Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Kunstkammer Georg Laue

Discover Kunstkammer Georg Laue in Munich, Germany: One man's personal kunstkammer, museum and shop.

Nibelungenhalle

Discover Nibelungenhalle in Königswinter, Germany: This temple to the sturm and drang of Richard Wagner contains a dragon's cave and reptile zoo full of living "dragons.".

Dresden Frauenkirche

Discover Dresden Frauenkirche in Dresden, Germany: This Dresden church was purposely rebuilt Protestant after being demolished in World War II.

Luisenburg Rock Labyrinth

Discover Luisenburg Rock Labyrinth in Wunsiedel, Germany: Money made from smuggling sugar helped create this wondrous rock maze in honor of the Prussian Queen Louise.

Green Vault

Discover Green Vault in Dresden, Germany: The largest treasure hoard in Europe is contained in a castle that was bombed out during World War II.

Berchtesgaden Salt Mine

Discover Berchtesgaden Salt Mine in Berchtesgaden, Germany: Dress up like a miner and take a slide into the disco-lit depths of this once foundational salt mine.

Fuggerei

Discover Fuggerei in Augsburg, Germany: In this truly magical place, rent hasn't been raised since the year 1520.

The Thousand-Year Rose

Discover The Thousand-Year Rose in Hildesheim, Germany: The world's oldest rose is so tough it survived being bombed in World War II.

Marktkirche

Discover Marktkirche in Hanover, Germany: Striking occult iconography on a medieval German church.

Nuremberg Castle

Discover Nuremberg Castle in Nuremberg, Germany: A castle from the Holy Roman Empire that hosts traveling youth… in its stables.

The Thousand-Year Rose

Discover The Thousand-Year Rose in Hildesheim, Germany: The world's oldest rose is so tough it survived being bombed in World War II.

Gasometer Oberhausen

Discover Gasometer Oberhausen in Oberhausen, Germany: An industrial relic is now one of Europe's most staggering art spaces.

Teufelskanzel & Hexenaltar

Discover Teufelskanzel & Hexenaltar in Sankt Andreasberg, Germany: Goethe's "Faust" was inspired by these rock formations known as the "Devil's Pulpit" and "Witches' Altar.".

Kloster Allerheiligen

Discover Kloster Allerheiligen in Oppenau, Germany: This ancient ruined monastery has been destroyed by fire so many times that it seems like God hates it.

Ferropolis

Discover Ferropolis in Gräfenhainichen, Germany: Retirement home for giant obsolete machines.

Schwebebahn Dresden

Discover Schwebebahn Dresden in Dresden, Germany: A unique hanging cable-car navigates through Dresden, the oldest suspension railway in the world.

Puppentheater-Museum Berlin

Discover Puppentheater-Museum Berlin in Berlin, Germany: Puppet theater and museum holding a collection of more than 300.

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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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