Archives: Atlas Obscuras

The Ghost of a Flea

Discover The Ghost of a Flea in London, England: William Blake claimed to have painted this gothic masterpiece after encountering this nightmarish being in a vision.

Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia

Discover Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia in Palestrina, Italy: The city of Palestrina was built around this magnificent terraced sanctuary dedicated to the pagan goddess Fortuna.

IFAN Museum of African Arts

Discover IFAN Museum of African Arts in Dakar, Senegal: Dakar is home to one of the oldest African art institutions in West Africa.

Tower of Memories

Discover Tower of Memories in Wheat Ridge, Colorado: A seven-story 1920s mausoleum outside Denver houses thousands of remains.

Antigua CORCO

Discover Antigua CORCO in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico's once thriving oil company is now an abandoned wonderland of rusty steel.

Still Life

Discover Still Life in London, England: Hackney's newest private museum and natural curiosity shop.

Dublinia

Discover Dublinia in Dublin, Ireland: Experience what life was like in Ireland during the Viking and medieval ages.

Um er-Rasas

Discover Um er-Rasas in Umm ar-Rasas, Jordan: The remains of three different ancient civilizations have been found at this rich archaeological site.

Little Sparta

Discover Little Sparta in Dunsyre, Scotland: This Arcadian garden in the Pentland Hills boasts over 270 artworks by Scottish artist and poet, Ian Hamilton Finlay.

L.R. Ingersoll Physics Museum

Discover L.R. Ingersoll Physics Museum in Madison, Wisconsin: A hundred-year-old museum filled with giant physics toys and experiments designed by grad students.

Dockey Wood Bluebells

Discover Dockey Wood Bluebells in Buckinghamshire, England: Each spring this woodland floor is carpeted with purplish flowers as far as the eye can see.

Eski-Kermen Cave Town

Discover Eski-Kermen Cave Town in Bakhchisaray, Crimea: One of the cave cities of Crimea, built by the Goths in the sixth century.

Montecasino Bird Gardens

Discover Montecasino Bird Gardens in Fourways, South Africa: Over 60 species of birds inhabit this colorful aviary park in South Africa.

Villa Patumbah

Discover Villa Patumbah in Zurich, Switzerland: This eclectic architectural gem played witness to Zurich’s colonial past.

Nile Mosaic of Palestrina

Discover Nile Mosaic of Palestrina in Palestrina, Italy: This splendid mosaic embodies ancient Rome's fascination with the exotic allure of Egypt.

St Mary’s Church

Discover St Mary's Church in Hertfordshire, England: Home to one of the tallest church spires in Europe, this historic church once played host to King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.

Ama Hut Hachiman Kamado

Discover Ama Hut Hachiman Kamado in Toba-shi, Japan: Huts like this were once a hub for the female divers who collected pearls and seafood off Japan's coasts.

Beatrix Potter Garden

Discover Beatrix Potter Garden in Birnam, Scotland: This Birnam-based garden honors the legacy of 19th-century children’s book author Beatrix Potter.

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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