17 Oldest Buildings in the World and Still Working

The world has several very old buildings that continue to serve humanity for centuries, without the need to have their original purpose changed. For example, in Japan it is possible to find a hotel that has guaranteed accommodation for its guests for over 1,300 years. And in France, there are people living in a building from the 13th century.

O awesome.club did careful research and discovered some of the oldest properties in the world, which have been used by people for centuries.

In Japan are located two of the oldest hotels in the world still in operation. The Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan hotel-spa opens its doors in the city of Hayakawa in the year 705🇧🇷 For over 1,300 years, it has belonged to the same family, which has managed the space for 52 generations. The last time the building underwent renovation was in 1997, it currently has 37 rooms.

In the city of Komatsu is the hotel Hoshi Ryokan, founded a little later, in 717🇧🇷 The hotel has been in the same family for 46 generations and has heated bathrooms, a garden and a ceramic gallery. Hoshi Ryokan was popular even among emperors, as well as wealthy Japanese and people interested in art.

built in 1502, the building pictured above houses The Bridge Tea Rooms. On four occasions, the UK Tea Council has recognized the establishment as serving the best version of the drink in the entire UK.

The cathedral of the German city of Trier was initially built in the year 320 by order of Emperor Constantine. The building, after completion, was destroyed several times due to war conflicts, always being rebuilt. The cathedral houses several Christian relics and several religious services still take place there. It is one of the most visited places by foreign tourists. In 1986, the cathedral, which is one of the oldest in the world, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Monte dei Paschi di Siena is considered the oldest bank in the world still in operation. he was founded in 1472 by authorities of the then city-state of Siena, Italy. At the end of 2012, the institution had 2,200 branches, 40 of them located outside Italy. The bank’s headquarters are in Palazzo Salimbeni, a Gothic-style building that is really impressive.

This is supposedly the oldest pub in England. Founded in 1189, It is situated at the foot of the rock on which Nottingham Castle was built. For a time, a hotel operated on the same site as the pub.

In the Faroe Islands, more precisely in the southern part of the island Streymoy, is the village of Kirkjubøur, where 75 people live (according to 2009 data). In the place, it is possible to find the so-called Fazenda do Rei, built supposedly in the eleventh century🇧🇷 The property is considered one of the oldest wooden residential buildings in the world. Before, it was the bishop’s residence, and since 1550, all Catholic Church property in the Faroe Islands has been confiscated in favor of the King of Denmark. Since then, the “mansion” has earned its classic name. The farm has been managed for almost 500 years by the Patursson family.

In the French city of Aveyron is one of the oldest residential buildings made of stone. it was built at the end of the thirteenth century, and there are still people living there! The building has such an unusual design because, at the time, all residential buildings in France had to pay taxes based on the square meters of the ground floors only.

London can boast the oldest beauty salon in Europe, in perfect condition and fully operational. The deal was opened in 1805 by William Trueffit, the best barber in the English court at the time. Among the famous customers, the establishment has had Byron, Wilde, Churchill and Hitchcock. It is worth mentioning that, to this day, Trueffit continues to be frequented by members of the royal family, parliament, representatives of the financial elite and monarchs from other European countries.

In the city of Ede, in the Netherlands, around the year 1630 a windmill was built which today is considered to be the oldest structure of this nature. The mill is run by volunteers and still works to turn grains into top quality flour.

Built in 1528 (according to other sources, it was in 1420), it is the oldest house in Amsterdam, and one of the last surviving wooden buildings in the city. Het Houten Huys even offers accommodation.

This building, located in Salzburg, Austria, is said to be the oldest hotel establishment in all of Europe, and possibly the world. The restaurant is located within the premises of the Abbey of São Pedro. Its existence was already mentioned in records. of year of 803🇧🇷 Therefore, the complex is already more than 1,200 years old. According to legend, the restaurant has had customers such as Johann Faust, Christopher Columbus and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Within the large complex that forms the University of Cambridge, the School of Pythagoras is the oldest building, dating from approx. from the year 1200, even before the foundation of the University. Initially it was a private home, but three centuries later the property was sold to the University of Cambridge. Today, the school is used for dramatic art experiments, always under the tutelage of the educational institution. Rehearsals and performances take place there.

In the center of the city of Talín, in Estonia, is the pharmacy that is considered to be the oldest in Europe in operation. It has been operating in the same location since its opening, which took place in the year of 1422 (or 1412, according to other sources). The first pharmacist was named Johann Molner, and between 1582 and 1911, the pharmacy was run by more than 10 generations of the Burchart dynasty. Today, the main part of the establishment is on the ground floor, where it is possible to buy medicine.

This former residential building in the center of the Russian city of Vyborg is a medieval architectural monument. The exact date of its construction is unknown, but it is believed to be of the sixteenth century. Initially, it was a private fortress. Then, according to some historians, it housed the first press of Vyborg. The building has undergone several renovations, but all of small proportions. Today, it has two residential apartments. The Citizen House is considered to be the oldest residential building in Russia.

North of the city of A Coruña, in the region of Galicia (Spain), we can find a working lighthouse, originally called “Torre de Brigantia”. The building was built during the Roman Empire, at first 2nd century🇧🇷 It is the oldest lighthouse in the world that is still in use. In 2009, the “Tower of Hercules” was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This is the oldest brewer in the world. started to be marketed in 1040, although beer production began in 768. It is situated in Freising, in the monastery of Weihenstephan, near Munich, Germany. It has the Academia da Cerveja, regarded as an authority in the world of breweries.

Which of the above buildings would you like to visit to immerse yourself in a century-old atmosphere? Or do you prefer contemporary buildings? Comment!