diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index e4d8a66..a4887be 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -30,6 +30,20 @@ jobs:
       - name: Test
         run: |
           pytest tests -v
-      - name: Examples
+      - name: Examples (internal)
         run: |
           python examples/fodo.py
+      - name: Examples (external)
+        run: |
+          # Copy examples directory from the main PALS repository
+          cd examples
+          git clone --no-checkout https://github.com/pals-project/pals.git pals_temp
+          cd pals_temp
+          git sparse-checkout init
+          git sparse-checkout set examples/
+          git checkout main
+          # Test all external examples
+          cd -
+          for file in pals_temp/examples/*.pals.yaml; do
+            python test_external_examples.py --path "${file}"
+          done
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/test_external_examples.py b/examples/test_external_examples.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f0a513
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/test_external_examples.py
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+import argparse
+
+from pals import Lattice
+
+
+def main():
+    # Parse command-line arguments
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--path",
+        required=True,
+        help="Path to the example file",
+    )
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+    example_file = args.path
+    # Parse and validate YAML data from file
+    Lattice.from_file(example_file)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
diff --git a/src/pals/kinds/BeamLine.py b/src/pals/kinds/BeamLine.py
index f7dd881..2df4fca 100644
--- a/src/pals/kinds/BeamLine.py
+++ b/src/pals/kinds/BeamLine.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 
 from .all_elements import get_all_elements_as_annotation
 from .mixin import BaseElement
-from ..functions import load_file_to_dict, store_dict_to_file
 
 
 class BeamLine(BaseElement):
@@ -26,14 +25,3 @@ def model_dump(self, *args, **kwargs):
         from pals.kinds.mixin.all_element_mixin import dump_element_list
 
         return dump_element_list(self, "line", *args, **kwargs)
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def from_file(filename: str) -> "BeamLine":
-        """Load a BeamLine from a text file"""
-        pals_dict = load_file_to_dict(filename)
-        return BeamLine(**pals_dict)
-
-    def to_file(self, filename: str):
-        """Save a BeamLine to a text file"""
-        pals_dict = self.model_dump()
-        store_dict_to_file(filename, pals_dict)
diff --git a/src/pals/kinds/Lattice.py b/src/pals/kinds/Lattice.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c2f204f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pals/kinds/Lattice.py
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+from pydantic import model_validator
+from typing import List, Literal
+
+from .all_elements import get_all_elements_as_annotation
+from .mixin import BaseElement
+from ..functions import load_file_to_dict, store_dict_to_file
+
+
+class Lattice(BaseElement):
+    """A line of elements and/or other lines"""
+
+    kind: Literal["Lattice"] = "Lattice"
+
+    branches: List[Annotated[Union[BeamLine], Field(discriminator="kind")]]
+
+    @model_validator(mode="before")
+    @classmethod
+    def unpack_json_structure(cls, data):
+        """Deserialize the JSON/YAML/...-like dict for Lattice elements"""
+        from pals.kinds.mixin.all_element_mixin import unpack_element_list_structure
+
+        return unpack_element_list_structure(data, "line", "line")
+
+    def model_dump(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        """Custom model dump for Lattice to handle element list formatting"""
+        from pals.kinds.mixin.all_element_mixin import dump_element_list
+
+        return dump_element_list(self, "line", *args, **kwargs)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def from_file(filename: str) -> "Lattice":
+        """Load a Lattice from a text file"""
+        pals_dict = load_file_to_dict(filename)
+        return Lattice(**pals_dict)
+
+    def to_file(self, filename: str):
+        """Save a Lattice to a text file"""
+        pals_dict = self.model_dump()
+        store_dict_to_file(filename, pals_dict)
diff --git a/src/pals/kinds/__init__.py b/src/pals/kinds/__init__.py
index d64c12c..36471e8 100644
--- a/src/pals/kinds/__init__.py
+++ b/src/pals/kinds/__init__.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 from .ACKicker import ACKicker  # noqa: F401
 from .BeamBeam import BeamBeam  # noqa: F401
 from .BeamLine import BeamLine  # noqa: F401
+from .Lattice import Lattice  # noqa: F401
 from .BeginningEle import BeginningEle  # noqa: F401
 from .Converter import Converter  # noqa: F401
 from .CrabCavity import CrabCavity  # noqa: F401
@@ -39,3 +40,4 @@
 # Rebuild pydantic models that depend on other classes
 UnionEle.model_rebuild()
 BeamLine.model_rebuild()
+Lattice.model_rebuild()
diff --git a/src/pals/kinds/all_elements.py b/src/pals/kinds/all_elements.py
index 580388e..f2d0d70 100644
--- a/src/pals/kinds/all_elements.py
+++ b/src/pals/kinds/all_elements.py
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
 def get_all_element_types(extra_types: tuple = None):
     """Return a tuple of all element types that can be used in BeamLine or UnionEle."""
     element_types = (
+        "Lattice",  # Forward reference to handle circular import
         "BeamLine",  # Forward reference to handle circular import
         "UnionEle",  # Forward reference to handle circular import
         ACKicker,