Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Castello di Poppi

Discover Castello di Poppi in Poppi, Italy: During World War II, a number of important sculptures and paintings were moved to this castle for safekeeping.

Hasting’s Net Shops

Discover Hasting's Net Shops in Hastings, England: During the heyday of fishing in Hastings, there were more than 100 of these storage facilities.

Robert Louis Stevenson Museum

Discover Robert Louis Stevenson Museum in St. Helena, California: This California museum is home to one of the largest collections related to the 'Treasure Island' author.

White Tank Mountains Petroglyphs

Discover White Tank Mountains Petroglyphs in Waddell, Arizona: These petroglyphs created by ancient Arizonians have withstood centuries of exposure to the elements.

Ashoka Pillar, Lumbini

Discover Ashoka Pillar, Lumbini in Lumbini Sanskritik, Nepal: Designed to honor the birthplace of Buddha.

Ramalama Book Exchange

Discover Ramalama Book Exchange in Wonthaggi, Australia: Leaning shelves and books galore, this location is a book lover's utopia.

West Gate Tower Museum

Discover West Gate Tower Museum in Canterbury, England: A defensive structure built during the Hundred Years War has remained useful in one way or another for nearly 700 years.

Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum

Discover Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum in Solsberry, Indiana: A collection of sculptures and trails that appear to change with the seasons.

The Blue Palace

Discover The Blue Palace in Warsaw, Poland: Once home to some 250,000 volumes and priceless art artifacts, this Polish estate was a target of bombing during World War II.

Tullyboard Windmill

Discover Tullyboard Windmill in Portaferry, Northern Ireland: This windmill was used for well over a century.

Wolfsbrunnen

Discover Wolfsbrunnen in Munich, Germany: Oddly enough, a pair of Wolfs funded the construction of this Little Red Riding Hood sculpture.

Meryem Ana Rum Ortodoks Kilesesi

Discover Meryem Ana Rum Ortodoks Kilesesi in Istanbul, Turkey: It's believed that this small church was connected to the Hagia Sophia via a secret tunnel.

St Antholins Spire

Discover St Antholins Spire in London, England: This stone spire holds a unique place in the region's history.

California’s Lincoln Memorial Shrine

Discover Lincoln Memorial Shrine in Redlands, California: The only museum and archive west of the Mississippi that is dedicated to the study of Abraham Lincoln.

Seminário de Santa Teresinha

Discover Seminário de Santa Teresinha in Raposeira, Portugal: A devasting 2020 fire left this historic seminary in ruins.

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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

PP ToS