This desire for creation animated Ferdinand Cheval, a French postman of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Therefore, our itinerary of the most atypical structures begins in southeast France, at the Ideal Palace of the postman Cheval. As the name suggests, this man created the Palace of his dreams. This impressive building, whose construction ►
This desire for creation animated Ferdinand Cheval, a French postman of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Therefore, our itinerary of the most atypical structures begins in southeast France, at the Ideal Palace of the postman Cheval. As the name suggests, this man created the Palace of his dreams. This impressive building, whose construction was spread over more than 30 years, was called by its creator the place "where the dream becomes a reality." Ferdinand Cheval imagined and built this emblematic monument of French heritage in his vegetable garden. The Palace, uninhabitable by humans, matches the fantastic register, inspiring and fascinating the great surrealist artists of his time and the following years. Mr. Cheval has meticulously elaborated on the different parts that make up the Palace, which can be visited. It incorporates terraces, miniature caves, and small rooms, all embellished with references to many civilizations and sculptures of mythological animals and creatures.
Now it's off to Poland, and more precisely, to the northern port city of Sopot. During your walk to the town, you may think you are the victim of a hallucination when you arrive in front of the Crooked House. Indeed, this building, creating a bluffing optical illusion, gives the impression that it is melting or liquefying. Behind this confusing façade, you will find a shopping mall, a restaurant, nightclubs, and an arcade. This building, inspired by illustrations of traditional Polish tales, to which we have added a touch of modernity, is an opportunity to discover a building you have undoubtedly never seen before!
In northeastern Spain, Barcelona is also known for the works of architect Antoni Gaudí, creator of the Sagrada Familia, the famous Catalan basilica, and other emblematic places scattered throughout the city. The Sagrada Familia, whose construction began in 1882 and is still ongoing, belongs to the Art Nouveau movement and is a symbol of the town thanks to its unique visual identity. Indeed, the building, which seems almost from another planet, rises to more than 170 meters in height, making it the tallest building in the city thanks to its high architecture that soars to the sky. The building's geometric and disturbing decorative motifs are also particularly recognizable. The interior of the building is clear and colorful, thanks to the play of light created by the stained glass windows and the gaps in the facades. You can visit the basilica or admire the outside from the surrounding streets.
Let's keep going in an urban environment in the United States, the Kansas City Public Library has a surprising appearance, both outside and inside, that will delight all lovers of books and literature. It will be impossible for you to miss it since its facade is made up of giant books!
The Casa do Penedo (Stone House), in the north of Portugal, seems embedded in the rock and takes its name from the large rocks that compose it, giving it a very particular shape and appearance. Originally used as a private residence, it now houses a small museum of relics and a photo exhibition retracing the history of its construction. Being today a significant tourist attraction, this place is tinged with ambivalence, which gives it a unique charm. Indeed, the house is located in the Portuguese countryside on a set of hills, without a tree around it, and in the heart of a wind farm. Paradoxically, the house is not connected to electricity and stands out in the landscape because of its round and heavy appearance, which contrasts with the filiform wind turbines that overlook it, creating a unique setting.
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