Famous Doors Worth Putting on Your Bucket List
10 unique entrances from around the world.
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Photo By: ©iStockphoto.com/Kokkai Ng
Gates of Paradise
221B Baker Street
221B Baker Street may seem inconsequential at first, but any fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes books will recognize this address right away. The address was the fictional home of the detective and today, visitors can tour the Sherlock Holmes Museum in London, which does a great job incorporating key design elements from the books and memorabilia.
The Holy Door
Imperial Gate
10 Downing Street
Hobbiton
Anyone who has seen The Hobbit series will recognize this unique door. What you may not know though is that you can visit the home of Bilbo Baggins and other locations featured in the movies in New Zealand. Hobbiton features 44 Hobbit holes that were originally built for the trilogy and visitors can tour the grounds and see the stunning detail in person.
Portals of Notre Dame Cathedral
The Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the most visited places in Paris, and tourists wait in long lines to pass through the three portals on the west facade. Each portal depicts various characters and scenes: on the left is the Portal of the Virgin, in the center is the Last Judgment, and on the right is the Portal of Saint Anne.
Royal Palace in Fez
There’s no shortage of beautiful architecture in Morocco, but visitors are drawn to the seven towering bronze doors of the Royal Palace. Unfortunately, unless you are royalty, you’re not likely to get past the doors (or guards), but the colorful facade of the 17th-century palace is worth visiting regardless.
Columbus Doors
Standing 17 feet high and weighing 20,000 pounds, the bronze Columbus Doors were designed by sculptor Randolph Rogers and can be found at the main entrance to the U.S. Capitol Building. The doors are unique because of the frames that depict the life of Christopher Columbus, with the largest scene at the very top showing him landing in the new world.
Abbey Road Studios
When it comes to music history, few sites are more legendary than Abbey Road Studios. Formerly known as EMI Studios, countless artists have walked through the doors of the Georgian-style townhouse over the years, including The Beatles, who recorded most of their music there during the '60s. The band’s 1969 album, Abbey Road, features some of the most iconic songs ever created and was such a hit the studio was renamed in 1970. The album cover art featuring the four members of The Beatles on a crosswalk outside the studio is a source of inspiration for fans who make the pilgrimage to see the site.