Are you fascinated by architecture? If yes, you're in for a treat, thanks to Compare My Move. The removal company experts have recently curated a list of weird and wonderful houses of leaders and heads of state from across the world.
Whether you're looking for silk wallpaper, golden door handles, or 190 acres of garden to explore, many of these homes are truly fit for kings and queens.
From the terraced house of 10 Downing Street in the United Kingdom, to the largest residential palace in the world in Brunei, these are the properties that world leaders call home.
1. 10 Downing Street - United Kingdom
10 Downing Street is the iconic home of the Prime Minister of the UK, currently occupied by Theresa May.
The building was originally built in 1684 by Sir George Downing and has been an official residence since 1735. The modern 10 Downing Street has spread out across the street, and is connected to a larger building behind it.
Another famous resident is Larry the cat, who has the official title "Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office."
There are two versions of the world's most famous front door, which was originally painted green, in rotation and they get swapped every two years. The door also has no keyhole and can only be opened from the inside.
2. í‰lysée Palace - France
í‰lysée Palace in Paris is the residence of the President of France, a position currently held by Emmanuel Macron.
Built in 1722, the classic French-style abode became an official presidential residence in 1873. The interior contains 320 clocks and 2,000 pieces of antique furniture.
At the moment, there are around 800 staff working at the house.
3. Al Alam Palace - Oman
Al Alam Palace is one of six official residences owned by the current Sultan Qaboos of Oman.
The site has a long history with Sultans spanning 200 years, but it was rebuilt in 1972 in its current unique form. It's built on the former British Embassy with its name translating to the "Flag Palace." The Al Alam Palace is flanked by two 16th century Portuguese forts.
4. Jubilee House - Ghana
Jubilee House has been the official residence of the President of Ghana since it was built in 2008, costing $135 million to construct. The building's unique shape is inspired by the traditional Ghanaian royal stool, and its current occupant is President Nana Akufo-Addo.
There's been some controversy surrounding its name, changing between Flagstaff House and Jubilee House since its construction.
5. The White House - United States
The White House is the instantly recognizable home of the President of the USA, with its current occupier being Donald Trump.
It's been the official presidential residence since construction was completed in 1800. Previously known as the Executive Mansion, the White House was only a nickname until it was officially renamed in 1901 by President Theodore Roosevelt.
It is believed that the iconic house is haunted by various spirits, including a British soldier, Abigail Adams (the wife of President John Adams), David Burnes (a landowner), President Andrew Jackson, and Abraham Lincoln.
6. Istana Nurul Iman - Brunei
The Istana Nurul Iman is the home of Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei. It's been called the largest residential royal palace in the world, which may not be a surprise when you consider it has 1,800 rooms and cost $1.5 billion to build.
It was built in 1984, and also acts as the site of the Brunei Government. Intricacies include golden door handles throughout the palace.
7. Vaduz Castle - Liechtenstein
Vaduz Castle is the official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein and his family. It was brought under control of the Liechtenstein Princely family in 1712, but became the official residence in 1938 after major restoration.
It had fallen into a state of disrepair after being left unoccupied between 1732 and 1912. The castle can be dated back to 1322 in written records, but was nearly completely destroyed after a fire in 1499.
In modern times, it is the private home of the Princely family, but once a year, the residents of Liechtenstein are invited to share beer in the castle grounds as part of their National Day.
8. Presidential Complex - Turkey
The huge Presidential Complex is the official residence of the President of Turkey, and was built in 2014. It's the presidential palace of current President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan, and reportedly cost $500 million to construct.
The palace is built on 1.6 million square feet of land, and contains 1,100 rooms, 250 of which are for sole use of the president and his family. The rooms are decorated with silk wallpaper that is said to cost over $2,500 a roll.
9. Castle of Laeken - Belgium
The Castle of Laeken was designed by renowned French architect Charles de Wailly, and built between 1782 and 1784.
It has been the royal residence since Belgium's first King was crowned in 1831. The current occupant of the private residence is King Philippe of Belgium.
The royal greenhouses are one of the main attractions of the castle and they took more than 20 years to complete.
10. Royal Palace Phnom Penh - Cambodia
The Royal Palace in Phnom Penh is the home of the King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia.
A network of separate buildings, the Royal Palace has been the royal residence since it was built in 1866. The floor of the Throne Hall is paved with 500 solid silver blocks, and its golden tower at the center reaches 59 meters high.
11. Rashtrapati Bhavan - India
The Rashtrapati Bhavan is the official presidential residence of India, with President Ram Nath Kovind as its current occupant.
The residence is huge, with the building covering five acres of land and containing 2.5 km of corridors. The whole presidential estate covers 330 acres, including 190 acres of gardens.
It was finished in 1929, and took 29,000 skilled craftsmen 17 years and 700 million bricks to complete.
12. Bessastaí°ir - Iceland
Bessastaí°ir is the home of the President of Iceland, and its current tenant is President Guí°ni Th. Jóhannesson.
It's been an official residence since it was donated to the state in 1941, but the site has been linked to the very founding of Iceland. It's thought that the first settlers of Iceland were on Bessastaí°ir, and it has been the site of a church since around 1000 AD.
The building itself was the site of the only school in Iceland from 1805 to 1846.
This article is a modified version of an article that originally appeared on Compare My Move.
