Archives: Atlas Obscuras

The Inventor of Time Travel Lived Here

Discover The Inventor of Time Travel Plaque in Leuven, Belgium: Above the door of a house, a plaque claims to commemorate the future living place of the inventor of time travel.

Halte Royal d’Ardenne

Discover Halte Royal d'Ardenne in Houyet, Belgium: The private train station King Leopold II built for the Belgian royal family now lies abandoned.

‘Cement Truck’

Discover 'Cement Truck' in Brussels, Belgium: Intricate metal sculpture that's half gothic cathedral, half construction equipment.

The Devil’s Pants

Discover The Devil's Pants in Bruges, Belgium: A piece of stonework relief commemorates the site where the Devil's rage, and odd apparel, destroyed a house.

Museum of the National Bank of Belgium

Discover Museum of the National Bank of Belgium in Brussels, Belgium: One of the oldest bank museums in Europe showcases unusual currencies of the world and other money-related miscellanea.

Ruins of Fort de Knocke

Discover Ruins of Fort de Knocke in Lo-Reninge, Belgium: The foundations of a forgotten fortress, wedged in between two streams.

Vladslo German Military Cemetery

Discover Vladslo German Military Cemetery in Diksmuide, Belgium: Visitors to this Belgium graveyard are greeted by the grieving stone parents of the young men lost to war.

René Magritte Museum

Discover René Magritte Museum in Brussels, Belgium: A lovely biographical museum in the artist's home of 24 years.

The Tomb of Mr. Hawarden at Malmédy

Discover The Tomb of Mr. Hawarden at Malmédy in Malmedy, Belgium: A gender-bending antihero's grave, where lies the inspiration for both book and film.

Geel, Belgium

Discover Geel, Belgium in Geel, Belgium: A pilgrimage site where people ask Saint Dymphna to watch over those who are not of sound mind.

Damme Canal

Discover Damme Canal in Damme, Belgium: Also known as Napoleon's Canal, this waterway was created on the orders of the general, and construction was interrupted by Waterloo.

Caesar’s Tree

Discover Caesar's Tree in Lo-Reninge, Belgium: A taxus-tree to which Julius Caesar reputedly tied his horse.

Grotto of St Anthony of Padua

Discover Grotto of St Anthony of Padua in Assesse, Belgium: This collection of lurid religious statues tell the tales of a saint who stood down the devil.

International Regatta of Bathtubs

Discover International Regatta of Bathtubs in Dinant, Belgium: This annual Belgian water race attracts bathtub captains from all over the world.

Strépy-Thieu Boat Lift

Discover Strépy-Thieu Boat Lift in Le Roeulx, Belgium: The world's tallest boat lift stands as a massive piece of industrial tourism.

Castle Nieuwenhoven

Discover Castle Nieuwenhoven in Sint-Truiden, Belgium: This Belgian palace was long the domain of priests and aristocrats but is now being turned into an art commune.

The Procession of the Holy Blood

Discover The Procession of the Holy Blood in Bruges, Belgium: This gruesome biblical parade celebrates the one day a year that a bit of Jesus' blood turns to liquid.

The Guardhouse Monkey

Discover The Guardhouse Monkey in Mons, Belgium: Petting this mysterious iron monkey supposedly brings good luck.

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i
To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius. 261 ii
To exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design. 480 iii
To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared. 514 iv
To be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history. 642 ix
To be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals. 137 v
To be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change. 172 vi
To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria). 256 vii
To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. 151 viii
To be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features. 98 x
To contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation. 168

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