Activists will unite in the high court on Tuesday to oppose the government’s proposal to construct a two-mile road tunnel near the Stonehenge great circle.
If the effort proves unsuccessful, the stones will be obscured from view along the road. Here are some locations still accessible during your travels.
Cathedral of Durham, England
Part of the enchantment of Stonehenge lies in the dramatic reveal, that awe-inspiring moment when the familiar outline emerges on an uncluttered horizon, visible from an ancient road now known as the A303. It’s the kind of moment that prompts a gasp and a pointed finger, akin to spotting a Hollywood star in a corner shop. All prior impressions fade away in the presence of this tangible, flesh-and-blood reality.
Similarly, the East Coast mainline railway offers numerous powerful moments: the sudden appearance of the North Sea near Alnmouth or the vertigo-inducing experience as you traverse Newcastle’s King Edward VII bridge with the River Tyne flowing beneath.
However, perhaps the most breathtaking of all is the grandeur of Durham Cathedral, gliding past your window like a medieval stone galleon in full sail. This 11th-century masterpiece houses the shrine of Saint Cuthbert. According to legend, monks, fleeing Viking attacks, transported his relics to this spectacular location on the River Wear, where the saint, it was said, rendered his coffin immovable, as if Cuthbert anticipated the significance of his lasting legacy.
The Statue of Liberty situated on Liberty Island in New York Bay, United States.
Frederic Bartholdi’s statue from 1886 carries a symbolic force akin to the linteled sarsen stones in Wiltshire. Board the public ferry to Manhattan Island, departing from either Red Hook in Brooklyn or New Jersey, and the 46-meter tall (151ft) monument comes into view, extending a welcome to those arriving in the new world.
The construction of this significant symbol of freedom itself was a victory of optimism over skepticism, primarily financed by numerous small donations, many of which were less than a dollar.
The pyramids of Giza, located in Memphis, Egypt.
Among the most recognizable and enduring shapes on Earth, the Giza pyramids are in close proximity to Cairo, forming part of the World Heritage site, Memphis, and its Necropolis. Easily accessible by car, they stand as a testament to the passage of time.
Despite the intrusion of new constructions, trees, and towers attempting to obstruct the view, the pyramids maintain their commanding presence, rising above everything in their surroundings.
The Great Pyramid, in particular, held the title of the tallest human-made structure on Earth for nearly 4,000 years, and its grand scale, immense size, and ancient origins continue to evoke a sense of awe and fascination.
Uncelebrated and obscured, this Bulgarian Communist Party headquarters, erected in 1981, will likely, in time, be acknowledged as a futurist masterpiece. Its silhouette resembles that of an immense aircraft control tower, serving as a symbol of the hope humanity once invested in concrete and a specific type of technology.
Perched like an expansive ancient folly atop a desolate 1,432-meter (4,700ft) summit east of the Shipka Pass in the Bulgarian mountains, it stands akin to Stonehenge, untouched by any surrounding features. Occasional glimpses of it captivate travelers heading north along the mountain highway to Romania.
Not too long ago, adventurous explorers could venture inside and witness the colossal mosaics crafted from 35 tons of cobalt glass, with Karl Marx gazing like a modern-day Ozymandias. Presently, these mosaics are undergoing preservation and restoration efforts, with plans for a future opening as a visitor attraction.
