Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Jonas Caves

Discover Jonas Caves in Saint-Pierre-Colamine, France: A cave dwelling that was started by the Celts, expanded by monks, and finished by knights.

The Stravinsky Fountain

Discover The Stravinsky Fountain in Paris, France: A series of abstract, silly sculptures represent the works of a great modern classical composer.

Traboules Secret Passages

Discover Traboules Secret Passages in Lyon, France: Hundreds of hidden passageways weave through the old quarters of Lyon.

Salin Aigues-Mortes

Discover Salin Aigues-Mortes in Aigues-Mortes, France: This salt marsh in Southern France is as pink as the flamingos that inhabit it.

Château d’If

Discover Château d'If in Marseille, France: This historic island prison holds one of the dungeons from the Count of Monte Cristo even though it is a work of fiction.

Labrouste Reading Room

Discover Labrouste Reading Room in Paris, France: This off-limits room in the National Library of France is home to a system of pneumatic tubes, once used to bring books to readers.

Le Passe-Muraille

Discover Le Passe-Muraille in Paris, France: This surreal statue brings a famous French novel about a supernatural cad to arresting life.

The Duluc Detective Agency

Discover The Duluc Detective Agency in Paris, France: Noirish green neon marks the location of one of the oldest private detective agencies in France.

Julien Aurouze and Co.

Discover Julien Aurouze and Co. in Paris, France: A Parisian exterminator's shop whose storefront displays stuffed rats hanging from traps.

Grande Galerie de l’Évolution

Discover Grande Galerie de l'Évolution in Paris, France: Natural history museum celebrating biodiversity with a parade of taxidermy animals.

The Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital

Discover The Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, France: Pitié-Salpêtrière was the dumping grounds for women who received the dreaded diagnosis of "hysterical.".

Cave of Lascaux

Discover Cave of Lascaux in Montignac, France: Ancient paintings known as the "Sistine Chapel of Cave Art.".

Flame of Liberty

Discover Flame of Liberty in Paris, France: This life-size replica of the Statue of Liberty's flame is also a tribute to Princess Diana by default.

Tombées du Camion

Discover Tombées du Camion in Saint-Ouen, France: Stroll through retro Paris while shopping for old postcards and discarded doll heads.

Labyrinthe des Dragons

Discover Labyrinthe des Dragons in Peaugres, France: One of the greatest maze designer’s greatest mazes.

La Conciergerie

Discover La Conciergerie in Paris, France: This former “ante-chamber to the guillotine” has been refurbished to illustrate the brutal history of French justice.

Pierre Bazalgues Macabre Antique Stand

Discover Pierre Bazalgues Macabre Antique Stand in Saint-Ouen, France: Skeletons, medical artifacts, and other obscure and precious treasures all displayed in a wooden pharmacist's cabinet.

Paris Sewer Museum

Discover Paris Sewer Museum in Paris, France: The curious underground history of keeping Paris clean.

Le Chabanais

Discover Le Chabanais in Paris, France: A grotto-like lodge decorated with gilded mosaics, rocks and a noisy waterfall was the setting for the most sumptuous pleasure house of 1900s Europe.

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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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