You recognise them at first glance. At least, that's what you think. But when you take a closer look, you realise that these sights are not originals.
5. Neuschwanstein Castlein China
The luxury hotel The Castle opened in Liaoning province in 2014. Similar to its famous role model in Germany, the hotel is located on a mountain with a far-reaching view. However, instead of Bavaria's forests, hotel guests can look out over the Chinese city of Dalian and the sea. Architecturally, an impressive twin of Neuschwanstein Castle has been built. The interior is also reminiscent of King Ludwig II's pompous castle. Of course, you don't have to do without modern comforts at The Castle. Incidentally, the hotel is not the only Chinese replica of the German original. The castle was also recreated in Wuhan as a tourist attraction in a - now disused - leisure park.
4. The Capitolin Havana
The Capitol in Havana is not a faithful replica of the famous US Capitol in Washington, D.C. They differ in size and details. At first glance, however, there is a great similarity, as the architects Raúl Otero and Eugenio Rayneri Piedra were inspired by the classicist style and shape of the Capitol in Washington D.C. Construction of the Capitol in Cuba's capital was completed in 1929. The imposing building originally served as the seat of government. Following extensive renovations from 2010, the Capitolio has been open to visitors since 2018.
3. Golden Gate Bridgein Portugal
The Ponte 25 de Abril connects Portugal's capital Lisbon with the small town of Almada. With a main span of more than 1,000 metres, it now carries six lanes and a double-track railway across the River Tagus. The fact that the suspension bridge looks like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is no coincidence: after all, Morrison-Knudsen of Portugal Ltd, the main shareholder of the main contractor, had already been involved in the construction of the San Francisco Bay Bridge, which opened in 1936 - six months before the famous Golden Gate Bridge. The planners of the Portuguese version were thus inspired by the bridge construction in San Francisco. In addition to the construction method, the Ponte 25 de Abril is particularly reminiscent of the landmark in San Francisco due to its striking red colour.
2. St Peter's Basilicaon the Ivory Coast
The Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix is located in Yamoussoukro, the capital of the Ivory Coast. Architect Pierre Fakhoury modelled the church on St Peter's Basilica in Rome. It was donated by the then president and consecrated in 1990 by Pope John Paul II. The African double with its 8,000m2 floor area and a dome height of 158.1 metres is one of the largest churches in the world. It has space for around 11,000 people. This makes the Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix a truly impressive copy. However, the location and surroundings of the original, Rome's historic city centre, remain unique.
1. Statue of Libertyin Japan
Since 1998, the famous Statue of Liberty in New York has had a twin in Japan. The copy was erected as a temporary installation in Odaibo near Tokyo. Like the original, the duplicate is also intended to honour the good relations with France. Although the replica is seven times smaller than the Statue of Liberty in New York, it quickly became a hotspot. And the decision was made to leave the replica standing permanently. The Statue of Liberty still has two other Japanese sisters: in Osaka and in Shimoda.
