Europe is home to some of the world's most stunning examples of ancient architecture. The "Old World" earns its title with incredible temples, dwellings, and tombs that have survived thousands of years.

Although the region is renowned for its aged heritage sites, it is important to distinguish between what qualifies as an intact building and what is a ruin. For the sake of this list, only structures that are walled and roofed will count. With that out of the way, these are the ten oldest buildings that still stand in Europe.

10 Maeshowe

The Orkney Islands of Scotland have long held the secrets of early Europeans. Maeshowe is a particularly well-preserved example of the archipelago's first inhabitants. It appears to have been built as a burial place, with a sloping passage to a central chamber. The tomb is a fascinating place to explore, with Norse runes and massive engineering accomplishments to interest history lovers.

  • Date: Circa 3000-2800 BC
  • Location: Maeshowe Visitor Centre at Stenness, Ireland Road, Stenness, United Kingdom KW16 3LB

9 Newgrange

Ireland's pagan past can be experienced at Newgrange. This pristine temple from the Neolithic (Stone Age) period is a true work of art. Stretching 279 feet in diameter and surrounded by massive stones with engraved faces, the site is shrouded in mystery and magic. It was built as a passage tomb with multiple grave chambers. Its purpose was also tied to worship, as it was designed to align with the astronomical and spiritual features of the region. Today, the mound remains an extraordinary monument in Irish legend.

Related: Ancient History: These Are The Three Oldest Walled Cities In The World

8 West Kennet Long Barrow

The West Kennet Long Barrow is a prehistoric tomb in Britain. The site resembles Stonehenge, its doorway framed with carefully-arranged boulders. Interestingly, it is actually older than the famous landmark. A wide variety of artifacts have been recovered from the mausoleum. Pottery, tools, and the remains of almost 50 people have been found within it, indicating that it was an important place to the ancient inhabitants of the area.

  • Date: Circa 3400 BC
  • Location: West Kennett, Marlborough, Wiltshire, United Kingdom SN8 1QH

7 Listoghil

Ireland is home to many of Europe's best-preserved buildings. The prehistoric tombs that peak out from its green grasses give a unique peak at the ancestors that once roamed the region. Located in Sligo, Carrowmore is speckled with boulder circles and layered rock tombs. Listoghil is the large structure at the center of Carrowmore, preserving a bit of the Emerald Isle's ancient history.

6 Menga Dolmen

Spain also has its very own version of Stonehenge. One of Europe's largest Neolithic landmarks is the Menga Dolmen. Capped with massive stones, the tomb is an impressive engineering feat. A passage leads from the structure's yawning opening to a large funeral chamber. Impressively, the ancient builders designed it to align with the sunrise on the summer solstice. As a result, it was likely as awe-inspiring at its birth as it is now when it is aged.

  • Date: Circa 3500-3000 BC
  • Location: Carretera de Malaga 5, Antequera, Spain 29200

Related: These 10 Amazing Ancient Cities Are Still Standing

5 Grey Cairns Of Camster

Nestled away in the picturesque Scottish Highlands are incredible features from the island's past. The Grey Cairns of Camster are two raised burial mounds from the Neolithic era. Resting on an isolated moor, the tombs have weathered thousands of years. The longer cairn is almost 200 feet long and over 65 feet wide, while the round cairn is 59 feet in diameter. Human remains have been found in both, demonstrating that they were likely significant in the prehistoric period.

4 La Hougue Bie

The island of Jersey lies between England and France, immersed in folk tales and magic stories. One of its most famous legends is La Hougue Bie. This passage grave was constructed millennia ago as a place for locals to keep their dead and perform sacred rituals. Buried under rubble for centuries, a medieval chapel was built atop it. Nevertheless, the tomb's interior can be explored today.

  • Date: Circa 4000-3000 BC
  • Location: La Route de la Hougue Bie, Grouville, Jersey JE2 7UA

3 Monte d'Accoddi

Sardinia's landscape is marked by a very curious sight. The small Italian island features a Stone Age ziggurat. The pyramid-like structure, named Monte d'Accoddi, rises along a platform. Its stairs rise to what may have once been an altar, gifting an expansive view of the surrounding hills. The care paid to its construction suggests that it may have been one of the most important monuments in Mediterranean prehistory.

  • Date: Circa 4000-3650 BC
  • Location: 07100 Sassari, Province of Sassari, Italy

2 The Cairn Of Barnenez

The Cairn of Barnenez is one of the oldest pieces of construction in the world. At over six-and-a-half thousand years old, it predates even the Great Pyramids of Giza. Similarly, it was also built to serve as a large burial vault. The mausoleum encompasses two grave sites that were created generations apart and eleven passage tombs. It was formed by slotting and layering flat stones. Excavations have revealed Neolithic pottery, weapons, and carved symbols within its perimeter. Although its community may have been lost to time, the monument stands as a reminder of their lives and deaths.

  • Date: Circa 4500-3500 BC
  • Location: Nr. D 76, Plouezoc'h, France 29252

1 Bougon Tumulus

The Bougon Tumulus is as historically important as it is architecturally impressive. Built in the Stone Age with primitive tools, it includes six grave sites that have stood for over six thousand years. The mounds rise in levels above the lush backdrop of France's countryside, speaking to the generations that have called the region their home. Each of the tombs has revealed archaeological marvels, including pottery and beads. Collectively, they stand as one of the best-preserved examples of a Neolithic necropolis in the world.

  • Date: Circa 4700 BC
  • Location: Lieu Dit la Chapelle, Bougon, France 79800