Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Ichiriki

Discover Ichiriki in Kyoto, Japan: More than 300 years old, Kyoto's historic "teahouse" still operates as an invitation-only geisha club.

Sacristy of San Domenico Maggiore

Discover Sacristy of San Domenico Maggiore in Naples, Italy: The sacristy of this church contains remains and relics of members of the Aragonese royal family.

General John Stark House

Discover General John Stark House in Manchester, New Hampshire: New Hampshire's most beloved war hero lived out his retirement in this peaceful homestead.

The Coining House

Discover The Coining House in Segovia, Spain: The first mechanized factory in Spain is also one of the most significant mints in the history of money.

Bust of Sir Patrick Geddes

Discover Bust of Sir Patrick Geddes in Edinburgh, Scotland: A sculpture in a secluded garden honors one of Edinburgh's most innovative thinkers and city planners.

Mechanical Riverfront Kingdom on Druid Hill

Discover Mechanical Riverfront Kingdom on Druid Hill in Decatur, Georgia: An unusual art exhibition in a suburban yard is designed to awaken the souls of those flowing by.

Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre

Discover Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre in Meath, Ireland: This center tells the story of one of the most famous battles in Irish history.

Mountain Studios

Discover Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland: A permanent exhibition honors Queen, which recorded seven albums at the casino-based studio, including “Under Pressure” with David Bowie.

Le Mort Homme (Dead Man’s Hill)

Discover Le Mort Homme (Dead Man's Hill) in Chattancourt, France: A memorial to the soldiers who died in the bloody battles to control Verdun in World War I.

Monument to Peter I

Discover Monument to Peter I in Saint Petersburg, Russia: This effigy of Peter the Great is greatly disproportionate.

Pilgrim Hall Museum

Discover Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts: This museum shines a light on the true Pilgrim experience in North America.

Mittie Manning’s Tomb

Discover Mittie Manning's Tomb in Holly Springs, Mississippi: This tomb was fashioned with a sliding window for a grieving mother who struggled with her daughter's death.

Valle Crucis Abbey

Discover Valle Crucis Abbey in Llantysilio, Wales: This ancient abbey now lies in majestic ruin behind a caravan park.

The Sock Barn

Discover The Sock Barn in Nashville, Indiana: Where hikers on the Tecumseh Trail can exchange a dirty sock for a free geode.

Trinity Apse

Discover Trinity Apse in Edinburgh, Scotland: This 15th-century structure had a long, tortuous journey to its current location.

Bandundu Water Jazz Band

Discover Bandundu Water Jazz Band in Tervuren, Belgium: A jazz band formed by African water animals in the heart of Flemish Brabant.

Berkeley Weather Beacon

Discover Berkeley Weather Beacon in Boston, Massachusetts: A beacon atop a downtown building provides Bostonians with weather forecasts and baseball news.

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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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