Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Trinity Church Cemetery & Mausoleum

Discover Trinity Church Cemetery & Mausoleum in New York, New York: You must take the A train… to the last active cemetery in Manhattan.

Nihonbashi Kirin Statues

Discover Nihonbashi Kirin Statues in Tokyo, Japan: Mythical beasts symbolizing the city of Tokyo guard a historic bridge.

Death Cell Door of Calton Jail

Discover Death Cell Door of Calton Jail in Edinburgh, Scotland: Many of Edinburgh's more unsavory characters spent their final days behind this door while awaiting their executions.

Amphitheatre of Italica

Discover Amphitheatre of Italica in Santiponce, Spain: The Roman city was the birthplace of various emperors and is home to one of the empire's most impressive architectural feats.

Gilbert the Phone Box

Discover Gilbert the Phone Box in Edinburgh, Scotland: A former telephone box found new life as a photo booth and charity fundraiser.

Folly Bridge

Discover Folly Bridge in Oxford, England: The spot where Oxford garnered its name was also home to a medieval philosopher and includes a house covered in statues.

Grand Central Oyster Bar

Discover Grand Central Oyster Bar in New York, New York: This subterranean oyster house has been the pearl of Grand Central Station since 1913.

Stopića Cave

Discover Stopića Cave in Rožanstvo, Serbia: Through the colossal entrance to this cave you'll find limestone tubs and an underground waterfall.

Kafe Gagarin

Discover Kafe Gagarin in Brest, Belarus: Take Soviet nostalgia to new heights by toasting the first man in space over a full spread of Belarusian and Soviet fare.

Einstein’s Chair

Discover Einstein's Chair in Leiden, Netherlands: Albert Einstein would often sit in this chair during visits to the observatory to discuss science with Willem de Sitter.

Skopje Fortress

Discover Skopje Fortress in Skopje, North Macedonia: This fortress dates back to the 6th century and is also the site of a controversial abandoned restoration project.

Bonhomme de Bourail

Discover Bonhomme de Bourail in Bourail, New Caledonia: A beachside monolith shaped by years of waves crashing against hard quartz.

City Reliquary

Discover City Reliquary in Brooklyn, New York: Behind a bodega is a small museum of relics and ephemera showcasing the history of New York.

Autobahnkirche St. Christophorus Baden-Baden

Discover Autobahnkirche St. Christophorus Baden-Baden in Baden-Baden, Germany: This magnificent church allows travelers along one of Germany's busiest roadways a chance to rest and reflect.

Freiburg Bächle

Discover Freiburg Bächle in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany: These paved rills bring freshwater into Altstadt and could spell wedding bells for whoever stumbles into the waters.

Wellington Somerset Monument

Discover Wellington Somerset Monument in Wellington, England: Standing atop Wellington Hill is the world's tallest three-sided obelisk.

Origin of Ginza Monument

Discover Origin of Ginza Monument in Tokyo, Japan: This monument celebrates this shopping district's past history as a feudal silver mint.

Axmouth Bridge

Discover Axmouth Bridge in Axmouth, England: The oldest standing concrete bridge in England was also constructed as a work of 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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