Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Ellis Chapel

Discover Ellis Chapel in Cambridge, Ontario: This mid-19th century chapel is a tiny treasure for weary travelers.

Rainbow Bar & Grill

Discover Rainbow Bar & Grill in West Hollywood, California: An Italian restaurant became a rock-and-roll hangout and the lair of the "Hollywood vampires.".

Bunker-703

Discover Bunker-703 in Moscow, Russia: A former special storage facility for documents during the Cold War.

‘Twins’

Discover 'Twins' in Brighton, England: These shopping center benches are actually a modern art installation.

Murals of Dozza

Discover Murals of Dozza in Dozza, Italy: Since the 1960s, this small village has invited painters to decorate its walls.

Leonardo’s Horse Scale Model

Discover Leonardo's Horse Scale Model in Allentown, Pennsylvania: A smaller model of the Da Vinci sculpture that took 500 years to come to life.

James Chaine Burial Mound

Discover James Chaine Burial Mound in Larne, Northern Ireland: Buried upright and facing the sea, James Chaine transformed the town of Larne.

Marilyn Monroe Mural

Discover Marilyn Monroe Mural in Washington, D.C.: A tribute to the pop culture icon overlooks this Washington D.C. intersection.

Grič Tunnel

Discover Grič Tunnel in Zagreb, Croatia: A World War II evacuation tunnel turned into a history display of Croatian state and people.

C.S. Lewis Square

Discover C.S. Lewis Square in Belfast, Northern Ireland: Step into Narnia at this small park featuring statues from "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.".

Bridgewater Seal Statue

Discover Bridgewater Seal Statue in Bridgewater, Massachusetts: This large granite seal outside a Massachusetts funeral home comes with a surprising dedication.

Castle Amphitheater

Discover Castle Amphitheater in Provo, Utah: This large, castle-like structure is hidden amid the mountains on the grounds of the Utah State Hospital.

Cave of Saint Ignatius

Discover Cave of Saint Ignatius in Manresa, Spain: The grotto where Saint Ignatius of Loyola lived as a hermit for nearly a year.

‘Fingermaze’

Discover 'Fingermaze' in Hove, England: This seemingly normal pathway actually forms a giant fingerprint.

Abbott Church

Discover Abbott Church in Lindon, Colorado: A tiny nondenominational church harkens back to the days of the first homesteaders in the region.

Regent Bridge

Discover Regent Bridge in Edinburgh, Scotland: A roadway designed for a visiting monarch.

Dewar Monument

Discover Dewar Monument in Edinburgh, Scotland: A controversial cenotaph dedicated to a local physician with an unscrupulous past.

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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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