14 Mesmerizing Mazes and Labyrinths
The best places around the world for twists and turns. Since antiquity, mazes and labyrinths have been places of spiritual reflection and deep contemplation. The famous Egyptian Labyrinth at Hawara was built around 1860 BCE during the reign of Pharaoh Amenemhat III, though 2D depictions of the classic seven-circuit design appear as early as 2000 BCE in clay tablets from the Mediterranean. Mazes, too, have origins in ancient Egypt, primarily serving to keep looters away from the tombs of the important and wealthy. Over hundreds of centuries, these structures have persisted in our cultural consciousness, embraced across the globe by bands of Vikings in Scandinavia, aristocrats in 18th-century Spain, eccentric elites in 1970s England, and bar owners in modern-day Vietnam. Whether you seek a mental challenge or simply a quiet place to retreat from the world, these mazes and labyrinths around the world are well worth a visit. What Is the Difference Between a Maze and a Labyrinth? A labyrinth consists of one winding, curved passage that ultimately leads to a central point. While it may take a while to walk through, you will arrive at the center without getting lost or needing to backtrack. A maze, meanwhile, is designed as a puzzle, with multiple pathways and dead-ends that may require you to retrace your steps. Note: At some of the places featured in this list, the terms labyrinth and maze have historically been used interchangeably. Maze or Labyrinth Type Location Distinguishing feature Longleat Hedge Maze Hedge maze Warminster, England World's longest maze, with more than 16,000 English yews across 1.48 acres Magowan's Infinite Mirror Maze Mirror maze San Francisco, California Psychedelic, multi-sensory maze with mirrors, black lights, neon, and music Tasmazia and the Village of Lower Crackpot Hedge maze complex Promised Land, Australia Maze complex containing a Great Maze and several themed mazes Bara Imambara Architectural labyrinth Lucknow, India The bhulbhulaiya, a network of interconnected passageways above the central hall Knossos Ancient labyrinth site Heraklion, Greece Associated with the Greek myth of King Minos, Daedalus, and the Minotaur Labyrinten vid Tibble Stone labyrinth Hökåsen-Badelunda, Sweden Approximately 2,000 years old and made from around 3,000 stones Bolshoi Zayatsky Island Stone labyrinths Solovetskiy, Russia Dozens of ancient labyrinths dating to 30,000 BCE 100 Roofs Cafe Multistory maze Đà Lạt, Vietnam Maze featuring staircases, tunnels, dead ends, and multiple levels Labirinto della Masone Bamboo labyrinth Fontanellato, Italy World's largest bamboo labyrinth, made from 20 species of bamboo Peace Maze of Northern Ireland Hedge maze Castlewellan, Northern Ireland Built to commemorate peace and reconciliation following the Troubles Cherry Point Farm and Market Lavender Labyrinth Garden labyrinth Shelby, Michigan Lavender labyrinth incorporating a kaleidoscopic herb garden and sacred geometry Labyrint Drielandenpunt Hedge maze Vaals, Netherlands 17,000 hornbeam shrubs at the meeting point of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany Puzzling World 3D maze Wanaka, New Zealand Early maze incorporating overbridges to create a three-dimensional experience Labyrinth Park of Horta Historic hedge maze Barcelona, Spain Hedge maze dating to 1791 with more than 2,000 feet of paths and a statue of Eros The maze contains six raised bridges that surround a central tower. Niki Odolphie from Frome, England, CC BY 2.0 Longleat Hedge Maze 📍 Warminster, England In 1975, this impressive maze was added to the grounds of the stately Longleat House, the home of the Marquesses of Bath since 1541. While it is not not the world’s largest hedge maze, it is the world’s longest, composed of more than 16,000 English yews and stretching across 1.48 acres. The entire Longleat property is full of equally unusual features, including the very first drive-through safari park, opened to the public in 1966 and home to over 500 animals. Before his passing in 2020, the Seventh Marquess of Bath, Alexander Thynn, added to the great maze and commissioned three other smaller ones: the Lunar Labyrinth, the Sun Maze, King Arthur’s Maze, and the Love Labyrinth. Today, the house, gardens, mazes, and safari park are all open to the public—the perfect place for a full day of whimsical exploration. SF Weekly called the maze “possibly the most psychedelic place one can legally reach within the city limits.” notoriousFIG / Atlas Obscura User Magowan’s Infinite Mirror Maze 📍 San Francisco, California In a nondescript building on San Francisco’s Pier 39, this psychedelic spot encourages visitors to “get lost in the infinite” in its maze of disorienting columns and mirrors. Black lights and flashing neon illuminate the mirrors sporadically while music pulses, making for a completely immersive, multi-sensory experience. Once you’ve managed to make it through the maze once, staff members have been known to recommend trying it out backwards for an added challenge. The Village of Lower Crackpot also includes the “School of Lateral Thinking” and interplanetary balloon aviation. taracaus / Atlas Obscura User Tasmazia and the Village of Lower Crackpot 📍 Promised Land, Australia At the foot of Tasmania’s picturesque Mount Roland, this self-proclaimed “largest maze complex in the world” is essentially a nesting doll of hedge mazes: one Great Maze with a number of smaller ones nestled inside, from a Yellow Brick Road Maze to a Hexagonal Maze and an Irish Maze. After you’ve navigated the mazes, there are plenty of other quirky attractions to explore: The eponymous Village of Lower Crackpot, a quaint miniature village built to one-fifth scale; the Embassy Garden, a set of model buildings representing locations around the world; and the Lower Crackpot’s Correctional Centre, home to an assortment of old-school punishments such as faux stocks and a guillotine. The hall was built in 1784 by Asaf-ud-Daula, the fourth Nawab of Awadh, as a major famine relief project. Prabhat1729, CC BY-SA 4.0 Bara Imambara 📍 Lucknow, India The massive central hall (imambara) of this 18th-century building is considered the largest arched hall in the world built without any kind of beams for external support. The trick that keeps the ceiling from crashing down? The bhulbhulaiya: a labyrinthine network of interconnected passageways that was built directly above the hall’s chambers, effectively making the ceiling hollow. Loosely translated as “maze” in Hindi, the bhulbhulaiya’s hundreds of paths are notoriously difficult to navigate, but don’t worry—guides are available! British archaeologist Arthur Evans bought several acres of land near Crete, hoping to find evidence of the historical reign of Minos. Bernard Gagnon CC BY-SA 3.0 Knossos 📍 Heraklion, Greece In northern Crete lie the ruins of Knossos, a city that dates back to 7000 BCE and was the setting for several Greek myths. It is said that King Minos built his palace here and commissioned the craftsman Daedulus to build a huge, underground labyrinth to hold Pasiphea’s son, the minotaur. After centuries of existing only in myth, restoration of Knossos began after its rediscovery in 1900. However, though the city draws thousands of visitors each year, it is not an especially accomplished restoration project: Most of the city’s famous frescoes are entirely modern, and it is quite plainly reinforced with concrete. While those expecting an accurate depiction of antiquity may be somewhat disappointed, the ruins are still worth exploring for the many epic tales they evoke. This region boasts some of Sweden’s largest burial mounds, along with several runestones and hundreds of Viking graves. CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User Labyrinten vid Tibble (The Tibble Labyrinth) 📍 Hökåsen-Badelunda, Sweden This part of southwest Sweden is a treasure trove of Viking artifacts and relics, including this 2,000-year-old labyrinth just outside the city of Västerås. Situated on a high, wooded ridge, the site is comprised of around 3,000 stones spanning an area of 40x45 feet. It was likely used for the ancient Nordic spring rite in which a boy had to save a girl from the center. The rules dictated that he could not touch the stones while traveling through the labyrinth; if he did, he was forced to exit and was replaced by another young contender. Vitold Muratov, CC BY-SA 3.0 Bolshoi Zayatsky Island 📍 Solovetskiy, Russia The Solovetsky Islands on Russia’s White Sea are tiny and isolated, with beautifully sparse landscapes and a population of only a couple hundred. Bolshoi Zayatsky Island is only one square mile in total, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in mystery. Its rocky surface is covered in dozens of labyrinths that date back to 30,000 BCE. Archaeologists have not determined the exact use of these structures, some of which are made of stacked stones and others of which are built into the ground as earthen mounds. However, their purpose was most likely mystical: portals to the underworld, traps for evil spirits, or ceremonial altars. Guests have compared the building to Hogwarts or hobbit homes in the Shire. Sandy Trueman. Used with permission. 100 Roofs Cafe 📍Đà Lạt, Vietnam From the outside this may look like a run-of-the-mill bar, but inside, it houses a a multistory maze complete with staircases to nowhere, underwater arthropods, and (if you find your way to the top) amazing views of Đà Lạt’s skyline. While the cafe serves up a variety of delicious, boozy beverages, it’s best to pace yourself so you can maneuver through the many dead ends, random tunnels, and sculpted women emerging from the walls. The park also houses 500 works from Ricci’s art collection. Andrea IX / Atlas Obscura User The Labirinto della Masone 📍 Fontanellato, Italy This cultural park is home to the world’s largest bamboo labyrinth, composed of 20 different species of bamboo ranging from dwarf to giant. Designed by Franco Maria Ricci, an Italian publisher, art collector, and bibliophile (with an enduring fondness for bamboo), the labyrinth takes the shape of an eight-pointed star in a nod to 16th-century star-shaped fortress cities. Its center is a square surrounded by arcades and large halls, and a pyramid-shaped chapel recalls the labyrinth as a symbol of faith. The original concept was created by anthropologist and landscape designer Beverley Lear, though input from nearly 4,000 schoolchildren was also taken into account. Kenneth Knox / CC BY-SA 2.0 Peace Maze of Northern Ireland 📍 Castlewellan, Northern Ireland This hedge maze opened in 2001 to commemorate the peace and reconciliation efforts of Northern Ireland in the years following “The Troubles.” At the center of its two distinct halves (which must be crossed in order to escape the maze) lies the Peace Bell, which visitors ring to indicate they have solved the puzzle. The maze is made up of over 6,000 yew trees, planted by people from all over Northern Ireland during December of 2000 and funded largely by the European Union Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland. The trees are intentionally shorter than those in most hedge mazes, allowing for more open communication and interaction between visitors as they make their way through. Visit between mid-July and early August to catch the lavender labyrinth in full bloom. Courtesy of Cherry Point Farm and Market Cherry Point Farm and Market Lavender Labyrinth 📍 Shelby, Michigan In 2001, Barbara Bull, the fourth-generation owner of this Michigan farm, commissioned a beautiful, floral labyrinth with a kaleidoscopic herb garden at its epicenter. Visitors are invited to take a peaceful journey through the fragrant lavender, Black-eyed Susans, and hollyhocks, eventually reaching the more than 30 herb beds carefully arranged by principles of sacred geometry. Twelve circles, 52 arbor posts, and seven cross pieces represent the months and weeks of the year and the days of the week. The site was built by British landscape artist Adrian Fisher. Deepspear, CC BY-SA 3.0 Labyrint Drielandenpunt 📍 Vaals, Netherlands Translating to the “Three Country Labyrinth,” this maze of 17,000 hornbeam shrubs is located where the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany all meet. In the middle of the maze, a high platform allows visitors to look off into any of the three countries (or at their fellow travelers strolling through the hornbeams below). Surrounding the maze are a handful of other activities for visitors to enjoy, from a colorful playground to clay shooting and archery. You can even play smuggling games that recall the once-frequent passage of smugglers who jumped borders to save money. Visitors can take the “Psychic Challenge,” which promises $100,000 to any psychic who can find two hidden objects in the site. PuzzlingWorld NZ / Atlas Obscura User Puzzling World 📍 Wanaka, New Zealand This mystifying funhouse started as a single-story wooden maze in 1973 and has since grown into a veritable shrine to tricks and illusions. It was the world’s first maze to include overbridges, linking different parts of the maze together to create a fully immersive, 3D experience. After you’ve navigated the maze, make your way through the park’s many fun follies, from a group of buildings splayed like a hand of cards to the “Leaning Tower of Wanaka,” forever tilted at a dizzying 53 degrees. There are also five Illusion Rooms, including the Hologram Hall and Tilted House, plus the Sculptillusion Gallery, which showcases artworks that double as optical illusions. Statues of other Greek gods can be found throughout the Neoclassical portion of the park. Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User Labyrinth Park of Horta 📍 Barcelona, Spain At the center of Barcelona’s Parc del Laberint d’Hort, this hedge maze has dazazled locals and tourists alike since 1791, when it was built as part of a wealthy estate owned by the Desvalls family. The meticulously manicured walls create over 2,000 feet of twists and turns, and if you make it to the center, you’ll find a solitary statue of Eros, Greek God of Love. The maze is also rich with water features, including waterfalls, ponds, and even a canal.
