Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Ein Avdat

Discover Ein Avdat in Be'er Sheva, Israel: A magical oasis in the middle of the Negev Desert.

Rotterdam Historic Harbor

Discover Rotterdam Historic Harbor in Rotterdam, Netherlands: Old ships and machinery fill a historic harbor in the city that's home to Europe's largest port.

Parcours Troglodytique

Discover Parcours Troglodytique in Souzay-Champigny, France: Ivy-covered Medieval tunnels cut through this charming town in France's Loire Valley.

Santa Cruz da Graciosa Bullring

Discover Santa Cruz da Graciosa Bullring in Santo Amaro, Portugal: This Portuguese bullring is built right into the caldera of an island volcano.

Igreja de Vera Cruz de Marmelar

Discover Igreja de Vera Cruz de Marmelar in Portugal: A chunk of the "true cross" is held in this small Portuguese church where modern day exorcisms are said to be common place.

Mount Pico

Discover Mount Pico in Pico, Portugal: As the highest point in the Mid-Atlantic range this stratovolcano offers spectacular views.

Portugal dos Pequenitos

Discover Portugal dos Pequenitos in Coimbra, Portugal: The "Little Ones," show Portugal in full miniature splendor.

Dolmen Chapel of Sao Brissos

Discover Dolmen Chapel of Sao Brissos in Santiago do Escoural, Portugal: A neolithic tomb converted into a tiny chapel.

Anta de Pavia

Discover Anta de Pavia in Pavia, Portugal: Pagan monument converted to Christianity with the population.

Toboggan Ride from Monte to Funchal

Discover Toboggan Ride from Monte to Funchal in Monte, Portugal: Men in rubber-soled boots serve as your "brakes" on this toboggan ride Hemingway described as "exhilarating.".

Hospital de Bonecas

Discover Hospital de Bonecas in Lisbon, Portugal: Catering to broken dolls for almost 200 years, this repair shop is now a charnel house of doll parts.

National Coach Museum

Discover National Coach Museum in Lisbon, Portugal: An exquisite collection of fairytale conveyances that puts most car museums to shame.

Lisbon’s Electricity Museum

Discover Electricity Museum in Lisbon, Portugal: Located in the thermoelectric factory that once powered the entire city, this Portuguese museum is shockingly fascinating.

Sao Bento Station

Discover Sao Bento Station in Porto, Portugal: Elaborate tile work in this railway station tells the story of Portugal.

Saint Maria Adelaide

Discover Saint Maria Adelaide in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal: An honorary saint of the people, Maria Adelaide became an incorrupt corpse, the clothes intact, exhaling “a strong scent of roses.”.

Palace Hotel Bussaco

Discover Palace Hotel Bussaco in Luso, Portugal: A majestic hotel for dreamers rises from the center of a fairytale wood.

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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

PP ToS