A number of popular tourist destinations worldwide are scheduled for temporary or permanent closure from 2026, making them inaccessible to visitors. Below is a list of these sites and the reasons behind their unavailability.

Gounsa Temple, Korea

Gounsa temple, a 1,300-year-old Buddhist landmark in Uiseong, Korea, was completely destroyed by a widespread wildfire in March. The temple and three neighboring temples are currently undergoing restoration, with no specific reopening date yet announced. As an alternative, visitors can explore Bongjeongsa temple, also 1,300 years old and renowned as the country's oldest wooden architectural structure. The Bongjeongsa temple complex is located about 35 km from Gounsa temple, in Andong city.

Gounsa temple before the fire. *AFP*

Bayeux Tapestry Museum, France

The Bayeux Tapestry Museum, situated in the French town of the same name, houses a series of 11th-century embroideries depicting the Norman Conquest of England. This collection stands as one of the world's oldest and best-preserved visual historical records.

The town of Bayeux closed the museum this August for upgrades and expansion. It is expected to reopen in 2027, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the birth of William the Conqueror (William of Normandy), who led the invasion of the British Isle in 1066.

The embroideries at the Bayeux Tapestry Museum. *AFP*

Paris Catacombs, France

The Paris Catacombs, one of the city's most macabre attractions, displays the remains of millions of ancient French citizens within a tunnel system nearly 1.6 km long. Located beneath the Montparnasse area, the catacombs were once a limestone quarry. The site is currently undergoing repairs and is expected to reopen in 2026, though a specific date has not been set. According to CNN travel experts, this is a particularly favored destination for international tourists.

Enthusiasts of ossuaries can satisfy their curiosity at the Sedlec Ossuary in the Czech Republic, often called the "Bone Church." This site, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, is located in Kutna Hora, about 74 km from Prague.

The Paris Catacombs. *AFP*

Collecting & Design Museum, US

Founded in Las Vegas, US, the Collecting & Design Museum showcases American filmmaker Jessica Oreck's passion for miniature items. Visitors could admire a collection ranging from tiny erasers to statues approximately 2.5 cm tall.

Following the planned demolition of the shopping center where the museum was located, Oreck transported her collection across the US. The museum has not yet found a permanent replacement location.

The Rivers of America area will close and be converted to other attractions for visitors at Walt Disney World. *Flickr*

Inside the museum. *art of play*

The museum from the outside. *art of play*

American filmmaker Jessica Oreck next to her museum's exhibits. *art of play*

Rivers of America at Walt Disney World, US

Disney consistently upgrades its parks, and the latest area slated for transformation is the Rivers of America, an artificial river located within the Walt Disney World theme park.

Fans bid farewell to this area in August as it transitioned to accommodate other entertainment attractions.

By Anh Minh (Source: CNN)