The oldest buildings in Europe still in use

Europe is home to some of the oldest buildings in the world still in use today, properties that include a 2,000-year-old Roman temple, a 13th-century Norman-era tower, and a house that survived the Great Fire of London of 1666. These structures and many more like them have resisted for centuries, and really do stand the test of time.

Intrigued? Click through and move in on some of the oldest buildings in Europe still functioning today.

41/42 Cloth Fair, England

London's oldest building, standing at 41/42 Cloth Fair, was built between 1597 and 1614. Still occupied, it is the only house in the City of London to have survived the Great Fire of London in 1666.

Bummerlhaus, Austria

The gothic Bummerlhaus in the town of Steyr stands as one of the finest medieval secular buildings in Austria. Referenced as far back as 1450, the building is now one of the country's finest-looking tourism offices.

Spaniards Inn, England

Established in 1585 and set on Spaniards Road between Hampstead and Highgate in London, this historic pub has been serving drinks ever since. It's said the infamous highwayman Richard Turpin (1705–1739) drank here between heists, and that poet John Keats (1795–1821) probably wrote his 'Ode to a Nightingale' in the pub's garden.

Kirkjubøargarður, Faroe Islands

Kirkjubøargarður, located on the Faroe Islands, is thought to be the oldest still-inhabited wooden house in the world, dating all the way back to the 11th century. Currently, it is occupied by the 17th-generation Patursson family.

Reginald's Tower, Ireland

Waterford in County Waterford, in southeast Ireland, is where you'll find the country's oldest civic building—the mid-13th century Norman-era Reginald's Tower, in use for over 800 years.

Casa dos Bicos, Portugal

One of Lisbon's most unusual properties is Casa dos Bicos (House of Beaks, or Spikes), named for the diamond-shaped protrusions decorating the south facade. Today it is the headquarters of the José Saramago Foundation.

Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem Inn, England

An inn of sorts has existed on this site since 1189, though the present building known as Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem Inn dates back to 1799. Located in Nottingham, the public house is one of several pubs claiming to be the oldest in England.

Palais de l'Isle, France

In its time picturesque, Palais de l'Isle, the centerpiece of historic Annecy, served as a prison, a courthouse, and an administrative center. It's now a delightful local history museum.

No. 9 Getreidegasse, Austria

Originally built in the 12th century, this handsome Salzburg townhouse is where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born, on January 27, 1756. The Mozart family resided in an apartment on the third floor. The entire building became a museum dedicated to the famous composer in 1880.

Ye Olde Mitre, England

One of London's most historic public houses, Ye Olde Mitre located at 1 Ely Court in Holborn was built in 1546, originally for the servants of the Bishop of Ely. The building became an inn around 1773, was expanded in 1782, and was remodeled in the early 1930s.

Pantheon, Italy

One of the best preserved of all ancient Roman buildings, in large part because it has been in continuous use throughout its history, the Pantheon in Rome was completed in 129 CE. It's still being used 2,000 years later.

Bibury, England

The ancient village of Bibury in Gloucestershire has changed little since the 14th century. The stone cottages on Arlington Row remain untouched and stand as they did in 1380. While the 17th-century Arlington Mill is now a private residence, the cottages, which once housed weavers and their families, are currently owned and managed by heritage conservation charity The National Trust.

Benizelou Mansion, Greece

The oldest house in Athens, the Benizelou Mansion features architectural elements of a typical konaki, or urban noble house, of the 17th century. Known also as the House of St. Philothea, the building is now a museum.

The Grill House, Sweden

The Grill House at Stortorget 3 in Gamla stan, Stockholm's old quarter, dates back to the Middle Ages. It underwent remodeling in 1649, and was owned by the family of goldsmith Antoni Grill for more than 200 years. Today it houses the Stockholms Stadsmission (the Stockholm City Mission).

Seegi Maja, Estonia

The oldest building in Pärnu, the Seegi Maja was built in 1658 on the foundations of the old almshouse of the Holy Spirit's Church. Careful restoration has transformed the building into a hotel and restaurant.

Bosche House, Slovenia

Bosch House on Ljubljana's Fish Square is the oldest dated house in the city, built in 1528. In 1562, the Protestant reformer Primož Trubar (1508–1586) lived here. The ground floor is now a bar-restaurant.