Wiki Loves Monuments

Welcome to May! 🌍 Happy New Month of May from Wiki Loves Monuments! This new month is another chance to spotlight the beauty of our shared heritage and the amazing work of our global community. Keep contributing, sharing, and inspiring others. Here’s to a month filled with creativity, collaboration, and impact! #WikiLovesMonuments #CulturalHeritage #WLM2026

🇮🇷 1st Place International WLM 2025 🏛️Deir-e Gachin Caravansarai 📍 Iran 📸 Hossein pourakbarian (CC BY-SA 4.0): https://w.wiki/Ht9H 🏆 Drum rolls…. and the winning image of Wiki Loves Monuments 2025 is from Iran! Join us as we unveil the stunning winning photo of Wiki Loves Monuments 2025, captured at Deir‑e Gachin Caravanserai - one of Iran’s most remarkable heritage sites and part of the UNESCO‑inscribed Persian Caravanserai World Heritage ensemble. Often called the “Mother of Iranian Caravanserais”, Deir‑e Gachin stands at the heart of Kavir National Park, where ancient Silk Road routes once converged. Its Persian four‑iwan design, corner towers, and historic chambers reflect centuries of architectural evolution and cross‑cultural exchange. This exceptional image not only celebrates architectural beauty and historical depth but also reminds us how photography can illuminate the stories of places that shaped human connection across continents and time. 🎉 Join us in congratulating the winner and celebrating the heritage that bridges past and present! Voice Behind the Lens “To take this photo, I traveled to the location about ten times, which was about 300 kilometers from where I live. Because Damavand Peak was about 200 kilometers away from the location, the weather conditions had to be perfect for photography in order to see the peak. Also, because Tehran is between the historical monument and Damavand Peak, the peak was not visible most of the time due to high air pollution, but with repeated trips, I was able to capture this photo.” #WikiLovesMonuments #WLM2025 #Monument #Photography #Wikipedia #Wikimedia #PhotographyExcellence #DeireGachin #UNESCO #CulturalHeritag #WikimediaIran #Iran @hoseiin_akbarian

🇮🇷 2nd Place International WLM 2025 🏛️ Mehmandost Tower 📍Dāmghān, Iran 📸 Darabad andromeda (CC BY-SA 4.0): https://w.wiki/K7CX 📜 Monument Story Mehmāndust Tower, locally called “Sar Bar Nadār”, is a striking twelve-sided brick monument south of Mehmāndust village in Dāmghān. Built in the 490th year of the lunar Hegira, the roofless tower rises over 14 meters and is adorned with elegant muqarnas and Cufic inscriptions. At its centre lies a brick sepulchre, flanked by two stone-enclosed tombs. Locals believe it to be the resting place of Imāmzādeh Ghāsem, one of the sons of Imam Musa ibn Ja‘far (A). This monument blends architecture, history, and spiritual significance into a timeless cultural landmark. A place where heritage, devotion, and artistry meet in harmony. #WikiLovesMonuments #WLM2025 #Monument #Photography #Wikipedia #Wikimedia #MehmandustTower #WikimediaIran #Iran

🇮🇳 3rd Place International WLM 2025 🏛️ Kusum Sarowar 📍 India 📸 Arjunfotografer (CC BY-SA 4.0): https://w.wiki/K7GN 📜 Monument Story Kusum Sarovar is a stunning historic tank, about 450 feet long, surrounded by elegant Rajasthani-style ghats and stepped embankments. Built by King Jawahar Singh, the site features beautifully crafted cenotaphs honouring King Suraj Mal and his queens, adorned with intricate carvings and paintings depicting scenes from Radha-Krishna’s life. Set amidst lush surroundings, this serene monument blends architecture, devotion, and natural beauty into a timeless cultural landscape. Voice Behind the Lens “When I clicked that photo I didn't feel like there was a reflection in the water. To me, it felt like there is no water, just the monument structure continuing beneath it in an upside down position. The reflection is so clear that it deceived my perception of looking and I also fell in love with calmness of this picture … and then I decided that I have to take a shot of this view, then I took it … It is one of the greatest shot if not the greatest that I have ever taken.” #WikiLovesMonuments #WLM2025 #Monument #Photography #Wikipedia #Wikimedia #KusumSarowar #WikimediaIndia #India @fotofabrik_pro

🇹🇷 4th Place International WLM 2025 🏛️ Ishak Pasha Palace 📍 Turkey 📸 Volcanicaaa (CC BY-SA 4.0): https://w.wiki/GKKC 📜 Monument Story Located in Doğubeyazıt, this Ottoman-era palace was built between 1685 and 1784, serving as both an administrative and residential complex. One of the few surviving historic Turkish palaces, it reflects a rich blend of architectural and cultural influences. Despite damage from earthquakes and wars, it remains a striking landmark along the Silk Road and is listed on the UNESCO Tentative World Heritage list. A lasting symbol of history, resilience, and architectural legacy. #WikiLovesMonuments #WLM2025 #Monument #Photography #Wikipedia #Wikimedia #IshakPashaPalace #UNESCO #WikimediaTurkey #Turkey

🇮🇷 5th Place International WLM 2025 🏛️ Arak Bazaar 📍 Arak, Iran 📸 Dehghanpourpix (CC BY-SA 4.0): https://w.wiki/Ht9Y 📜 Monument Story Built in 1855 during the Qajar era, the Bazaar of Arak served as the commercial heart of the city, featuring interconnected passages, a mosque, and a caravansary centred around the historic Chahar Soogh. Now a National Heritage site, it reflects the region’s rich trade and architectural legacy. Places like this capture the spirit of trade, culture, and community that shaped historic cities. #WikiLovesMonuments #WLM2025 #Monument #Photography #ArakBazaar #Wikipedia #Wikimedia #WikimediaIran #Iran @dehghanpourpix

🇪🇬 6th Place International WLM 2025 🏛️ Luxor City 📍 Egypt 📸 Mohamed abdelzaher (CC BY-SA 4.0): https://w.wiki/K7LP 📜 Monument Story Luxor, Egypt - known as the City of a Hundred Gates or City of the Sun, is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Home to Karnak and Luxor Temples, and the Theban Necropolis with the Valley of the Kings and Queens, it’s often called the world’s greatest open-air museum. Blending ancient heritage with modern life, Luxor draws millions of visitors each year to explore its temples, tombs, and cultural landmarks. Voice Behind the Lens “This is one of famous landmarks… this is important contest for me” #WikiLovesMonuments #WLM2025 #Monument #Photography #Wikipedia #Wikimedia #LuxorCity #WikimediaEgypt #Egypt @abdelzaher.photography

🇮🇹 7th Place International WLM 2025 🏛️ Sacra di San Michele 📍 Piedmont, Italy 📸 Federico_Milesi (CC BY-SA 4.0): https://w.wiki/K7Lo 📜 Monument Story Perched on Mount Pirchiriano in the Val di Susa, the Sacra di San Michele, also known as Saint Michael's Abbey, is a historic religious complex that has stood as a spiritual and cultural landmark for centuries. Once under Benedictine rule and now entrusted to the Rosminians, the abbey is celebrated as the "Symbolic monument of the Piedmont region" and inspired Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose. Monuments like this remind us of the power of heritage, faith, and storytelling in shaping culture and history. Voice Behind the Lens “This photo is special because I took it in one of my favorite places. Taken in the morning, it represents for me the peace of mind that comes with the rising sun. The sun was slowly rising and began to illuminate the church with its rays, illuminating it in all its splendor and grandeur. At the same time, its warmth began to warm my heart... a special moment I was able to enjoy in complete tranquility and solitude, recharging my soul before a day at work” #WikiLovesMonuments #WLM2025 #Monument #Photography #Wikipedia #Wikimedia #SacradiSanMichele #WikimediaItaly #Italy

🇪🇸 8th Place International WLM 2025 🏛️ Church of Sant Climent, Taüll 📍 Spain 📸 Mikipons (CC BY-SA 4.0): https://w.wiki/K7Ri 📜 Monument Story Sant Climent de Taüll, consecrated in 1123, is a Romanesque church in the Valley of Boí, Catalonia, showcasing Lombard and Byzantine influences. Its basilica plan features three naves with apses, a slender bell tower, and stunning interior artwork, including frescoes by the Master of Taüll and a wooden altar frontal. The iconic Christ in Majesty fresco is now housed at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya in Barcelona. This historic site reflects the rich Christian artistic heritage of medieval Catalonia and remains a testament to Romanesque architecture and cultural preservation. Voice Behind the Lens “I have several photos of this monument and this photo had something special for me, because of the moment of light and color .. I have been participating in this contest for several years because I enjoy contributing photographs that may be useful to other people.” #WikiLovesMonuments #WLM2025 #Monument #Photography #Wikipedia #Wikimedia #ChurchofSantCliment #WikimediaSpain #Spain @mikipons

🇺🇦 9th Place International WLM 2025 🏛️ Church of the Intercession, Mykhailivka 📍 Vinnytsia Oblast, Ukraine 📸 Yurii-mr (CC BY-SA 4.0): https://w.wiki/K7SA 📜 Monument Story The Church of the Intercession in Mykhailivka, located in Haisyn Raion of Vinnytsia Oblast, Ukraine, stands as a recognized local cultural heritage monument of architecture. This historic church reflects the rich religious and architectural traditions of the region, serving as a testament to the community’s enduring cultural legacy. Preserving and documenting monuments like this helps share Ukraine’s heritage with the world and ensures its stories endure for generations. #WikiLovesMonuments #WLM2025 #Monument #Photography #Wikipedia #Wikimedia #ChurchoftheIntercession #WikimediaUkraine #Ukraine @mandruy.info

🇨🇳 10th Place International WLM 2025 🏛️ Tonghai Confucian Temple - Wenmingfang 📍 Yuxi, China 📸 Kcx36 (CC BY-SA 4.0): https://w.wiki/K7Sk 📜 Monument Story Dating back to the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368), the Tonghai Confucian Temple is a historic complex celebrated for its grand Wenming Gate, largest screen wall in China, and unique Moon & Sun Huabiao columns. Expanded during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it features a symmetrical layout with courtyards, halls, and intricate architectural details that reflect the region’s Confucian heritage and scholarly tradition. This temple stands as a testament to centuries of education, culture, and reverence for Confucian values, making it a vital piece of China’s architectural and intellectual legacy. #WikiLovesMonuments #WLM2025 #Monument #Photography #Wikipedia #Wikimedia #TonghaiConfucianTemple #WikimediaChina #China

🇹🇷 11th Place International WLM 2025 🏛️ Perge 📍 Turkey 📸 Mehmety11maz (CC BY-SA 4.0): https://w.wiki/GKLB 📜 Monument Story Located near Antalya, Perge was a major city of Pamphylia with origins tracing back to the Chalcolithic period. Excavations have uncovered temples, palaces, collonaded streets, and artefacts like the cult statue of Artemis and marble friezes, showcasing a rich blend of art, culture, and civic life. Its theatre, stadium, agora, gymnasium, and fortifications stand as a testament to the city’s strategic and cultural significance across millennia. Sites like Perge reveal the stories and artistry of ancient civilizations, inspiring preservation and exploration. Voice Behind the Lens “Architectural structures are the product of an artist …After the recent restoration work, puddles have started to form here after rain. They never used to form before. I was very happy to see the reflection of the water in the photo while walking around after a rainy day … Reflection photographs are always pleasing to the eye. They make us look at the photo for a long time. I was happy when I took this photo. I thought I had taken a beautiful shot and was returning home with it … Every artist wants to be recognized and discovered. To be known and remembered fondly is a source of pride.” #WikiLovesMonuments #WLM2025 #Monument #Photography #Wikipedia #Wikimedia #Perge #WikimediaTurkey #Turkey @mehmety11maz