In the article you will see a selection of incredible labyrinths, which became famous as the biggest, longest, beautiful or most mysterious and suggestive horror.
In mythology, the most famous maze was Kanosky. He served as a prison for inspiring the people of the fear of the Minotaur, in the walls of which this monster was killed by the glorious Theseus. Today, it is customary to consider mazes as harmless entertainments, and if during their passage a person gets lost and tired, the service personnel or the Emergency Ministry will quickly get out of it.
But in ancient times, the labyrinths were not built for leisure. In these intricate structures, magical and pagan rituals were performed, sometimes with sacrifices, and even there the enemies were led to certain death, hoping that they could not find a way out. However, since those times there are not many such buildings left, and modern labyrinths are erected exclusively for peaceful purposes, on intricate paths no one is dying and conducting strange rituals.
1. The longest labyrinth on the pineapple farm Dole
The old fruit farm, or the Dole plantation, more than 3 miles long, has specialized in the cultivation of pineapples for almost 40 years, and it is located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. But in 1989 Dole became a monument of world-class park art, and now the flow of tourists there is not running low. In 2007, from the hedgerows created in the park a huge maze, with a picture of pineapple in the center. This labyrinth was so long that it was entered in the Guinness Book of Records, the length of its entangled tracks is more than five kilometers.
2. The ancient dungeons of London
In London, the first underground labyrinths are about 2000 years old. They grew together with the city and became a refuge for beggars and all sorts of criminals, as well as drains of sewage. One of such sanctuaries for the dregs of the society of the 16th century was today made a tourist attraction and paidly show an ancient dungeon. This place is rather scary: actors participate in reconstruction of the terrible events of the past, and you can find real mummified bodies, the remains of burnt houses and torture chambers, if you go deeper. In this regard, the organizers of the show warn that children should not be taken with them, since they will be really scared there.
3. The biggest maze of Reignac-sur-Indre
French Labyrinth Reignac-sur-Indre of plants is recognized as the largest in the world. Moreover, its look and intricate paths change every planting season, and from the top you can see whole pictures of sprouting sunflowers in this field.
4. Labyrinth on the farm Cherry Crest
On the corn field of the Cherry Crest farm, the plants are seeded so that a labyrinth is obtained. On its intricate and winding paths, 2.5 miles long, you can find bridges and unexpected turns or dead ends, so this labyrinth is quite complicated in passing, and to help get out of it a stray tourist, there are always two of its "owners" on duty.
5. Catacombs of Paris
The catacombs of Paris are permeated with death, they are built, as they say, on human bones. The unpleasant events of the late 18th century gave impetus to the development of this labyrinth of death. It all began with the fact that in such a remote period Paris was too crowded with people, so the death rate was very high, then hundreds of thousands of lives carried out various epidemics. In this regard, the cemeteries simply could not accommodate so many graves, so it was necessary to do something about it.
The abandoned quarry was chosen to solve this problem as a temporary measure, but it became the main one. For a short period of time, it grew very quickly and became a whole underground labyrinth, built of human remains. At that time, in just one and a half years, about six million people died, who found the last refuge in this terrible labyrinth. Today it can be visited by tourists. However, not everyone has the courage to go down there and see the walls of bones and skulls with their own eyes.
6. Labyrinth of Snakes'n Ladders
One enterprising designer Michael Bly, creating labyrinths from hedges, had a terrific idea to create the largest game "Snakes' n Ladders". This idea is realized by the designer, and now everyone can play this intricate game, which covers an area of 6 acres, and walls from hedges are equal to 9 feet in height. The participants of the game promise a difficult path, although it looks, at first glance, simple from a bird's eye view.
7. Variable labyrinth Davis
The Davis Farmland Super Labyrinth is popular among tourists, many people visit it more than once, as the maze and road map are completely changed every year. There are no repetitions and every year tourists are offered to go a new way and solve another puzzle.
8. Classic labyrinth Longleat from a hedge
In England, of yew trees, the labyrinth Longleat was created in the classical style. It covers an area of 1.48 acres, and tracks 2 miles long. It is noteworthy in him that the bridges inside are created in such a way that when entering them a labyrinth becomes three-dimensional.
9. Australian maze Ashcombe
In Australia there is the famous labyrinth from the hedgerow of Ashcombe, to it already more than 30 years and it is considered the oldest local maze. Over the years, he has changed and evolved, and as an addition to it in the neighboring garden was created a labyrinth of roses.
10. Frightening Solovetsky labyrinths
On the Solovetsky Islands, 35 strange and frightening labyrinths were found on the ground from stones and soil. The same were found in Scotland and Ireland, so they were combined into a group called "northern labyrinths". These findings can speak of the existence of a single nation, once in antiquity. According to archaeologists, these labyrinths were built in order to create a place for the cult of the dead, since they still find human remains from sacrifices, so the locals try to bypass these places.
11. Richardson's Corn Mazes
Richardson Farm is located in the United States and belongs to the family dynasty Richardsons since 1840. Here there is a very unusual corn field, which is sown each time so that the paths and paths develop into complex labyrinths, and from the height of the bird's flight one can see images in the form of a castle or whole pictures dated for some events, for example, on the 50th anniversary the legendary band The Beatles, the labyrinth was made in the form of a portrait of performers. The idea with labyrinths to the owners came to mind to attract tourists to a not very popular region.
12. The oldest green labyrinth of Hampton Court
The oldest hedge maze in the world is the Hampton Court in Britain, which was created as far back as the end of the 17th century under the reign of William III and was described in many novels and poems. This labyrinth is visited annually by hundreds of thousands of tourists, so its popularity is not quenched.
13. Labyrinth "Imprint"
Unusual and, from the part, the mystical labyrinth "Imprint" ("Imprint") became popular due to its shape in the form of footprint of a huge leg. Despite the fact that the labyrinth was created in 1975, many attributed to him a mystical biography, allegedly left a trace of the Minotaur or Colossus.
14. The labyrinths of Grace Cathedral
In San Francisco, there are charming labyrinths of the Grace Cathedral, they take various forms. These labyrinths are in the courtyard and inside the cathedral itself, they are made of tile and stone, and not from the hedge that is habitual for us. They give the opportunity to spiritually meditate right in the center of city bustle.
15. Labyrinth of the Villa Pisani
The labyrinth at Villa Pisani went down in history, as the most difficult to pass. Many visitors after many hours of search for an exit simply begin to call for help, however persistent lucky people who have reached the center of the labyrinth, manage to visit the unique tower of the XVIII century, on the roof of which a statue of the majestic Medusa of Gorgon is waking. According to legend, Napoleon Bonaparte himself wandered through the paths of this labyrinth.
16. The labyrinth Lands End Labyrinth
In the Bay Area is a unique labyrinth of Lands End, standing inside its trails, offers stunning views of the coast and the outline of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge and the island of Angel. To all tourists this labyrinth is known as a place of peace, tranquility and indescribable beauties.
17. Icy mazes
Equally attractive and evocative are labyrinths, which are built for a season of ice and snow. The most popular and spectacular ice labyrinths are being built in the Chinese city of Harbin to the Ice and Snow Festival. Also a memorable psychedelic labyrinth was built in Munich for the Oktoberfest festival, which visitors had to go through in the club rhythm, i.e. under loud music, twilight and flashing light effects.
18. Water maze of Victoria Park, England
In 1984, a unique water maze was built, which collects rainwater and represents not entertainment, but a monument that reminds the problem of Bristol citizens with providing clean drinking water in the 12th and 20th centuries. But it was also built according to a special type of the Chartres labyrinths, which bear a cross-shaped symbolism and are based on Christian mythology.
19. The Labyrinth of Harry Potter
The British could not forget about the national treasure - Harry Potter best seller, so it was decided to create a labyrinth in York from a hedge with the image of the already-loved wizard from the school Hogwarts. More precisely, it was created two portraits of the hero in one field, which differ slightly from each other, thus this labyrinth became the biggest picture in the style of "find a few differences." Also in size this labyrinth is considered to be the largest in Europe.
20. Brick maze of the island of Capri
On the coast of the island of Capri, where one of the popular resorts is located, there was created a brick labyrinth, not complicated in passing, but very beautiful with stunning views of the sea surface among the rocky terrain, which greatly complicated its construction. This labyrinth is truly a work of architectural art.
21. The natural labyrinth of Utah
In America there is a unique Canyonlands National Park, its remote corners are visited only by desperate brave souls to pass a labyrinth created by nature itself in the legendary canyons. There are circular paths, dead ends in the form of dangerous ravines, a tourist can also catch a rockfall or a flood, so this labyrinth is recognized as the most difficult in the whole world. In the natural labyrinth of Utah, dozens of desperate pioneers are missing.
22. Labyrinth of La Senta
Fans of unraveling puzzles La Senta's labyrinth in Costa Rica offers 3175 meters of tangled paths. But this labyrinth is interesting because it is almost impossible to get lost in it, and the road to the exit leads in such circles that all three kilometers still have to be worn on foot.