20 Famous Landmarks of Europe Questions | World Sites Trivia Quiz

Answer: Colosseum

The Colosseum was built around 70 A.D by the orders of the Roman Emperor Vespasian. It was used mainly for wild animal hunts, sea battle re-enactments and of course gladiatorial battles. The base of the Colosseum covers an area of 6 acres and it stands 48 metres high.

Answer: Brussels

Standing 103 metres tall, the Atomium is known as the Eiffel Tower of Brussels. It has nine steel spheres which are connected by long tubes containing escalators. It also has a lift taking you directly to the top sphere for a panoramic view of Brussels.

Answer: Arc de Triomphe

Standing at the western end of the Champs-Elysée, the Arc de Triomphe was the largest triumphal arch in the world until 1982. Although built in honour of battle, the Arc de Triomphe now represents peace and is also the home of the eternal flame which honours the dead of two World Wars.

Answer: Matterhorn

On the Swiss-Italian border, the Matterhorn is probably the most recognisable mountain in Europe. The first successful ascent of the Matterhorn was not until 1865 although several of the climbers lost their lives on the way back down. For good views of the Matterhorn, visit the Swiss town of Zermatt where cars are banned to stop fumes clouding the view.

Answer: Neuschwanstein

Situated in the Bavarian Alps, Neuschwanstein is Germany's most photographed building. King Ludwig II was certified insane and died before the castle was completed. Most of the interior of the castle is unfinished, hence the castle tour is very good, but a bit short.

Answer: Northern Ireland

Legend has it that the causeway was built by the Irish giant Finn McCool so that he could walk over to Scotland to fight the Scottish giant Benandonner. A more realistic explanation is that about 65 million years ago molten basalt intruded through the chalk beds and as it cooled and dried rapidly it contracted forming the columns. I personally believe the giant version.

Answer: St Vitus

St Vitus cathedral is situated within the Prague Castle in Prague. It is the third cathedral to be built on this site and is now the seat of the Archbishop of Prague. The cathedral also is home to the very ornate St Wenceslas Chapel and the Crown Chamber which contains the Bohemian Coronation Jewels.

Answer: Moscow Kremlin

The Kremlin in Moscow is a huge fortified complex containing four palaces and four cathedrals among many other buildings. The Kremlin has been home to some Tsars of Russia and political leaders such as Lenin and Stalin. It is also home to the Tsar Bell which is the largest bell in the world although it is broken and never really has been used.

Answer: Pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is actually a freestanding bell tower for the cathedral of Pisa. Situated in the Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles), the tower is around 56 metres high and has 294 steps if you fancy the climb. The tower acquired its lean due to small foundations and poor soil.

Answer: Hagia Sophia

The modern day Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was completed in 537 A.D although there have been a few repairs to problems such as the dome collapsing. Originally a Christian church, it was converted to an Ottoman mosque in 1453 when the Ottoman Turkish Sultan Mehmet conquered the city.

It then became a museum with both Islamic and Christian art, but in 2020 was controversially converted back into a mosque again.

Answer: Notre Dame

Notre Dame de Paris, which translates as Our Lady in Paris, is one of the most famous cathedrals in the world. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Paris and is open to visitors, even when a service is in progress. Victor Hugo wrote the classic novel "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" in 1831.

Answer: Bell

Although part of a clock tower, Big Ben is actually the main bell in the tower of the Houses of Parliament. Cast in 1858 the bell and the clock both went into operation in 1859, although it wasn't long before the bell cracked. Big Ben was then out of action for a while until a lighter hammer was fitted. The bell was turned and the crack in the bell now gives it a distinctive tone.

Answer: Spain

The Alhambra, meaning red or red castle, is situated in Granada, Spain. The complex was used by the Moors up until the Christian conquest of the area in 1492. The Alhambra is now a museum with both Islamic architecture and European art.

Answer: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

The Rijksmuseum, meaning National Museum, is the largest museum in Holland. Founded in 1800 in The Hague it moved to Amsterdam in 1808 on orders of the king. It houses works by many great artists such as Rembrandt and Vermeer who both came from Holland.

Answer: Copenhagen

Although small and not particularly awe-inspiring, the Little Mermaid is still one of Denmark's major tourist attractions. The statue was created by Edward Eriksen who used his wife as a model and is based on the fairytale "The Little Mermaid" by Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen.

The story says she must wait 300 years before she can enter the world of humans. She has been sitting in Copenhagen harbour since 1913, so she still has a few years left to go.

Answer: Mont Blanc

Mont Blanc, meaning White Mountain is about 4807 metres (15774 feet) high and was first climbed in 1786. If you fancy the climb yourself, it is normally a two day climb. Firstly it is quite a gentle walk until it starts to steepen quite quickly and you then have to pass the notorious avalanche area known as Grand Couloir.

After a quick sleep, you'll set off very early while the snow is still hard and, using crampons and ice picks, head for the summit. The air is thin and breathing is very difficult, but if you reach the summit you will get breathtaking views of the Alps through France, Italy and Switzerland.

Answer: Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire

Stonehenge is thought to have erected between 2500 and 2000 B.C. This was the third time it had been built on the same site, the previous two had been made from wood. The stone monument used incredible feats of engineering considering when it was built. Firstly moving the huge stones, some up to six tonnes in weight, many of which came from long distances away, and then erecting them into exact positions shows great techniques and workmanship.

Answer: Athena

The Parthenon was built in the 5th century B.C and was a temple of Athena. It was built on the say so of Athenian politician Pericles, as were most buildings on the Acropolis. The Acropolis is the "Sacred Rock" standing 150 metres above sea level in Athens, Greece.

Answer: Vesuvius

The tectonic plates of Eurasia and Africa pushed together and became heated, which forms magma. The magma naturally pushes upwards and found a weakness in the earth's crust, thus forming the volcano that we now know as Mount Vesuvius. Reaching the summit of Vesuvius is quite easy, as roads take you to within 200 metres of the top, where you will have great views of the 600 metre wide cone.

Answer: Brandenburg Gate

The Brandenburg Gate was built between 1788 and 1791 and stands 26 metres high and 65 metres wide. The Quadriga, which is a goddess of peace driving a four horse chariot sits on top of the gate. The Quadriga was taken to Paris by Napoleon Bonaparte after victory in Berlin in 1806, but was returned to its rightful place in 1814.

The gate itself now is a symbol of reunification between east and west.