Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Richard McDonald’s Niche

Discover Richard McDonald's Niche in Manchester, New Hampshire: This humble resting place belongs to one of history's most celebrated restaurateurs.

Deganwy Castle

Discover Deganwy Castle in Deganwy, Wales: This ancient castle has been abandoned since the Edwardian conquest of Wales.

Cattedrale di Parma (Parma Cathedral)

Discover Cattedrale di Parma (Parma Cathedral) in Parma, Italy: The city of Parma's cathedral is home to one of the greatest illusionistic frescoes of the Renaissance.

Polar Bears Memorial

Discover Polar Bears Memorial in Troy, Michigan: This monument commemorates the only American soldiers to have directly fought Russians during World War I.

William Penn Landing Site

Discover William Penn Landing Site in Chester, Pennsylvania: Surrounded by industrial sprawl, a small monument marks the site of William Penn's first landing in Pennsylvania.

The Witch Stone of Great Leighs

Discover The Witch Stone of Great Leighs in Great Leighs, England: Near this allegedly haunted pub, you can find strong spirits on the rocks.

Church of the Holy Trinity

Discover Church of the Holy Trinity in Codrongianos, Italy: A striped 12th-century basilica sits in the countryside of Sardinia.

Peppersauce Cave

Discover Peppersauce Cave in Oracle, Arizona: An off-the-beaten path cave with an underground lake.

Saint Patrick’s High Cross

Discover Saint Patrick's High Cross in Carndonagh, Ireland: This rare and ancient Christian relic is one of Ireland’s oldest freestanding stone crosses.

Citadel of Saladin

Discover Citadel of Saladin in Cairo, Egypt: The medieval center of the Islamic world was also once the seat of Saladin's sultanate.

Valvisciolo Abbey

Discover Abbazia di Valvisciolo (Valvisciolo Abbey) in Sermoneta, Italy: Knights Templar are visible inside this stunning Cistercian abbey.

Charles Feltman’s Tomb

Discover Charles Feltman's Tomb in Brooklyn, New York: The inventor of the Coney Island hot dog rests in a grand mausoleum in Brooklyn.

Memorial 68

Discover Memorial 68 in Mexico City, Mexico: A few steps from the site of the Tlatelolco massacre, this museum tells the story of Mexico's 1968 student protests.

Site of the Angola Horror

Discover Site of the Angola Horror in Angola, New York: Where one of the worst train disasters in the country took place, leading to upgrades in rail safety.

Norwegian Petroleum Museum

Discover Norwegian Petroleum Museum in Stavanger, Norway: An impressive museum dedicated to the resource that made the Scandinavian country rich.

The Devil’s Fingerprints

Discover The Devil's Fingerprints in Blythburgh, England: A legendary ghostly hound supposedly left dark marks on a place of worship.

The Village Signs of Gestingthorpe

Discover The Village Signs of Gestingthorpe in Halstead, England: A hunched figure depicted on the signs honors a local gentleman who died on an Antarctic expedition.

Church of San Giacomo di Rialto

Discover Church of San Giacomo di Rialto in Venice, Italy: According to tradition this is the oldest church in Venice, but its actual age is a mystery.

Matyó Museum

Discover Matyó Museum in Mezőkövesd, Hungary: An exploration of a small ethnic group’s heritage through their exquisite folk art.

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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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