Labyrinths have been part of human architecture for thousands of years, serving religious, meditative, and decorative purposes. Chartres Cathedral preserves one of the most famous medieval floor mosaics in Europe, guiding pilgrims along a 13-meter-wide path made of blue and white stones. English castles like Hampton Court developed hedge mazes from the 16th century onward as part of their formal gardens, while Italian Renaissance villas integrated geometric stone patterns into their terraces. The collection also includes underground structures such as the Paris Catacombs, whose winding passages were originally quarries, or the Roman cisterns of Istanbul with their rows of columns. Each era and region developed its own techniques: medieval stonework in cathedrals, baroque garden architecture with trimmed hedges, or pre-Columbian temple complexes with ritual pathways. These sites document various construction methods, from laying colored stone mosaics to creating multi-level garden courses to constructing underground vaults. They offer insights into historical craftsmanship and the symbolic meaning of the labyrinth across different cultures.
Chartres, France
This 13th-century labyrinth extends across the floor of the central nave of Chartres Cathedral. The circular design measures approximately 13 meters in diameter and consists of alternating black and white stone slabs forming a complex geometric pattern. The path follows eleven concentric circles and stretches about 260 meters to reach the center. Pilgrims traditionally used this route as a symbolic journey to Jerusalem, traversing it on their knees or on foot.
Wiltshire, England
The hedge maze at Longleat House spans 2.8 kilometers of winding paths formed by approximately 16,000 English yew trees. This installation was created in 1975 and ranks among the largest of its kind in Europe. Visitors navigate through the dense yew hedges in search of the maze's center.
Venice, Italy
The Villa Pisani Maze was created in the 18th century for the Venetian noble Pisani family and consists of tall boxwood hedges forming a complex network of paths. At the center stands a two-story tower with a spiral staircase, from which visitors can observe the entire hedge maze below. The symmetrical design extends over nine concentric rings and was modeled after French garden traditions. Napoleon Bonaparte reportedly got lost in the winding passages during his visit in 1807. The maze is part of Villa Pisani, a Baroque palace located along the Brenta Canal.
Barcelona, Spain
The Parc del Laberint d'Horta was established in 1794 as Barcelona's first historical garden, combining Italian and French landscaping traditions. Its centerpiece is a labyrinth formed by 750 meters of cypress hedges that guides visitors toward a central statue of Eros. Along the winding paths stand sculptures of Greek deities including Ariadne and Dionysus. The upper section of the park features a romantic garden with waterfalls, channels and a neo-Gothic pavilion, while the lower terraces follow a strictly geometrical neoclassical design.
London, England
This yew maze was commissioned in 1690 by William III of Orange and covers approximately half an acre within the royal gardens. The trapezoidal hedge maze features paths totaling 800 meters that wind through yew walls now growing up to two meters high. The center point of the maze is marked by a raised platform from which visitors can plan their route. The Hampton Court Maze served as a model for numerous other garden mazes across Europe.
Oahu, Hawaii
The Dole Plantation maze covers two hectares on the island of Oahu and contains over 14,000 native Hawaiian plants. The winding paths lead through sections of pineapples, hibiscus, and heliconias that represent the tropical ecosystem of the islands. Visitors can explore the various botanical collections while navigating through the geometrically designed pathways.
Castlewellan, Northern Ireland
The maze consists of 6000 yew trees and was planted in 2000 by the local community.
Wieliczka, Poland
The Wieliczka Mine forms an underground labyrinth of nine levels extending up to 327 meters below the surface. This salt mine operated from the 13th century until 2007 and comprises 287 kilometers of tunnels and chambers carved entirely in rock salt. Over the centuries, miners created chapels, sculptures and reliefs directly in the salt. The underground chambers contain lakes of saline water and display the geological layers of the mineral.
Kent, England
The Leeds Castle Maze features 2400 yew trees arranged in a circular pattern across the grounds. At the center of this layout lies an underground grotto, offering visitors a distinctive destination. The dense yew hedges create winding pathways that guide explorers through the historic estate. This maze combines horticultural design with the architectural elements of the castle and its surrounding landscape.
Parma, Italy
The Labirinto della Masone covers eight hectares and forms the largest bamboo labyrinth in the world. Franco Maria Ricci commissioned the construction between 2005 and 2015. More than 200,000 bamboo plants of various species create the walls of the complex path system. The labyrinth houses a cultural center containing an art collection spanning works from the 16th century to contemporary pieces. A library with approximately 15,000 volumes documents the history of labyrinths and related subjects. The site also includes a restaurant and spaces for exhibitions.
Bolshoy Zayatsky, Russia
The stone labyrinths of Bolshoy Zayatsky represent a collection of 35 prehistoric structures built during the first millennium BC. This White Sea island contains spiral stone formations with diameters ranging from 6 to 20 meters. The constructions consist of flat stones arranged in low walls that form concentric or labyrinthine patterns. Archaeologists suggest these installations served ritual or astronomical purposes.
Barvaux, Belgium
The Labyrinthe de Barvaux extends over 11 kilometers of pathways between corn walls, with patterns that change annually. Visitors navigate through different sections featuring puzzles and games designed for orientation and entertainment. The course is adapted each year to a new theme, offering varied challenges for families and groups.
Vienna, Austria
The hedge maze at Schönbrunn Palace covers 1715 square meters and features multiple winding paths between trimmed hedgerow walls. An elevated viewing platform allows visitors to observe the geometric pattern of the labyrinth from above and study the arrangement of pathways. This garden feature was reconstructed according to historical plans from the 18th century and now forms part of the palace's baroque garden complex.
Cornwall, England
The Glendurgan Garden Maze was created in 1833 and spreads across the slopes of a subtropical valley in Cornwall. The winding paths lead through dense cherry laurel hedges that have grown to their current height over nearly two centuries. The maze concludes at its center with a small thatched hut, serving as a resting point for visitors who have navigated the intricate passages.
Australia
The Ashcombe Maze is located in the rural area of Shoreham on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula. The garden features two hedge mazes constructed from Monterey cypress trees, with walls of dense green foliage reaching three meters in height. The winding paths create geometric patterns that visitors navigate through. Adjacent to the mazes are extensive lavender fields that bloom from November to January. The site combines horticultural design with traditional maze architecture, offering visitors the opportunity to explore the structured pathways while experiencing the surrounding plantings. The garden has been developed over several decades and continues to maintain its cypress hedges and seasonal displays.
Illinois, United States
The Richardson Adventure Farm Corn Maze spans 13 hectares of farmland and features 16 kilometers of pathways. This seasonal maze offers multiple difficulty levels and checkpoints throughout, providing visitors with different routes through the cornfields. The farm designs new patterns and themes each year for the maze, which operates during the fall season.
Andrássy Castle, Hungary
The labyrinth in the gardens of Andrássy Castle was created in the 19th century as part of the estate's landscaped grounds. The pathways form geometric patterns bordered by boxwood hedges, designed according to historical garden principles. The labyrinth covers several hundred square meters and represents an integral element of the property's garden architecture. The hedges reach approximately two meters in height and have been maintained over decades.
Margaret River, Australia
This labyrinth features geometrically arranged hedges forming winding paths through native plants and covered passages. The layout is divided into different thematic sections that provide visitors with a varied exploration experience. The design combines natural vegetation with structured elements and offers reference points along the meandering routes.
Loire Valley, France
The Labyrinthe de Chenonceau covers 1500 square meters within the Renaissance gardens of the château. This hedge maze consists of yew trees planted in geometric patterns, with winding paths running between them. The labyrinth forms part of the historic gardens at Château de Chenonceau and allows visitors to explore the artfully designed pathways between the tall yew hedges.
Yvoire, France
The garden at Yvoire Castle organizes its pathways around thematic areas, each dedicated to one of the five senses. Visitors walk through sections featuring aromatic herbs for smell, plants with varied textures for touch, colorful flowers for sight, and water features providing acoustic elements. The layout covers approximately one hectare and follows a medieval garden design concept.
San Francisco, United States
The Lands End Labyrinth consists of concentric stone circles arranged on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This modern installation located in Lands End Park provides visitors with a meditation space offering views of the sea and the Golden Gate Bridge. The stone pathways follow a classical labyrinth design that guides walkers through winding routes to the center. Its position on the rocky coastline makes this site a popular destination for hikers and visitors seeking quiet moments in nature.
Amiens, France
The Amiens Cathedral Labyrinth was installed in the 13th century into the floor of the nave. This stone pathway measures approximately 40 feet in diameter and guides visitors through 13 turns from the entrance to the central point. The black and white stones form a geometric pattern that served as a spiritual pilgrimage route. Believers followed this path on their knees as a symbolic journey to Jerusalem. The labyrinth represents one of the preserved medieval examples of this liturgical tradition in French cathedrals.
Essex, England
The Saffron Walden Labyrinth was created during medieval times on the Village Green and features a circular design of turf paths. The single winding route extends 1.6 kilometers from the outer entrance to the central point. With a diameter of 30 meters, this turf maze ranks among the largest surviving examples in England. The spiral structure follows a traditional classical pattern with multiple concentric rings.