Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Sanctuary Stones

Discover Sanctuary Stones in Edinburgh, Scotland: A series of three shiny letters mark the boundary of an old refuge for those being pursued by debt collectors.

The Stone Phalluses of Pompeii

Discover Stone Phalluses of Pompeii in Pompeii, Italy: The walls and streets of the ancient city are peppered with penises.

Alphege Windows

Discover Alphege Windows in Canterbury, England: A set of medieval stained-glass windows tell the gruesome story of a Viking siege.

Vank Bell Tower

Discover Vank Bell Tower in Tbilisi, Georgia: When the Soviets destroyed the historic Armenian monastery they somehow left its bell tower intact.

Capela Nossa Senhora das Neves

Discover Capela Nossa Senhora das Neves in Bento Gonçalves, Brazil: After a terrible drought, townspeople used wine to build this church.

The Delftse Poort

Discover The Delftse Poort in Rotterdam, Netherlands: A modern reimagining of a medieval city gate.

Fountain of Locks

Discover Fuente de los Candados in Montevideo, Uruguay: Where sweethearts leave their love locks in the Uruguayan capital.

Centro de Cultura Digital

Discover Centro de Cultura Digital in Mexico City, Mexico: Beneath the most controversial monument in Mexico City is a cultural center that exhibits only digital art.

Margareta Krook’s Statue

Discover Margareta Krook's Statue in Stockholm, Sweden: A heated statue pays tribute to one of Sweden's great actresses.

Adams Square Mini Park

Discover Adams Square Mini Park in Glendale, California: An abandoned 1930s gas station turned bustling neighborhood park.

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i
To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius. 260 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. 474 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. 499 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. 633 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. 135 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. 167 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). 252 vii
To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. 148 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. 96 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. 166

PP ToS