Labyrinths have been a part of human history for thousands of years, with their origins dating back to ancient times. These intricate structures have been used for various purposes, from religious rituals to entertainment. Today, labyrinths continue to fascinate people all over the world, with many visiting them for their beauty and meditative qualities. In this blog post, we will explore the 10 of the most famous labyrinths in the world. In no particular order:
1. Hawara Labyrinth, Egypt
One of the most famous labyrinths of the ancient world was housed in an Egyptian pyramid complex built in the 12th Dynasty at Hawara by Amenemhet III. This labyrinth was said to be so complex that no one who entered it could find their way out. The Greek historian Herodotus wrote about visiting the labyrinth in the 5th century. Unfortunately, the labyrinth no longer exists, but its legend lives on. Will the Lost Labyrinth be found (maybe it already has?)? There is currently a team working on a virtual reconstruction of the pyramid and labyrinth. I am excited to see their rendering !
Lost Labyrinth of Egypt ?
2. Villa Pisani Labyrinth, Italy
Located in Stra, near Venice, the Villa Pisani Labyrinth is a romantic boxwood labyrinth with a tower in the middle holding a statue of the goddess Minerva. It was built in the 18th century and is considered one of the most beautiful labyrinths in the world. It is layered so that it is difficult to solve. The Villa Pisani was the residence of the Pisani family until Napoleon Bonaparte bought the villa in 1807 from the Pisani family for the sum of 1,901 Venetian liras. Today the villa houses a museum.
photo from taliaperamore.com
3. Hampton Court Palace Maze, England
The Hampton Court Palace Maze is one of the most famous mazes in the world and the oldest surviving hedge maze in Britain. It was commissioned by William III in 1700 and is still the largest of its kind in England. The maze covers a third of an acre and has over half a mile of paths. You can plan a visit here.
flickr bobgjohnson
4. Chartres Cathedral Labyrinth, France
The Labyrinth of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Chartres is located in the nave of the Chartres Cathedral in France. It was constructed in the 13th century and is one of the most famous labyrinths in the world. The labyrinth is made of white marble and measures 42 feet in diameter. It is the subject of much mystery and surmise, with popular opinion being that the labyrinth represents the long and tortuous path that pilgrims would have needed to follow to reach the Cathedral of Chartres. The labyrinth is also thought to have once been graced by an image of the Minotaur at its center.
5. Ashcombe Maze, Australia
The Ashcombe Maze is located on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. It is the largest hedge maze in Australia and covers two hectares. The maze has over 1,000 cypress trees, was planted over 40 years ago and is a popular tourist attraction. You can plan a trip here. The maze is broken into 2 parts, a South Maze and a North Maze connected by a beautiful Centre Garden. Also on the property is a Rose Maze consisting of more than 1,200 rose bushes and 200 different types of rose.
6. Longleat Hedge Maze, England
The Longleat Hedge Maze is located in Wiltshire, England. Planted in 1978 and covers 1.48 acres and is made of over 16,000 English yew trees. With 1.69 miles of pathways it is the longest hedge maze int he world. In addition to the maze, the grounds contain a historic house, gardens, and a safari park. Check out the thumbnail on this video. That is one cool hedge maze !
7. The Labyrinth of the Reims Cathedral, France
The Labyrinth of the Reims Cathedral was located in the nave of the Reims Cathedral in France. It was built in the 13th century, was made of stone and measured 40 feet in diameter. In 1779 in labyrinth was destroyed by the priests running the cathedral because children were playing on it during services and ceremonies. Today if you visit they have a light projection recreating the labyrinth on the floor during the evening. Despite no longer being physical, the labyrinth is the logo for all French historical monuments !
from commons.wikimedia by G. Garitan
8. The Labyrinth of the Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
The Labyrinth of the Grace Cathedral, located in San Francisco, California, was built in 1991. The indoor labyrinth is made of limestone and measures 44 feet in diameter. I say indoor because the grounds also feature an outdoor labyrinth ! The church offers guided candlelit labyrinth walks the second Friday of each month from 6-8pm ! You can check their event page to find the next walk (and maybe even a labyrinth yoga class).
9. The Catacombs of Paris
The Catacombs of Paris are a 180-plus-mile maze of tunnels lying beneath the streets of Paris, France. Once a network of old limestone quarries, they served as a mass grave for the city's dead in the late 18th century. The catacombs are a real labyrinth of tunnels and galleries, with a depth of about 66 feet (equal to 5 floors of a building) and housing the skeletal remains of more than six million people. It is frighteningly easy to get lost in the catacombs if you are not a seasoned catacomb explorer, or 'cataphile', as the fearless adventurers are known.
10. Alice’s Curious Labyrinth, Disneyland Paris and Shanghai Disneyland Park
Not the most famous, but I wanted to include a modern example of a maze. Alice's Curious Labyrinth is a hedge maze-style attraction located at both Disneyland Paris and Shanghai Disneyland Park. The maze is themed around Disney's 1951 version of Alice in Wonderland and sees guests walking around a series of winding paths, as they attempt to reach the Queens of Hearts Castle at its center. The maze is split into two sections, with the first one featuring some of Alice's adventures prior to meeting the Queen of Hearts, and the second based on Alice's encounter with the Queen, who had a similar labyrinth in the film. The entire labyrinth is wheelchair accessible, with only the "Castle" section not wheelchair accessible due to a tight doorway.
If you have the time and money I hope you can plan a trip to see some of these wonderful labyrinths !