Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Fairhaven High School

Discover Fairhaven High School in Fairhaven, Massachusetts: A castle on a hill once named "the most beautiful high school in Massachusetts.".

Sanctuary of Greccio

Discover Sanctuary of Greccio in Greccio, Italy: One of the four sanctuaries of Rieti's Holy Valley was the site of the first living nativity scene.

Volkswagen Spider Sculpture

Discover Volkswagen Spider Sculpture in Palm Springs, California: This giant spider sculpture made from the iconic car is one giant visual pun.

Xorret de Cati Hill Cycling Sculpture

Discover Xorret de Cati Hill Cycling Sculpture in Castalla, Spain: This statue celebrates the winners of one of the most popular mountain stages in the Vuelta a España cycle race.

Gil Eannes

Discover Gil Eannes in Viana do Castelo, Portugal: This ship offers visitors the chance to spend the night aboard a former floating hospital for fishermen.

Fiordo di Furore

Discover Fiordo di Furore in Furore, Italy: A narrow opening between the mountains of the Amalfi Coast creates a scenic hidden beach.

575 Wandsworth Road

Discover 575 Wandsworth Road in London, England: What started as a way to address damp basement walls turned into a house filled with intricate hand-carved designs.

Statue of Jackson the Elephant

Discover Statue of Jackson the Elephant in Somerset, Pennsylvania: In the parking lot of a fast food restaurant, a statue memorializing a prolific bull elephant.

Temple of the Dioscuri

Discover Temple of the Dioscuri in Cori, Italy: Only three columns survive from this ancient temple in the town of Cori.

Okazaki Shrine

Discover Okazaki Shrine in Kyoto, Japan: The cutest shrine in Kyoto is dedicated to bunnies.

William Kempe Memorial Tablet

Discover William Kempe Memorial Tablet in Finchingfield, England: Through seven years of burglary, bereavement, and bad luck, a gentleman kept his word by saying none.

Barnekow House

Discover Barnekow House in Anagni, Italy: A medieval house with mysterious alchemical inscriptions on its facade.

Salerno Medieval Aqueduct

Discover Salerno Medieval Aqueduct in Salerno, Italy: According to the legend, this structure was built in a single night with the help of the devil.

Brea Redwood Grove

Discover Brea Redwood Grove in Brea, California: A non-native grove of 241 redwoods in Southern California.

Waverley Abbey

Discover Waverley Abbey in Farnham, England: The ruins of a 12th-century Cistercian monastery can be found alongside World War II tank traps and pillboxes.

Hermitage of Saint Pelagius and Saint Isidore

Discover Ermita de San Pelayo y San Isidoro (Hermitage of Saint Pelagius and Saint Isidore) in Madrid, Spain: The remains of this misplaced church were moved here stone by stone.

Petroglyphs of Tsagaan Salaa-Baga Oigor

Discover Petroglyphs of Tsagaan Salaa-Baga Oigor in Ulaankhus, Mongolia: These ancient pecked images are among the oldest and best-preserved in Mongolia.

Captain Joshua Slocum Monument

Discover Captain Joshua Slocum Monument in Fairhaven, Massachusetts: A monument to the first person to sail around the world solo, nowhere close to where he was born, set sail, or landed.

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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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