Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Minerve, France

Discover Minerve, France in Minerve, France: A well-preserved medieval village nested on a rocky outcrop and surrounded by a network of cliffs, natural bridges and canyons.

Arago Medallions

Discover Arago Medallions in Paris, France: 135 bronze medallions mark a French meridian line which once rivaled the hotshot Greenwich timeline.

World’s Oldest Basketball Court

Discover World's Oldest Basketball Court in Paris, France: Despite being considered a thoroughly American sport, basketball's oldest surviving playing field is found in the basement of a Paris YMCA.

The Court of Miracles in Paris

Discover Cours des Miracles (Court of Miracles) in Paris, France: Beggars were miraculously "cured" of their fake ailments when they returned home to this 17th century Paris slum each night.

Pierre Cardin’s Bubble House

Discover Pierre Cardin's Bubble House in Théoule-sur-Mer, France: Avant garde house of Pierre Cardin on the Cote d’Azur.

Pont d’Arc

Discover Pont d'Arc in Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, France: A natural arch carved by a river gave its name to the so-called "Cave of Forgotten Dreams.".

Serpent D’Océan

Discover Serpent D'Océan in Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, France: An aluminum skeleton brings Chinese mythology to the French shore.

Villa La Roche by Le Corbusier

Discover Villa La Roche by Le Corbusier in Paris, France: Architect Le Corbusier built his friend a cubist house to match his impressive collection of cubist art.

Musée National de la Marine

Discover Musée National de la Marine in Paris, France: Museum on French naval history, with magnificent figureheads, a historic diving suit, and a boat used by Napoleon.

La Tete Carrée Library

Discover La Tete Carrée Library in Nice, France: This massive blockhead sculpture hides an entire library.

The Grotesques of the Chapel of Bethlehem

Discover The Grotesques of the Chapel of Bethlehem in Saint-Jean-de-Boiseau, France: Do these monsters look familiar? The gargoyles on this church are all from pop culture.

Cimetiere de Picpus

Discover Cimetiere de Picpus in Paris, France: The headless bodies of more than 1,300 guillotined victims of the Reign of Terror are buried here in mass graves.

Clermont-Ferrand Cathedral

Discover Clermont-Ferrand Cathedral in Clermont-Ferrand, France: A Gothic cathedral created from volcanic rocks.

Jules Verne’s Tomb

Discover Jules Verne's Tomb in Amiens, France: Science fiction's grandfather has a fittingly marvelous tomb.

Chez Christiane

Discover Chez Christiane in Paris, France: BDSM, 1930s Style.

Astronomical Clock of Lyon

Discover Astronomical Clock of Lyon in Lyon, France: For hundreds of years, automatons moving to metallic music have been marking the passage of time.

Saint-Paul de Mausole

Discover Saint-Paul de Mausole in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France: The mental institution where Van Gogh created some of his most famous work now allows guests to walk in the artist's footsteps.

Arènes de Lutèce

Discover Arènes de Lutèce in Paris, France: Remains of Roman amphitheater hidden in a sleepy quarter of Paris.

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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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