Archives: Atlas Obscuras

The Witchery

Discover The Witchery in Edinburgh, Scotland: Near the former site of numerous witch burnings, this lavish Edinburgh mainstay pays homage to Scotland's brutal history.

Abandoned Menlo Castle

Discover Abandoned Menlo Castle in Galway, Ireland: A moody and picturesque riverside ruin overgrown with vegetation.

Ellesmere Island

Discover Ellesmere Island in Baffin, Unorganized, Nunavut: The third-largest island in Canada is one of the remotest places on Earth.

Imsouane

Discover Imsouane in Assaka, Morocco: Hidden behind mountains in Morocco, a remote town hides a thriving surfing community.

Wings of Tatev

Discover Wings of Tatev in Tatev, Armenia: The world's longest nonstop reversible cable car soars through spectacular scenery to the medieval Tatev Monastery.

Shoah Memorial of Milan

Discover Shoah Memorial of Milan in Milan, Italy: The train platform where Jews were sent to concentration camps is now preserved as a Holocaust memorial.

Ruthven Barracks

Discover Ruthven Barracks in Highland, Scotland: These ruins witnessed the final gathering of the failed Jacobite Rebellion.

McNutt Sculpture Garden

Discover McNutt Sculpture Garden in San Antonio, Texas: This hidden sculpture garden full of Wild West art is one of San Antonio's best-kept secrets.

Gilbert Stuart Birthplace

Discover Gilbert Stuart Birthplace in North Kingstown, Rhode Island: The idyllic colonial home of the artist behind the famous portraits of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

Vermont’s Marble Mansions

Discover Vermont's Marble Mansions in Fair Haven, Vermont: Two distinctive homes on a New England village green look like a couple of frosted wedding cakes.

Joel Sweeney’s Grave

Discover Joel Sweeney's Grave in Appomattox, Virginia: The final resting place of a controversial man who was instrumental in plucking the banjo from obscurity.

Ásatrú Temple

Discover Ásatrú Temple in Reykjavik, Iceland: Iceland's first pagan temple in 1,000 years is underway in Reykjavík.

Museu Frederic Marès

Discover Museu Frederic Marès in Barcelona, Spain: An eclectic collection of thousands of items owned by the sculptor Frederic Marès.

Jarman’s Coffin

Discover Jarman's Coffin in Little Gaddesden, England: Local legend says this unusual chimney is actually a broken-hearted man's tomb.

Jarman’s Coffin

Discover Jarman's Coffin in Little Gaddesden, England: Local legend says this unusual chimney is actually a broken-hearted man's tomb.

Trinity Loop

Discover Trinity Loop in Charleston, Newfoundland and Labrador: An abandoned amusement park hints at the twisted history of the Newfoundland Railway.

Fort Egbert

Discover Fort Egbert in Eagle, Alaska: This remote fort on the Yukon River is a vestige of the wild Alaska gold rush.

School Patrol Flagpole

Discover School Patrol Flagpole in Saint Paul, Minnesota: This plaque marks the spot where the first crossing guards helped get kids safely to school.

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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

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