RAIL travel enthusiasts can travel to a train station some consider to be the world's most beautiful, without even having to fly. Europe is home to some of the grandest architecture on the planet, with its train stations among the buildings people find particularly impressive. One that stands above the others is Liege-Guillemins station in Belgium.
Its vast arcing roofs and imposing glass structures make it an icon of the small Belgian city. Some people even claim it's Liege's most photographed monument, beating even the city's cathedral and churches. In fact, some people even compare it to ecclesiastical buildings, according to See Beautiful Places .
Read More on Train Travel They wrote: "Because of its large windows the station is naturally lit and transparent and called a modern day cathedral. "The glass and steel arched roof extends over the five platforms with a width of 150m (492ft). Its two canopies reaches a height of 40m (131ft).
"It is the most photographed monument in Liège." As well as standing out from below, the station also leaves an impression, with those flying overhead able to see the colourful rectangles on its fooftop. Most read in City breaks Focus on Belgium even went so far as to label it a "station turned into living art" and spoke about the way its appearance changes throughout the year.
They wrote: "Even the seasons can change the way the now tinted light falls on the passengers, trains, and structures inside the already impressive building, which has made its way onto many a list of most beautiful train stations in the world." One such list was put together by travel website SNCB International , who put it right at the top of their list of most beautiful train stations in Europe. They described it as "strikingly modern" and said it appeals not only to train travellers, but architecture buffs as well.
They added: "With light pouring in through the many skylights and windows, this is an astonishing piece of architecture". The station is even rated the second-best thing to do in the whole city, behind only the Montagne de Bueren, a world-famous set of stairs famous for their striking views across the city. Sun Travel's journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences.
Davos to Geneva, Switzerland "After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass." - Caroline McGuire Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen "Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world.
It hardly feels like you're whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too - as you'll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way." Kara Godfrey London to Paris by Eurostar "Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what’s so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel.
You won’t have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord." - Sophie Swietochowski Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail "From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond.
" - Hope Brotherton Beijing to Ulaanbatar "The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city's high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I've witnessed anywhere.
" - Ryan Gray The station can be reached by train from the UK, with the Eurostar offering a direct route to Brussels, from where it's a short journey after a quick change of trains. However, it can also be seen in more than one Hollywood film. Scenes for Guardians of the Galaxy were filmed at the station in 2014, while Will Smith's Gemini Man also used it as a location five years later.
Travel blog Cheryl Howard said: "If you're a fan of architecture and photography, Liege-Guillemins railway station will delight you in every way." READ MORE SUN STORIES Meanwhile, this train station in the UK is set for a huge renovation, including a new rooftop pool. And the world's oldest train station can also be found in England.
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