The world's longest staircase

The longest staircase in the world is home to an annual race not many people know about.

The location is Switzerland's Mount Niesen, renowned for its triangular-shaped face and its 11,674 steps that extend more than 5,000 feet upwards.

See also: World's most amazing staircases

See also: Meet the suitcase that can climb stairs by itself

The event, often called Niesenlauf, is typically held in June when as many as 500 people attempt to make it to the top, despite a steep gradient averaging 55 per cent.

According to Oddity Central, the record is "one hour and two minutes for men, and one hour and nine minutes for women."

Other than race day, pedestrians are not allowed on the stairs, but visitors can instead ride a parallel rail system for about 30 minutes to reach the mountain peak.

1 / 20

This spectacular handrail designed by Giuseppe Momo in 1932 is a masterpiece of the Vatican Museums in Italy. It is unlikely that when commissioning it the Vatican expected the Simonetti Staircase to become one of the most photographed pieces in the museums - but it did! Made up of two wrought iron stairways (one going up and one coming down) that curve in a double helix, the Momo Staircase, as it is also known, was once used by all visitors to the museums on their way in but the entrance has been moved so it is no longer on the route. Be sure to stop and admire it on your way out.