Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Långholmen Crash Site

Discover Långholmen Crash Site in Stockholm, Sweden: A steel paper plane is all that remains of a crashed aircraft that caused an amazingly small amount of damage.

The Lion of Gripsholm Castle

Discover The Lion of Gripsholm Castle in Strängnäs, Sweden: This wonky bit of historical taxidermy is experiencing a second life online.

Galgberget Gallows

Discover Galgberget Gallows in Visby, Sweden: This trio of stone spires claims to be the only preserved medieval execution site in Europe.

Horologium mirabile Lundense

Discover Horologium mirabile Lundense in Lund, Sweden: This Swedish astronomical clock was in storage for almost a century before its glorious workings were put on display once more.

Turning Torso

Discover Turning Torso in Malmö, Sweden: Swedish skyscraper with a 90° twist.

Gävlebocken

Discover Gävlebocken in Gävle, Sweden: If there is one thing you don't want to be in Sweden during Christmas, it's a Yule Goat.

Rock Carvings in Tanum

Discover Rock Carvings in Tanum in Tanumshede, Sweden: Despite the groans of archaeologists, this astounding groups of Bronze Age petroglyphs have been painted red for tourists.

Cannibal Museum

Discover Arnold's Cannibal Museum in Hörby, Sweden: A former hen house turned curiosity cabinet displays one man's lifelong fascination with cannibalism.

Båstnäs Car Cemetery

Discover Båstnäs Car Cemetery in Årjäng SV, Sweden: This Swedish automobile graveyard is a beautiful gallery of decay, but woe be to any who would steal a souvenir.

Sweden’s Talking Stones

Discover Bexell's Talking Stones in Varberg, Sweden: Hundreds of mossy stones engraved with bits of philosophy, literature and random musings.

Gothenburg Medical History Museum

Discover Gothenburg Medical History Museum in Gothenburg, Sweden: A 200-year-old collection of medical paraphernalia in a historic house.

Love Locks of Västerbron

Discover Love Locks of Västerbron in Stockholm, Sweden: A former suicide bridge is now accumulating symbols of love instead of a body count.

Li Grave Stones

Discover Li Grave Stones in Kungsbacka, Sweden: Iron Age grave stones and Viking burials, a short drive from Gothenburg.

Kyrkö Car Cemetery

Discover Kyrkö Car Cemetery in Tingsryd SV, Sweden: A peat bog in southern Sweden provides a cozy and photogenic home for junked Volvos, Saabs, and the occasional American muscle car.

Borgvattnet Vicarage

Discover Borgvattnet Vicarage in Ragunda N, Sweden: Said to be one of Sweden's most haunted places, this vicarage once even attracted a ghost-busting priest.

Gustavianum Museum

Discover Gustavianum Museum in Uppsala, Sweden: The second oldest anatomical theater is housed in a museum of curiosities.

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i
To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius. 260 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. 474 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. 499 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. 633 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. 135 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. 167 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). 252 vii
To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. 148 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. 96 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. 166

PP ToS