Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Douaumont Ossuary

Discover Douaumont Ossuary in Fleury-devant-Douaumont, France: This modern French ossuary contains the jumbled bones of 130,000 WWI soldiers.

Machines of the Isle of Nantes

Discover Machines of the Isle of Nantes in Nantes, France: Massive puppet-automaton machines created by French artist collective Machines de l’Ile.

Leonardo da Vinci’s Tomb

Discover Leonardo da Vinci's Tomb in Amboise, France: The great Italian Renaissance painter was laid to rest here in the Chapel of Saint-Hubert.

Parc de Saint-Pons

Discover Parc de Saint-Pons in Gémenos, France: A public park off the beaten path with a beautiful waterfall and 13th century Cistercian abbey.

Le Jardin de Nous Deux

Discover Le Jardin de Nous Deux in Civrieux-d'Azergues, France: The fantastic architectural models of a French traveler.

Suspended Houses of Pont-en-Royans

Discover Suspended Houses of Pont-en-Royans in Pont-en-Royans, France: These quaint French houses dangle precariously over a precipice.

Musée Miniature et Cinéma

Discover Musée Miniature et Cinéma in Lyon, France: Monsters and miniatures are held in equal esteem at this wondrous museum.

Labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral

Discover Labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral in Chartres, France: The famous winding walk at Chartres is surrounded in mystery and myth.

Medici Column

Discover Medici Column in Paris, France: The spiral staircase hidden inside this giant Parisian column was likely built for Catherine de Medici's astrologer.

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.

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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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