The most beautiful and interesting stairs in the world. The longest stairs in the world

Leg workout in Switzerland

Want to train your legs? Then this is definitely the place for you. The most long staircase in the world is located in Switzerland. If you walk from the town of Kandersteg for about an hour in the direction of the town of Heuberg, then look amazing beauty, and at the same time the staircase that connects the town of Mühlenen with Mount Niesen.

On the slope of Mount Nizen they built a funicular, or more precisely, a single-track cogwheel. railway. Mount Niesen itself is one of the symbols of the Bern region. In the trailer, you can climb to the very top of the mountain and look at the winding staircase on the side. The funicular is located near the town of Schwyz.

The Nisenbahn funicular gave rise to the creation of a staircase that was included in the Guinness Book of Records. To service this funicular, a staircase was built so that it could be serviced at any time of the year.

A tourist route

Access to the stairs is closed to tourists every day, but workers can walk along them. The length of the entire path is more than three kilometers. Here is the most a large number of There are as many as 11,674 steps in the world. Group climbs are organized for tourists once a year, usually in the summer. You can climb to a height of 1669 meters above sea level.

Stair Climbing Competition

The fastest time overcoming these stairs on foot occurred at a competition in 1990, when a competitor overcame it in 52 minutes. It took that much to go all the way from bottom to top.

From the top there are views of Mountain peaks, Lake Thun and valleys. At the top there is a restaurant with steep prices, however, the view of the sunset from its platform will fully reward you for the money spent. In the restaurant you can enjoy excellent fondue and other dishes of Swiss cuisine.

Now the use of the stairs is prohibited due to safety concerns for tourists.

Dubrovina Diana, Samogo.Net

Climbing stairs is never a pleasant experience, especially if its length is no less than 3.5 km! The longest staircase in the world is located in the Swiss Alps in the canton of Bern. It is shaded along the entire path of the Niesenbahn Switzerland funicular, which takes tourists to the top swiss mountain Niesen.

Mount Nizen, which has an almost regular pyramid shape, is located next to the picturesque alpine lake Tun. Its height is 2362 meters. , which in German "nizen" means "sneeze". Due to its rather clear pyramidal shape, Mount Niesen is often called the “Swiss pyramid”.

To the Guinness Book of Records beautiful mountain got into the Swiss Alps not thanks to its name, appearance or location, but because it is here that the longest staircase in the world is located, which has 11,674 steps.

In 1910, after four years of construction, the Niesenbahn funicular opened on Mount Niesen. To this day, it regularly takes tourists who come here to the top of the mountain to admire the beautiful alpine landscapes and, of course, Lake Thun. A staircase was also built parallel to the entire line of the funicular. It was intended for technical work and allowed workers, if necessary, to climb any section of the Niesenbahn track.

Mount Niesen and the Niesenbahn funicular are popular in Switzerland. And although the longest staircase in the world located here is usually closed to tourists, once a year it hosts the Niesen Staircase Race competition for speed climbing Mount Niesen. The original competition has been held here since 1990. The record time for climbing the 11,674 steps of the world's longest staircase is only an hour.

Spiral staircase in the Vatican

At the Vatican Museum, visitors are greeted by one of the most photographed, most famous staircases in the world - the famous double spiral staircase. It was built by personal order of the then Pope Pius XI in 1932 by the architect Giuseppe Moro for the opening of the Vatican Pinacoteca to create a single lobby for all museums.

The design of the staircase is very interesting. These are two round staircases, as if nested within each other: visitors ascend along one of them, and descend along the other. And this creates a certain mystical background: it seems that people are on the same staircase, walking towards each other, but never meeting.

Mount Buren in Belgium

Mount Buren - no real mountain, and the name of the staircase. It consists of 374 steps and is located in Liege. The staircase was built in 1881 to allow soldiers to descend into the city center from higher ground while avoiding dangerous routes.

Stairs on Gaztelugatxe island in Spain

This picturesque staircase is located on a tiny island off the coast of the Bay of Biscay.

The stairs lead to the hermitage, which was built in the 10th century. In total, the staircase has 237 steps.

Bom Jesus do Monte - Stairway to God, Braga, Portugal

In 1722, the Archbishop of Braga decided to build a gigantic baroque staircase, the Bon Jesuses, leading up to the small church. Steps of the ladder - metaphor spiritual path up. The staircase and temple were completed in 1811.

The zigzag staircase rises to a height of 116 m, it is decorated with statues, flower beds and fountains and is rightfully one of the ten most beautiful stairs Europe.

Staircase of the Sanssouci palace and park complex, Postdam, Germany

This long staircase of 132 steps crosses 6 vine terraces and connects the park and the Sanssouci Palace.

Staircase in Graz, Austria

Mount Schlosberg is a rather large rock in the mountain formation of the dolomite shield; there used to be a fortress here, and now there is a clock tower - the symbol of the city of Graz. The mountain rises above main square city ​​at 123 meters.

An impressive staircase is carved into the rock and leads to the top of the hill to the clock tower. The 260 steps of the staircase are not very difficult to climb, but those who wish can also use the elevator.

It is sometimes also called the “Russian Stairs”, since it was built in 1914-1918. Russian prisoners of war. After 1924-1928 The staircase was called only the “Castle Staircase”, and for the 800th anniversary of the city, the “Jubilee Staircase”.

Potemkin Stairs in Odessa

Strict, laconic and beautiful in its exquisite simplicity, this staircase, one of the ten most beautiful staircases in Europe, did not have an official name for a long time. And only in the late 50s of the 20th century was the name assigned to it, which brought it worldwide fame.

Many people mistakenly believe that the Potemkin Stairs owes its name to the famous favorite of Catherine II, which in fact has only an indirect relation to the name of this landmark of Odessa. The staircase began to be called Potemkin after the release of Sergei Eisenstein’s legendary film “Battleship Potemkin”, footage from which (including the episode with a baby carriage rolling down the steps) has long become a cinema classic.

The Potemkin Stairs, designed in 1825 and erected 15 years later, according to its creators, was supposed to, by connecting the blue of the sea and sky, provide Odessa, which is located on a hill, with access to the port. The architects' creation consisted of exactly 200 steps, consisted of 10 spans, and was built in such a way that the base of the staircase was significantly wider than its upper part. As a result of applying this trick, when looking at this architectural masterpiece from top to bottom the usual illusion of narrowing is not created, and if you look at the staircase from below, then its steps (the landings are not visible) seem simply endless.

Spanish Steps in Rome

The Spanish Steps are recognized as the most beautiful in Europe. It is one of the world's most recognizable and photographed landmarks. A cascade of polished stone steps descends majestically from the top of Pincio Hill straight to the foot of Plaza de España.

Wide baroque steps attract guests Italian capital, serve as a source of inspiration for filmmakers and artists.

From the time construction was completed in 1725 until the 90s of the 20th century, the Spanish Steps did not experience any serious construction interventions. However, there is little romance left in the dilapidated steps, stones eaten away by time and rain. City authorities found funds to restore the historical and architectural monument. In 1997, the refreshed landmark returned to the map tourist routes. Once again, large streams of travelers flocked to the most beautiful staircase in Europe located in Rome.

Staircase to the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, Paris

A wide staircase with 237 steps leads to the foot of the pearl of Montmartre, offering stunning views of Paris. The staircase is considered the second most beautiful in Europe, after the Spanish Steps in Rome. It is one of the many staircases in Montmartre.

Stairs of Santorini in Greece

In 1715, the islanders built a steep staircase into the steep mountainside so they could travel from the sea to the summit and back. Donkeys were used to help carry cargo and passengers from ships to the city.

In 1930 the staircase was improved. Finally, in 1979 it was installed cable car to automate the process - but the most interesting trip– still a donkey ride. The zigzag staircase from the sea to the city is paved with stone, and due to the many windings, the distance from one end to the other is 1300 meters and has 657 ten-centimeter steps.

Strudlhofsteege staircase in Vienna

A pearl of Viennese architecture in the Art Nouveau style. It was built in 1910 from Mannersdorf limestone, and is decorated with wrought iron railings, small white cabinets, elegant lanterns and wild grapes.

Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte in Caltagirone on the island of Sicily

The staircase of Santa Maria del Monte is also one of the ten most beautiful staircases in Europe. This is a monumental staircase with 142 steps, built in 1608 in the old town of Caltagirone, on the island of Sicily, 70 kilometers southwest of Catania. This breathtaking staircase connects the lower part of the city with the upper part and is the center of many cultural events in Caltagirone.

A distinctive characteristic of the staircase is that each step is decorated with different hand-painted ceramic tiles, using the style and figures of a thousand-year-old pottery tradition.

Twice a year, this staircase forms the backdrop against which images of saints or other local landmarks are created using thousands of flowers or candles.

Chkalov Stairs in Nizhny Novgorod

It has 560 steps, the staircase cascade is made in the form of two huge rings, and the difference in ascent levels is almost three times higher than that of the famous Potemkin Stairs in Odessa. The Chkalov Staircase is the longest in Russia.

The Chkalov Stairs were laid in 1943 in honor of the victory at Stalingrad. Prisoners of war were involved in the construction of the stairs. Construction lasted 6 years.

At the top of the stairs, near its beginning, there is a monument to test pilot V.P. Chkalov.

Great Mithridates Staircase, Kerch

Fabulous architectural monument, made in 1833-1840 in the style of classicism. The large Mithridatic staircase is decorated with vases and sculptures of griffins - mythical creatures with the body of lions, the head of birds and wings. The griffin, whose image is on the coat of arms of Kerch, is a symbol of the city.

The Mithridatic Staircase was destroyed and rebuilt during the Anglo-French campaign, also after the Nazi occupation. In the 60s of the last century, a serious reconstruction of the monument was carried out. According to the found remains of the sculptures, their copies were recreated and installed in their places. At present, along the flights of the Mithridates Stairs, you can climb to the Eternal Flame and mass grave servicemen of the Soviet army who died during the storming of the city during the Great Patriotic War.

Castle stairs, Prague

Also one of the most beautiful in Europe.

Some more interesting examples:

Jacob's Ladder, Saint Helena. This staircase does not claim to be one of the most beautiful, but it is considered the longest in the world. This staircase was built in 1829. It has 699 steps and a height difference of 200 meters. It was built by a railroad company to lift cargo from the port of Jamestown.

Stairs to a canyon next to a waterfall in Ecuador. The steps of this staircase lead to one of the most famous waterfalls South America‒ Pailon del Diablo, located near the Ecuadorian town of Banos. Its name is translated from Spanish as the Devil's Cauldron. The stairs are constantly hidden behind fog and clouds of small spray.

Lind, Rhodes island. A staircase of more than five hundred steps leads to the acropolis.

Staircase street, Lisbon

One of the attractions of Rio da Janeiro is the famous 250-step mosaic Selaron Staircase, named after Jorge Selaron, a free artist who transformed its appearance in the late 90s of the twentieth century.

Mosaic stairs in San Francisco

Beirut, Lebanon. So, by painting an ordinary staircase, it can be turned into an art object.

"Cascade of the Universe". The Cascade of the Universe staircase is located on a slope along Dumfries Gardens in Scotland and consists of cool series steps. Large venues with viewing benches were installed on each span.

The Awaji Staircase in Japan or the "Staircase of Dreams" is a complex complex of buildings and other structures located on the island of Awaji in Japan. One of the Awaji complexes is a 100-level garden consisting of 100 flower beds and stairs. The complex was built as a memorial to the Great Hanshin Earthquake (1995).

"Gateway to Heaven", China. It's gigantic natural arch in a mountain (130 meters high, 60 meters deep and wide). A staircase consisting of 999 steps leads to the Gate to Heaven.

From a simple straight staircase to a medieval spiral designed to give warriors an advantage in sword fighting... This article features the most amazing staircases in the world!

Spanish Steps: Italy

The Spanish Steps are one of the most recognizable landmarks in Rome. It was originally designed to enter the church of Trinita dei Monti. The elegant 135-step staircase was opened in 1725 by Pope Benedict XIII and named after the Spanish Embassy in the Vatican.

Lion Rock: Sri Lanka

Climbing Lion Rock is one of the must-do activities in Sri Lanka. The rock is more than 1500 years old. The surviving ancient ruins of the palace can only be reached by climbing 1,200 steps. Halfway up the cliff on a small plateau, two lions' paws mark the entrance to the final climb.

To reach the top, visitors must cope with steep, narrow, slippery limestone stairs, man-made paths and a vertical winding staircase. The reward is a stunning view from above of the frescoes along the stone wall.

Chand Baori: India

Chand Baori is a step well built in the 9th century in the village of Abhaneri, Rajasthan. With 3,500 narrow steps arranged in perfect symmetry, it is the largest and steepest staircase in India and one of the most unusual staircases in the world. 13 tiers of 7 steps each descend to the bottom of the water storage. The staircase surrounds the water on three sides, and on the fourth side there is a three-story pavilion with carved enclosed balconies.

Momo Stairs: Vatican

The Momo staircase, also called the snail staircase, is formed by two separate spiral staircases made of wrought iron, one going up and the other going down. They twist together to form a double helix.

This design allows people to ascend without encountering people descending, ensuring smooth flow in every direction in the popular Vatican Museums.

Bon Jesus do Monti: Portugal

Bom Jesus do Monti is a pilgrimage site outside the city of Braga with an open baroque staircase. The dark granite staircase covered with white plaster is known as the Sacred Way. It leads to the 18th-century sanctuary of Bon Jesus (Good Jesus), which is located on the top of a hill. Although there are no saints there, many pilgrims choose to climb the zigzag steps.

Umschreibung: Germany

Tucked away in an office building in Munich, this staircase leads to heaven. Umschreibung, which means "euphemism" or "environment" in German (also "detour" or "periphrasis"), was erected in 2004 by the Danish sculptor and artist Olafur Eliasson. The steel structure is in the form of a double helix. There is a small opening at the bottom of the stairs, and a quick climb guarantees great views or a pleasant break from work.

Baroque spiral staircase of Melk Abbey: Austria

Melk Abbey was founded in 1089 and is located on a rocky cliff overlooking the Danube River. A spiral staircase with Roccoco grille leads from the small library room to other library spaces that are not open to visitors.

These incredibly beautiful steps were painted very elegantly, which allows us to call Melk Abbi one of the most notable places in the world.

Tulip ladder: England

At the Queen's House, Greenwich, the elegant Tulip Stairs date back to the 17th century. It was the first geometric self-supporting spiral staircase in the UK. The bright blue paint that covers the wrought iron structure is made from crushed glass, and the restaurateurs followed this method of execution. The name of the staircase comes from the floral patterns depicted on it.

Red staircase at Livraria Lello: Portugal

One of the oldest bookshops in Portugal, Livraria Lello (or Lello Bookshop), features a luxurious red staircase. Book Shop and the staircase were designed by the engineer Francisco Xavier Esteve.

The staircase resembles two streams of water flowing into one. In addition, Livraria Lello also has a stained glass ceiling and carved wooden shelves that house centuries-old books.

Rococo staircase in Palazzo Biscari's: Italy

Palazzo Biscari is a private baroque villa in Catania. It contains an elegant white staircase inspired by the Rococo style. Its decor is unique in all of Sicily. The staircase is paneled in dense Rococo plaster and features intricate balustrade design and magnificent 18th-century frescoes.

Barneys New York

Ever since Barneys New York, one of the most famous clothing retailers in the world, has opened its new point in the city center at the beginning of 2016, shoppers began to spend less time looking for clothes. The main element of the original Barneys store is spiral staircase, designed by Andre Putnam.

Grand Staircase at the Museum of Islamic Art: Qatar

The Grand Spiral Staircase in the center of the foyer of the Museum of Islamic Art has stairs that are carved into back side steps to create the illusion of an inverted staircase. The staircase is offset from the patterned chandelier hanging above it.

Musical Piano Stairs in Wyun Square: China

There are many piano stairs in the world, but this one located in Hangzhou produces suitable musical notes when people walk on the steps. Fifty-four steps were installed next to the escalator to encourage people to play the tune.

Spiral staircase Sprinkenhof: Germany

Hamburg's Kontorhausviertel was built in the Expressionist style of the 1920s and features buildings with reinforced concrete and red brick facades. In 2015, together with Speicherstadt, he was included in the List world heritage UNESCO. In one of the office buildings, visitors can find the most famous staircase in Hamburg.

Red Wall Apartment Building: Spain

Perched on the rocky cliff of Calpe, La Muralla Roja-Spanish is a housing project. An unusual structure, the 50-apartment complex incorporates many elements of classical Arabic and Mediterranean architecture.

The building can be described as a labyrinth or puzzle. The staircase zigzag cages are designed in silver and indigo shades. They contrast with vertical walls painted pink and red.

Batu Caves: Malaysia

Batu Caves, located north of Kuala Lumpur, is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, dedicated to Murugan (a Hindu deity).

To reach the impressive caves ( temple cave, dark cave and the Art Gallery Cave and several smaller ones), visitors must climb 272 steps. Located outside the caves, the deity is covered in 66 gallons of gold paint. This is the most tall statue Murugan.

16th Avenue Steps: California

Possibly the world's largest mosaic staircase, the 16th Avenue tiled staircase was a community project led by Irish ceramicist Eileen Barra and San Francisco mosaic artist Colet Crutcher.

One hundred and sixty-three steps contain 2,000 hand-made tiles, which were worked on by more than 300 local residents. The grainy and mirrored fragments of 75,000 pieces are combined to form a mosaic of starfish.

Spiral staircase in Taihang Mountains: China

In hopes of promoting tourism, a tall spiral staircase called "Stairway to Heaven" was installed in the Taihang Mountains. It is intended to give to climbers thrill height. But even looking at these narrow stairs can make you dizzy. Only one person can fit across the width, so turning back is not possible.

This staircase is not for the faint of heart, and all climbers must be under 60 years of age and not have heart or lung problems.

Vertical staircase in QVB building: Australia

The Queen Victoria Cindy Building and its Vertigo staircase were designed in 1898 by architect George MacRae as a monument to the British monarch. Construction took place at a time when Australia was experiencing a severe recession, and the building's intricate Romanesque architecture provided work for craftsmen such as masons, plasterers and stained glass artists.

The QVB spans the entire city block and features an internal glass dome, an external copper clad dome, stained glass windows, arches, columns, balustrades and intricate tiled floors.

Wurzburg Residence: Germany

The Baroque architectural complex is located in the Franconia region of Bavaria. It is one of the greatest Baroque palaces in Europe and includes an innovative staircase design. Architect Balthasar Neumann designed a staircase with three directions. From the hallway it leads to an empty wall and then splits into two staircases that also double.

Among the huge number of different world attractions special place occupied by unusual stairs. They are in different corners world and invariably attract the attention of tourists. Some are ancient artifacts, others were created by modern architects and designers. But both of them became real business cards cities in which they are located.

1. Stairs in Montreal

Canada
Lack of space in Montreal forced architects to build similar three-story houses with winding exterior staircases. They look charming, but are clearly not very reliable.

2. Stairs to Quinta da Regaleira

Portugal
Steps in palace and park complex Quinta da Regaleira in the Portuguese city of Sintra spirals into the bowels of the earth. Although this place is called the "Well of Dedication", it was never used to collect water. These mysterious underground towers were used for secret initiation rites.

3. Staircase on a hill in Los Angeles

California, USA
It seems that this staircase does not stand out in any way from hundreds of similar ones in the hills of Los Angeles. But it was here that the classic film Music Box was filmed in 1932, in which the comedy duo carried a piano to the top of a giant staircase.

4. Incan Staircase

Peru
The archaeological site near the city of Moray, Peru is famous for its bowl-shaped crater in the ground with a series of concentric terraces that are separated by several staircases, looking like an ancient Greek amphitheater. The longest of these stairs descends to a depth of about 150 meters and leads to a circular platform at the bottom, which has such good drainage that it does not flood even during a rainstorm. Legend has it that if a person with an unclean heart steps onto this site, he will turn into a pile of stones.

5. Stairs in Malta

Malta
In Malta, you can find the famous stairs that lead to nowhere.

6. Staircase to the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Philadelphia, USA
Surrealist Salvador Dali appears to be peeking out from under the 72-step staircase that leads to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. This unusual piece of art was created in 2005 during an exhibition of Dali's art.

7. Staircase in Oaxaca de Juarez

Mexico
These unusual stairs located in the Mexican city of Oaxaca de Juarez require you to be very careful not to break your leg. The photo was taken by Christopher Holden in 2010.

8. Staircase at Angkor Wat

Cambodia
Steps in the famous Cambodian temple complex Angkor Wat is so steep that some tourists literally climb it on all fours.

9. Staircase to Mount Huashan

China
Mount Huashan is located in Shaanxi Province in central China. To climb one of its 5 peaks, you will have to climb a ladder carved into the slope at an angle of almost 90 degrees.

10. Stairs of Indian wells

India
The ancient staircases of the famous wells in the Indian state of Rajasthan served as a gathering place for people who rested on them to escape the heat. Their geometric lines still amaze tourists.

For those who have long dreamed of a staircase in own home, it is worth paying attention to.