Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Jardin Rosa Mir

Discover Jardin Rosa Mir in Lyon, France: A tiled, multi-level garden of survival in Lyon.

Musée des Plans-Reliefs

Discover Musée des Plans-Reliefs in Paris, France: The Sun King's military models, saved from the Louvre.

Musee Robert Tatin

Discover Musee Robert Tatin in Cossé-le-Vivien, France: A self-built mosaic house and sculpture park.

36 Rue Saint Sulpice

Discover 36 Rue Saint Sulpice in Paris, France: An unusual number plate signifies the building's saucy past.

Jean-Paul Marat’s Bathtub at Musée Grévin

Discover Jean-Paul Marat's Bathtub at Musée Grévin in Paris, France: A magical, macabre wax museum, beloved by locals, uses real artifacts to depict an assassination from the French Revolution.

Strasbourg Astronomical Clock

Discover Strasbourg Astronomical Clock in Strasbourg, France: There has been an astronomical clock on this spot since the 14th century.

Musée de l’Absinthe

Discover Musée de l'Absinthe in Auvers-sur-Oise, France: One woman's decades-long obsession with the "La Fée Verte.".

Doctor Charcot’s Library

Discover Doctor Charcot's Library in Paris, France: The personal library of the founder of modern neurology is open to visitors.

Château de Montségur

Discover Château de Montségur in Montségur, France: This French castle is said to have once held the Holy Grail but is now a gorgeous mountaintop ruin.

Musée Marmottan Monet

Discover Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris, France: Former hunting lodge of a duke who was an avid collector of impressionist works.

Plan de Phazy

Discover Plan de Phazy in Risoul, France: Since ancient times these picturesque springs have been providing bathers with healing waters.

La Piscine

Discover La Piscine in Roubaix, France: Museum in a swimming pool where the water still flows.

Argonaute Submarine

Discover Argonaute Submarine in Paris, France: The Argonaute submarine was the French navy's pride and joy in the 1950's.

Musée Fragonard

Discover Musée Fragonard in Maisons-Alfort, France: The only remaining collection of flayed figures made by French "madman" Honoré Fragonard.

Mechanical Dragon Clock

Discover Mechanical Dragon Clock in Blois, France: A beautiful and classically designed villa, with an hourly infestation of monsters.

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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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