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Australia - Sea monsters are projected on the side of Sydney Opera house during the Vivid Sydney light show festival.

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Japan - Osaka City Central Public Hall is given the 3D-projection mapping treatment.

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Netherlands - The Neo-Gothic Saint Catherine's Church in Eindhoven.

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Italy - Florence's medieval Ponte Vecchio as you rarely see it.

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Germany -

Berlin Cathedral appears wrapped up like a birthday gift. 

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Russia - Moscow's landmark State University building becomes an animated facade. 

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France - The Théâtre des Célestins in Lyon during the city's Festival of Lights.

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Thailand - Bangkok's Magnolias Ratchadamri Boulevard Building in the city's Ratchadamri Road district.

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Romania - The Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest is almost unrecognizable in this splash of color. 

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USA - The Apollo 11 Saturn V rocket projected on the Washington Monument as part of the 'Apollo 50: Go for the Moon' celebrations. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

© Flickr/Creative Commons

Liechtenstein -

Vaduz Castle, the palace and official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein, illuminated for Liechtenstein‘s national holiday. 

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England - Leeds Civic Hall in the city's Millennium Square. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC 2.0)

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Australia - Melbourne's famous Flinders Street takes on a new light. 

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Malaysia - The Federal Court of Malaysia, housed in the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya, during New Year's Eve celebrations.  

© BrunoPress

Belgium - The Church of Saint John the Baptist at the Béguinage in Brussels during the 'Bright Brussels' festival of light.

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Russia - St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow seen from the city's Spasskaya Tower.

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France - The iconic Arc de Triomphe on the Champs Elysees in Paris. 

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Portugal - Praça do Comércio in Lisbon hides its standard yellow coloring. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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Bosnia and Herzegovina - Bosnian writers are seen on the facade of the National Library during its opening ceremony in Sarajevo. 

© Reuters

Japan - The Michi Terrace light-up event on the Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Germany - Berlin's Brandenburg Gate shimmers in an ethereal glow. 

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Czech Republic - Prague's Saints Cyril and Methodius Cathedral during the city's Signal Festival.

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Australia - A 3D-mapped projection show on the now-removed the Moreton Bay Fig Tree near Admiralty House as part of the Vivid Sydney festival.

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Northern Ireland - The city's Titanic Belfast Light Show, projected on the iconic Titanic Building. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Russia - The colonnaded facade of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.

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Spain - Scenes of the history of Madrid projected over the four facades of the city's main square (Plaza Mayor).

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England - The Royal Pavilion in Brighton, also known as the Brighton Pavilion, glows in a colorful wash during the seaside resort's Brighton Festival. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Italy - The historic town of Assisi in Umbria glows in an amazing Renaissance veneer.

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USA - Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort, Florida. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY 2.0)

© Wikimedia/Creative Commons

Ukraine - The Ferris wheel at Kontraktova Square in the historic center of Kiev becomes a projection-mapping canvas.

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Sweden - Götaplatsen public square in Gothenburg. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Belgium - The Sounds and Lights of Unity in Brussels is projected on the Arcades of Cinquantenaire to celebrate the 25th anniversary of German reunification.

© Reuters

Switzerland - The Swiss Federal Palace (Bundeshaus) in Berne illuminated with the map of Switzerland. 

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Poland - A projection on the facade of the National Museum in Krakow, inspired by a painting by Polish artist Stanisław Wyspiański (1869–1907).

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Thailand - The Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Chanthaburi.

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England -

Rochester Castle is illuminated with images of rock band AC/DC during a 2010 projection-mapping festival, an early example of projection mapping.

See also: The most brilliant light shows in Europe. 

© Getty Images