10 Must-Visit Historic Mausoleums

Mausoleums have been around since ancient times and are constantly evolving. Modern mausoleums showcase a variety of styles, with some displaying modern-art inspired, minimalist designs, while historic mausoleums feature classic styles that have stood the test of time.

Viewing famous mausoleums helps you decide on a final resting place for yourself or your loved ones. Whether building a private mausoleum or purchasing space in a community mausoleum, classic mausoleums give you a better idea of the type of place you want to select.

If you’re an avid traveler, or simply a Google Maps traveler, put these historic mausoleums on your list of places to check out.

1. The Pantheon in Rome
   Rome’s famous temple of the gods is one of the oldest and best-preserved Roman buildings. It is the site of the royal tombs, housing the remains of King Umberto I and the artist Raphael. Near the Pantheon is the Mausoleum of Augustus that holds the remains of the Roman Emperor Augustus. While it is no longer open to tourists, the Mausoleum of Augustus is on its way to being fully restored.
2. The Panthéon in Paris
   The Parisian Panthéon was modeled after the Roman Pantheon, but has a distinctly French twist. Originally a church dedicated to St. Genevieve, King Louis XV had it re-modeled for royal interment. It was the site of the Leon Foucault’s famous pendulum experiment, and the site now features a copy of the 67-meter pendulum. Many notable French people are entombed at the site, including Voltaire, Emile Zola, Louis Braille, and Marie Curie.
3. Frogmore Estate
   The Frogmore Estate is 33 acres of private gardens adjoining Windsor Castle in Berkshire County, England. It is the site of the mausoleums of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and the Royal Burial Ground, where many members of the royal family are buried. The estate features various buildings and monuments in Gothic style. The house, garden, and mausoleums are open six days a year, usually around Easter.
4. Monumento a la Revolución
   The Monumento a la Revolución in Mexico City is a monument commemorating the Mexican Revolution of 1910 and its heroes. The mausoleum houses the remains of notable revolutionaries: Francisco “Pancho” Villa, Francisco I. Madero, Plutarco Elías Calles, Venustiano Carranza, and Lázaro Cárdenas. The building was designed in an Art Deco and Mexican Realist style.
5. Mushashi Imperial Graveyard
   This imperial complex in Toyko, Japan, is the site of mausolea for four royals: Taishō Emperor, Empress Teimei, the Shōwa Emperor Hirohito, and Empress Kōjun. Hachioji, where the graveyard is located, has an old imperial history and has been an important commuter junction since Japanese medieval times. The area is also known for its scenic mountain views.
6. Anıtkabir
   This Turkish memorial tomb in Ankara is the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey. In 2007, the site had an astounding 11 million visitors. The expansive site took nine years to build and features four main parts: the Road of Lions, the Ceremonial Plaza, the Hall of Honor and Peace Park, the last of which contains 50,000 decorative trees, flowers, and shrubs.
7. Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor
   This mausoleum in Xi’an, Shaanxi, China, is an ancient necropolis that took 38 years to build. The mausoleum, along with its famous terracotta warriors, is a World Heritage Site. The site is a large underground palace with a central tomb for royals, their families, concubines, and even horses. It is featured in Chinese films and referenced in Chinese popular culture.
8. Egyptian Pyramids
   The Egyptian pyramids are some of the most well known mausoleums in the world. The Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Other pyramids near Cairo house the remains of various kings and queens.
9. Qalawun Mausoleum
   A stone’s throw from the pyramids sits the Mausoleum of Sultan Qalawun in Cairo, highly regarded as one of the most beautiful mausoleums in the world. Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad Ibn Qalawun had the site, which contains a madrasa, a hospital, and a mausoleum, built in the 1920s.
10. Taj Mahal
    India’s Taj Mahal is arguably the most well known and beautiful ancient mausoleum in the world. The glimmering white marble structure is a World Heritage Site and is considered to be the crown jewel of Muslim art and architecture.