Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Monticello’s Vegetable Garden and Fruitery

Discover Monticello's Vegetable Garden and Fruitery in Charlottesville, Virginia: Thomas Jefferson's estate is home to hundreds of varieties of historic fruits and vegetables.

The Armansperg Residence

Discover The Armansperg Residence in Nafplio, Greece: This building was once the most magnificent mansion in Nafplio.

Fontana dell’Acqua Felice

Discover Fontana dell'Acqua Felice in Rome, Italy: A monumental fountain in Rome features a large statue of Moses that has been criticized for centuries.

Cedar Avenue of Nikkō

Discover Cedar Avenue of Nikkō in Nikko, Japan: Stretching for 22 miles, the world's longest tree-lined avenue dates back to the early 17th-century.

The Flamingo House

Discover The Flamingo House in Round Rock, Texas: This house proudly displays an interactive and continuously changing exhibit of lawn flamingos.

Luisenfriedhof II

Discover Luisenfriedhof II in Berlin, Germany: One of the oldest cemeteries in Germany was originally used for victims of a cholera epidemic.

Poverty Point World Heritage Site

Discover Poverty Point World Heritage Site in Pioneer, Louisiana: This ancient settlement contains some of the largest earthen mounds in North America.

Sharp’s Island

Discover Sharp's Island in Richmond, Virginia: This historic, one-acre island is the only legal place to camp in the city of Richmond.

Lancaster Crematorium

Discover Lancaster Crematorium in Lancaster, Pennsylvania: In this cemetery stands the country's first public crematorium.

Door Knocker

Discover Door Knocker in Edinburgh, Scotland: A rare and unique example of an 18th-century door latch calls this restaurant home.

Bury Ditches

Discover Bury Ditches in Lydbury North, England: This Iron Age hill fort remained hidden until a series of storms revealed its history.

‘Out of Order’

Discover 'Out of Order' in London, England: A domino effect created with Britain’s iconic telephone boxes.

Las Grutas de Tolantongo

Discover Las Grutas de Tolantongo in Tolantongo, Mexico: The development of this cliffside waterpark is representative of Mexico's history of co-op tourism developments.

Beatle Bums

Discover Beatle Bums in Plymouth, England: The only place where can you share a seat with the bums of the Fab Four.

‘The Minotaur’

Discover 'The Minotaur' in Lille, France: This monumental mural crafted nearly 40 years ago is still in perfect condition.

Belfry of Tournai

Discover Belfry of Tournai in Tournai, Belgium: After the construction of a nearby cathedral obstructed the view, the oldest belfry in Belgium was more than doubled in height.

Collinsworth Cemetery

Discover Collinsworth Cemetery in Plano, Texas: This family cemetery is a reminder of a smallpox outbreak in late-19th-century Texas.

Mausoleum of Augustus

Discover Mausoleum of Augustus in Rome, Italy: This large, circular tomb is the final resting place of the first emperor of Rome.

Ashikaga School

Discover Ashikaga School in Ashikaga, Japan: The oldest academic institution in Japan provides a glimpse of university life during the days of the samurai.

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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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