Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Mini-Paris

Discover Mini-Paris in Vaïssac, France: This miniature Paris, built out of trash, is one man's two decade labor of love.

Basilica of St. Pius X

Discover Basilica of St. Pius X in Lourdes, France: Beneath the city of Lourdes, France is a massive, concrete church.

Filitosa

Discover Filitosa in Sollacaro, France: This Corsican Neolithic site is full of pre-Roman megalithic structures that may or may not be penises.

The World’s Largest Solar Furance

Discover Odeillo Solar Furnace in Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via, France: 10,000 mirrors concentrate the sun's rays to generate power for the world's largest solar furnrace.

Pont de Gau Ornithological Park

Discover Pont de Gau Ornithological Park in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, France: Thousands of flamingos and other bird species flourish in these Camargue wetlands.

La Maison à Vaisselle Cassée

Discover La Maison à Vaisselle Cassée in Louviers, France: A former milk-delivery driver and his wife turn their home into a glimmering mosaic.

Auberge Ravoux

Discover Auberge Ravoux in Auvers-sur-Oise, France: The room where Vincent van Gogh died.

Statue of Liberty, Colmar

Discover Statue of Liberty, Colmar in Colmar, France: A copy of the Statue of Liberty greets visitors to the birthplace of Auguste Bartholdi.

Fort Louvois

Discover Fort Louvois in Bourcefranc-le-Chapus, France: A castle-like sea fort from the 17th century is now a museum to oyster farming.

Treguennec Pebble Crusher

Discover Treguennec Pebble Crusher in Tréguennec, France: The haunting concrete remains of a Nazi pebble crusher can still be found in this small French commune.

Fort of Ratonneau

Discover Fort of Ratonneau in Marseille, France: A crumbling island fortress that seems to be covered in a field of stone crosses but is simply incomplete.

Fontaine de Vaucluse

Discover Fontaine de Vaucluse in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, France: Even France's favorite aquatic son Jacques Cousteau, couldn't get to the bottom of it.

Underground Sound Sculptures

Discover Underground Sound Sculptures in Loches, France: Artist and musician Will Menter creates musical sculptures.

Argentière Glacier

Discover Argentière Glacier in Chamonix, France: Trek up this glacier before it disappears.

Notre Dame du Raincy

Discover Notre Dame du Raincy in Le Raincy, France: 1920's reinforced concrete church by architect Auguste Perret changes the face of modern design.

Roc-aux-Sorciers Ancient Artwork

Discover Roc-aux-Sorciers Ancient Artwork in Angles-sur-l'Anglin, France: Exquisite examples prehistoric bas-relief carvings.

Nantes’ Natural History Museum

Discover Nantes' Natural History Museum in Nantes, France: Home to the "Rat King" of Nantes and other wonders of the natural world.

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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

PP ToS