There’s something special about old buildings, ancient ruins, historic streets, and quiet monuments that were standing long before most of us ever picked up a camera. They may look like everyday landmarks to locals, but through the right lens, they can suddenly feel like scenes from another time.
That is exactly what Wiki Loves Monuments celebrates. For 16 years now, this international photo contest has invited photographers from around the world to document cultural heritage sites, while also helping preserve them visually for anyone to see and use online. The 2025 edition received hundreds of thousands of submissions from nearly 4,000 participants, with local contests narrowing the entries before an international jury selected the final winners.
The best part is that Wiki Loves Monuments is not just about choosing beautiful photos. Every year, the contest adds a large number of freely licensed images to Wikimedia Commons, making cultural heritage more visible and accessible to people around the world.
Scroll down to see some of the winning photos, and make sure to vote for your favorites.
#21 “Sun Temple Of Modhera”
22nd Place
Location: Modhera, India
Description: “The elaborate carvings on the sandstone walls of Sun Temple of Modhera can be readily seen on this clear January day. Although the temple no longer offers worshipping services, it is now a Monument of National Importance in India and a tentative candidate for a UNESCO World Heritage Site listing.”
Report
8points
#22 “Church Of The Intercession”
9th Place
Location: Ukraine
Description: “Summer is looming around this image of the Church of the Intercession, built in 1854 and located in a small village in western Ukraine.”
Report
8points
#23 “City Hall Novi Sad”
17th Place
Location: Novi Sad, Serbia
Description: “Long-time Wikimedia volunteer Tournasol7 (since 2008!) snapped this photo of the city hall in Novi Sad, Serbia, on a grey November day. Located in the heart of the city’s Old Town, the neo-renaissance building was built in the 1890s to serve as a permanent seat of local government.”
Report
6points
#24 “Khan Al-Rubu'”
16th Place
Location: near Karbala, Iraq
Description: “Khan al-Rubu’ in Iraq was built by the Ottoman Empire along the Karbala–Najaf road to serve as a stopover point for traveling caravans. It is also known as Khan al-Nakhila.”
Report
6points