Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Latrine Poems at Museo de la Natividad

Discover Latrine Poems at Museo de la Natividad in Tepoztlán, Mexico: Historic poems about the noble act of defecating have been preserved on the wall of this old convent.

Peace Gardens & Market

Discover Peace Gardens & Market in Asheville, North Carolina: A nourishing complex of found object art, paintings, and sculptures that celebrate key figures in Black history.

Hofpavillon Hietzing

Discover Hofpavillon Hietzing in Vienna, Austria: An ornate private entrance to the Vienna subway built specifically for the emperor.

Arch of the Argentarii

Discover Arch of the Argentarii in Rome, Italy: This ancient Roman arch misled treasure hunters for centuries.

Martyrs’ Memorial

Discover Martyrs' Memorial in Stirling, Scotland: A striking glass tribute to two sisters who suffered during Scotland's "Killing Time.".

Willow Island Disaster Memorial

Discover Willow Island Disaster Memorial in St Marys, West Virginia: A memorial honoring those who perished in one of the worst construction disasters in U.S. history.

The Giant Stag of Converse

Discover The Giant Stag of Converse in Converse, Texas: An amazing stag sculpture constructed entirely of discarded materials.

Dubník Opal Mines

Discover Dubník Opal Mines in Červenica, Slovakia: This region of Slovakia boasts some of the most plentiful opal mines in the world.

Castle of Numão

Discover Castle of Numão in Numão, Portugal: An 11th-century medieval castle cascades over the town of Numão.

Göttingen University Astronomy Collection

Discover Göttingen University Astronomy Collection in Göttingen, Germany: A collection of antique telescopes dot the halls of the university's astrophysics department.

The Church at Texas

Discover The Church at Texas in Ferris, Texas: This unusual roadside attraction filled with handcrafted signage is home to a unique church.

Cycling Through The Trees

Discover Cycling Through The Trees in Hechtel-Eksel, Belgium: This bike path traverses the treetops.

Kansas State Capitol Cupola

Discover Kansas State Capitol Cupola in Topeka, Kansas: Journey up the capitol building's cupola for an amazing view of Topeka.

Dominican Convent

Discover Dominican Convent in Budapest, Hungary: A 13th-century convent where St. Margaret of Hungary spent her teenage years.

Bachman-Wilson House

Discover Bachman-Wilson House in Bentonville, Arkansas: A home designed to be on the cutting edge of comfortable, low-cost living.

Francis Bacon’s Preserved Art Studio

Discover Francis Bacon's Preserved Art Studio in Dublin, Ireland: The chaotic studio of one of the 20th century's most important artists has been preserved down to the dust.

Keddy Mill

Discover Keddy Mill in Windham, Maine: An abandoned mill where flowers, trees, and other wildlife have begun to reclaim the defunct factory.

Barber Marina

Discover Barber Marina in Elberta, Alabama: Come for the boats, stay to explore the intriguing assortment 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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