“Change is never painful. Only the resistance to change is painful.”
Everything that is there in this world has to undergo some sort of change. Time never stays still and everything and everybody changes with time. Most of the times, the change is for the better and yet, people all over the world get stuck on the fact that something has changed and that they do not like the change.
Change is natural and we have to accept it as it comes. A lot has changed over the centuries and the world is not what it was even a few years ago. We have collected a bunch of pictures showing how various places around the world have changed over the years and how, with time, some places have gone through many changes while others remain somewhat the same.
Rysstad, Norway, 1888 – 2013
Rysstad, Norway was a quaint little town just two centuries ago. Everything was almost barren and there was not much to see anywhere. However, people settled and built the town to make it a beautiful city on the map.
There is greenery everywhere and it is a very peaceful place to spend some quality time.
Seljestad Juvet, Odda, Norway, 1887 – 2004
This is one of the places which has not undergone any major change. By the looks of it, the place has been preserved perfectly in the last two centuries and human interference with nature in the area has been low. This goes on to show that humans and nature can co-exist without harming each other.
Martin Luther Statue, Dresden, Germany, 1958 – 2014
The town of Dresden has rebuilt itself quite beautifully. The war was quite heavy on German buildings but it seems like the Germans got back to their drawing boards and got to constructing the buildings that had faced the wrath of war.
Hofbräuhaus München, Germany, 1910 – 2017
The Hofbräuhaus München, Germany has remained almost the same throughout the years. The citizens are content with the dated architecture and the same facades of the buildings dominating the view of the city. A century has passed and yet time seems to stay still in the city.
Quai Des Nations, Paris, France, 1900 – 2017
Just within a matter of one century, the Quai Des Nations, Paris has changed quite a lot. The buildings are all gone now and instead, there is a pleasant greenery along the waterfront. The Eiffel Tower is still visible and it stands strong to this day.
The buildings were destroyed by the wars and the French decided to replace the rubble with plants.
Corner Of Ratajczaka And Św. Marcin Streets, Poznań, Poland, 1945 – 2017
The Corner Of Ratajczaka And Św. Marcin Streets was destroyed in the Second World War as a result of the many bombs that were dropped over Poland. However, the Polish got back to building the corner and today, it is a very popular business center.
Looking at the building, you would never be able to guess that the war had taken place around the corner.
Pripyat, Ukraine, 1986 – 2016
Pripyat, Ukraine was destroyed as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear accident. What was once a bustling city was quickly left to rot. Most of the people had to relocate because of the nuclear waste that was released into the area as a result of the accident.
Chaney Glacier, USA, 1911 – 2005
This is very sad picture. Just within a hundred years, the glacier is almost dried up. To everyone who says that Climate Change is not real, this picture is the evidence how our Earth is changing because of the way that we are using up the resources.
Engabreen Glacier, Norway, 1889 – 2010
Nearly one and a half centuries ago, the base of the mountain was covered in ice and glacier. The land was barren and there was nothing but ice and rocks all around. However, with time, the soil changed and became fertile.
Now, there is a birch forest, shore meadows, willow thickets and marshland, which have all grown by themselves to make it quite a beautiful place.
Moulin Rouge, Paris, France, 1900 – 2016
The first picture is not actually from 1900. It was taken somewhere in the 1930s but it is displayed to show how the building looked before a fire destroyed it completely in 1915. It was rebuilt and sometime after the Second World War, renovations started again.
The arching entrances were replaced with something more modern.
Horse Cart And Steam Locomotive, Mont Saint-Michel, France, 1908 – 2016
This looks like something straight out of a Disney fairy tale. However, the Horse Cart And Steam Locomotive which was quite the attraction back in the day is all gone now and instead, there is just a huge road in front of the castle. The horse cart and the steam locomotives have been replaced by modern automobiles.
Reichstag, Germany, 1945 – 2012
The Reichstag was another building in Berlin that was left in rubble as a result of the Second World War. However, the Germans are quite apt at rebuilding and they preserved the historical architecture of the building even when they had the perfect chance to bring in something modern. The Reichstag stands tall even today and is a very important historical building.
Hammerfest, Norway, 1889 – 2004
The town of Hammerfest has become quite a lot more organized. The people of the city are no longer building houses in just any manner they please and instead have formed straight blocks. The blocks are just a lot more pleasing to look at in an aerial shot.
Frauenkirche Dresden, Dresden, Germany, 1897 – 2010
The church of Frauenkirche Dresden is an imposing building in Dresden and you can see that the people at the church have been taking great care to preserve the building. Even after almost 150 years, it does not look like it has changed much. We are sure that the church had to undergo a lot of reconstruction as a result of the World Wars.
Tour Eiffel, Paris, France, 1910 – 2016
The Eiffel Tower is a landmark that people all over the world recognize. If someone was to talk about Paris, your mind would immediately go to the Eiffel Tower because that is the image that we most associate with the city. However, as you can see, a lot has changed around the Eiffel Tower in the last century and the older picture looks a whole lot more romantic than the recent one.
Marcin Street, Poznań, Poland, 1945 – 2017
Marcin Street was one of the worst hit places in Poland during the Second World War. You can see the devastation that the war brought and how the people are searching for anything that they can find among the rubble. Today, Marcin Street is one of the busiest business streets in Poland.
Osnabrück, Germany, 1904 – 2016
What was once a simple farming community has evolved into a huge town. Osnabrück is the true evidence of civilizations expanding and how we are turning the agricultural lands across the world into residential areas to accommodate the overgrowing population of the cities. As the cities expand, more people start to pour into them in search of a better lifestyle.
The Karlstor, Munich, Germany, 1946 – 2017
The Karlstor served as a major defense for the city of Munich and it used to be heavily fortified. It was also the checkpoint for all traders and soldiers. However, today, it is just a tourist place with a huge historical significance.
The sign that read “Death is so permanent. Drive Carefully” is also gone.
Osnabrück Central Railway Station, Germany, 1965 – 2015
Just within a matter of 50 years, the city of Osnabrück has grown to the point that it is just full of people. It used to be a quiet city with people just going about their business but today, it is so crowded and bustling with business that people are pouring in from all around the world.
Nowomiejska Street, Łódź, Poland, 1874 – 2016
Nowomiejska Street was once deserted with people keeping in their homes and no vehicles to be seen around. However, times changed and people started to travel the distances, buying cars to travel from one place to another. Today, Nowomiejska Street is full of cars and there is even a train that runs locally through the town for the locals.
Paris, France, 1900 – 2017
The City of Love has not changed much over the years, like most of Europe because the EU decided to preserve the medieval designs of the city and not fill them up with skyscrapers like they do in the West. However, some changes have happened over the years and while people used to travel by foot or by horse two centuries ago, today, they do so with cars and bikes.
Szyperska Street, Poznań, Poland, 2006 – 2017
The transformation of Szyperska Street is one of the most inspiring ones out there. Just within a matter of a few years, the street has changed and become quite clean, showing that if the city government gets to it, any dump can change into a beautiful part of the city. The rubble and garbage is replaced with a beautiful park for people to relax in.
Kjeåsen Railway Bridge, Kjeåsen, Norway, 1927 – 2008
The Kjeåsen Railway Bridge is standing to this day with some reinforcements done over the years. The design has not changed much over the centuries. The mud lanes have been reinforced with concrete and cement to make them able to handle the increasing weight of the automobiles.
The trains over the bridge run as usual and have been replaced with modern locomotives.
The Eiffel Tower, Paris, France, 1900 – 2017
A lot has changed around the Eiffel Tower within the last century. There was an iconic monument right next to the Eiffel Tower known as the Globe Céleste. It was one of the first planetariums in the city and it was in the shape of a huge globe.
However, today, that planetarium is nowhere in sight.
Palais Im Großen Garten Dresden, Germany, 1900 – 2005
The Palais Im Großen Garten in Dresden has not gotten any exterior renovations over the years. The building has been perfectly preserved and just by looking at it, you would never be able to tell that it has seen two World Wars in its lifetime. Modern amenities like a water fountain have been added to the premises and the hedges around the building have also been trimmed to keep them just as short as they were a hundred years ago.
St. Matthew Evangelical Church, Łódź, Poland, 1937 – 2017
The St. Matthew Evangelical Church is so well preserved that the above two images look like they were taken on the same day. The only differences that we can visibly see in the picture are that the windows are a whole lot cleaner, the picture is in color, and there is a chair missing in the front.
Other than that, the two pictures look exactly identical.
Osnabrück, Germany, 1953 – 2015
Modernization has a way of changing everything around you so slowly that if you are living through the change, you will not notice it. However, if you look at the before and after images of Osnabrück, you will see how much has changed over the years and it is all credited to the various new things that were invented over time and installed within the city.
St-Gervais-Et-St-Protais, France, 1918 – 2017
The St-Gervais-Et-St-Protais church was destroyed during the First World War. The devastation was surreal and you could feel it throughout your body. The church was built in 1212 and had stood the test of time.
However, the war was horrific and there were no boundaries for it. The invading forces did not spare the church that stood on a site that was worshipped since the 4th century.
The Grinnell Glacier, Montana, USA, 1911 – 2008
The 1911 photo shows Grinnell Glacier poised at the top of the waterfalls. However, by 2008, the wall of ice is gone and Grinnell Glacier is not even visible. This is another picture from the United States of America showing how Climate Change is affecting the natural resources that we have on our planet.
Karlstor, Munich, Germany, 1910 – 2017
This is another picture of the Karlstor showing how the defensive fortification has changed over the years. You can see how the ornate details on the buildings around the Karlstor have been lost as a result of the renovations.
Köln Domplatte, Germany, 1945 – 2011
After the Second World War ended, Germany was in a turmoil. There were instruments of war strewn all over the country. However, within a matter of 50 years, everything was cleaned up and new structures were erected to show how the country is progressing with the times.
Today, Germany is one of the developed countries on this world.
Gymnasium, Osnabrück, Germany, 1870 – 2015
You can clearly see that this building has undergone many renovations and also a design change over the years. The attic was put to a good use and dormers were put into the roof. This meant that the entire roof had to be replaced as well.
Even with all the changes, the impact of the building has remained the same.
Łódź, Poland, 1887 – 2015
Łódź was once a textile-manufacturing hub in Poland. It is the third largest city in Poland and it was a major city of interest for the Nazis during the Second World War. Despite the fact that the city was invaded during both the World Wars, the government has done a beautiful job in keep the architecture preserved in a manner that shows no signs of distress.
Hôtel De Ville, France, 1871 – 2014
Various parts of this building were built by many prominent people. It is the seat of the city’s local government. However, a large chunk of it was burnt during the final days of the Paris Commune in 1871.
While the exterior was renovated over the next few years, the interior was not. In the recent times, the building underwent a whole renovation and it is now used by the government of Paris.
Notre Dame, Paris, France, 1850 – 2016
Many people will immediately recognise this Catholic church. It is the same church that was on fire in 2019 which led to quite a lot of devastation. The roof was severely damaged as were the walls.
You can see how the church has remained an imposing building when compared to its surroundings all through the years.
Rue De La Paix, Paris, France, 1871 – 2016
The Rue De La Paix, Paris was a barricade for the revolutionaries during the Paris Commune in 1871. You can see how the revolutionaries held their stance and did not let anyone come through the street. This was the event that turned over the conservative government of France and transformed the country into a socialist union.
St. Nicholas’ Church, Berlin, Germany, 1939 – 2013
St. Nicholas’ Church has always been an imposing building in the city of Berlin and it is another building that has stood the test of time. The church is beautifully preserved.
Poznań, Poland, 1977- 2016
Poland was still reeling from the aftermath of the Second World War and this area was considered to be one of the finest neighborhoods. There was a shortage of houses and people had to settle into housing complexes instead of living peacefully in the suburbs. The country has solved the problem of the housing and you can see all the housing complexes that have sprung up in the last four decades.
Lunch Atop A Skyscraper, New York, Usa, London, England, 1932 – 2011
Some traditions never change. The construction workers have always loved sitting on the top of the construction site and enjoying their packed lunches. You can see how they do not fear the heights.
Shepard Glacier, USA, 1913 – 2005
If you were still not convinced about Climate Change, this image should surely give you a reality check. The Shepard Glacier is all but gone and all that there is left is the barren rock formation.
The Place Des Victoires, Paris, France, 1914 – 2017
The The Place Des Victoires is another place in France that is beautifully preserved. All that has changed is that the horse carriages have been replaced by the automobiles.
Rudolstadt Marktstraße 54 Amtsgericht, Germany, 1906 – 2015
Apart from reinforcements and renovations, not much has changed in the Rudolstadt Marktstraße 54 Amtsgericht. The building has stayed just as beautiful as it was in 1906.
L’viv, Ukraine, 1943 – 2017
It is rather strange to see the crowds in a city to have thinned with time. You would expect that a town that was so busy in 1943 would be even busier since people are moving towards towns. However, the case with Lviv is different and people seem to have moved away from the city.
Bereich Um Das Brandenburger, Germany, 1928 – 2015
This is the same gate that was used as a Party Symbol for the Nazi Party during the Second World War. However, the gate was originally built during the time of Frederick William after the Thirty Year War.
Römerberg, Frankfurt, Germany, 1910 – 2017
Looking at this building, you would never be able to tell that it was built before the two world wars. You would expect the building to be razed to the ground by the invading forces but that is not the case.
Karl Johan Street, Norway, 1899 – 2007
It seems like Norway is quite into preserving the old structures that were built during the previous centuries. The world should follow the example of the Norwegians.
Sultan Abdul Samad, Malaysia, 1941 – 2016
While the rest of the buildings in Indonesia have risen to multiple storeys, the Sultan Abdul Samad Library chose to stay low to the ground.
Most Kłodny, Poland, 1900 – 2013
The bridge across the river is gone now, perhaps a result of the Second World War. We are sure that there is another bridge somewhere along the river to help people get from one part of the town to the other.
Notre-Dame, Paris, France, 1944 – 2017
The situation in France was quite bad during the Second World War. There were soldiers and tanks everywhere and people were living in fear. The situation has changed now.
Japanese Troops Advancing Through Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1942 – 2016
The Japanese soldiers were all over Malaysia during the Second World War. There was bloodshed everywhere. Things have changed now and Malaysia is one of the most peaceful countries in the world.