensive fortification in the Roman province of Britannia, begun in 122 AD during the reign of the emperor Hadrian. It ran from the banks of the River Tyne near the North Sea to the Solway Firth on the Irish Sea.

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    Hadrian's Wall (Place 3)

    Hadrian's Wall, also called the Roman Wall, Picts' Wall, or Vallum Hadriani in Latin, was a defensive fortification in the Roman province of Britannia, begun in 122 AD during the reign of the emperor Hadrian. It ran from the banks of the River Tyne near the North Sea to the Solway Firth on the Irish Sea.

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    Hadrian's Wall (Place 4)

    Hadrian's Wall, also called the Roman Wall, Picts' Wall, or Vallum Hadriani in Latin, was a defensive fortification in the Roman province of Britannia, begun in 122 AD during the reign of the emperor Hadrian. It ran from the banks of the River Tyne near the North Sea to the Solway Firth on the Irish Sea.

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    Hainburg Castle, Hainburg an der Donau

    The Hainburg Castle stands at the Schlossberg Hill (291 meters above the sea level). Emperor Henry III commissioned the erection of a fortress on the Castle Hill (Schlossberg) in 1050.

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    Hajnacka Castle (Ruins)

    Hajnacka castle was built in the Gothic style against the Mongol invasion in the mid 1200s. Later, in the mid 15th century, the construction was finished.

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    Hall of a Hundred Columns, Persepolis

    This second largest palace of Persepolis is a magnificent structure located to the north of the Treasury and to the east of the Apadana courtyard.

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    Hampi

    Hampi is a village in northern Karnataka, India. It was one of the richest and largest cities in the world during its prime. The name Hampi can also mean "champion".

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    Harappa

    Harappa is an archaeological site in Punjab, Pakistan, about 24 km west of Sahiwal. The site takes its name from a modern village located near the former course of the Ravi River.

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    Hare Hill, Hadrian's Wall

    At Hare Hill in Cumbria is the tallest remaining stretch of Hadrian's Wall, standing up to three metres high. It probably survived because it was later built into the wall of a medieval structure. In the 19th century it was substantially rebuilt, using Roman masonry which was probably retrieved from the surrounding area.

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    Hattusa

    Hattusa was the capital of the Hittite Empire in the late Bronze Age. Its ruins lie near modern Bogazkale, Turkey, within the great loop of the Kızılırmak River.

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    Hellenistic Theater, Pergamon

    The Hellenistic Theater with a seating capacity of 10,000. This had the steepest seating of any known theater in the ancient world. Hellenistic Theater, Pergamon.

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    Heraion of Samos

    The Heraion of Samos was a large sanctuary to the goddess Hera, in the southern region of Samos, Greece, 6 km southwest of the ancient city, in a low, marshy river basin near the sea.

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    Herburt Castle (Ruins), Dobromyl

    Stanislav Herburt began building this high castle in 1566, but it would be his son Jan Schasnyi (Lucky) that would complete its construction. Jan was highly educated and talented and made a great contribution to the building of the town Dobromyl below his castle.

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    Hierapolis (Ancient City)

    Hierapolis was an ancient city located on hot springs in classical Phrygia in southwestern Anatolia. Its ruins are adjacent to modern Pamukkale in Turkey and currently comprise an archaeological museum designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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    Hodejov Castle (Ruins)

    Hodejov castle was built in 13th century and destroyed by Osmans in 1571. Today only some ruins remain. Hodejov Castle (Ruins).

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    Holumnica Castle (Ruins)

    The castle was built in Gothic-Renaissance style and it was inhabited until in 17th century when a mansion in the centre of the village has became the family home. Holumnica Castle (Ruins).