Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Mont Saint-Michel

Discover Mont Saint-Michel in Mont Saint-Michel, France: This 1,300 year old monastery built atop a single rock was once only accessible depending on the whims of the tide.

House of Nicolas Flamel

Discover House of Nicolas Flamel in Paris, France: The oldest stone house in Paris was built by its most famous alchemist.

Montmartre Cemetery

Discover Montmartre Cemetery in Paris, France: A horde of stray cats rule in this secluded Parisian cemetery under a bridge.

Shakespeare and Company

Discover Shakespeare and Company in Paris, France: This iconic Parisian bookstore doubles as the "Tumbleweed Hotel" for traveling writers.

59 Rivoli

Discover 59 Rivoli in Paris, France: Notorious artist squat renovated into legal studios.

Petite Ceinture

Discover Petite Ceinture in Paris, France: Abandoned railway line circling the city of Paris.

Catacombes de Paris

Discover Catacombes de Paris in Paris, France: The vast, legendary catacombs hold secrets much stranger than stacked bones.

Violet Volcanic Tea

Discover Violet Volcanic Tea in Furnas, Portugal: When Azorean green tea meets volcanic hot springs water, a luminous brew is born.

Parque el Desafío

Discover Parque el Desafío in Gaiman, Argentina: A retiree's challenge to build an outdoor wonderland out of trash.

Cabildo de Córdoba

Discover Cabildo de Córdoba in Córdoba, Argentina: One of the oldest colonial buildings still standing in South America.

Lourdes’ Grotto

Discover Lourdes' Grotto in Mar del Plata, Argentina: A grotto replicating one of the world's most famed Marian apparitions sits across the ocean from the original.

Sanctuaries of Difunta Correa

Discover Sanctuaries of Difunta Correa in Caucete, Argentina: Trash-filled shrines to an unofficial saint known for her endless breast milk dot the highways of Argentina.

The Time Capsule of Ushuaia

Discover The Time Capsule of Ushuaia in Ushuaia, Argentina: This plaza at the end of the world teems with monumental tributes to a problematic history, and laser discs.

Campo del Cielo Meteorite Field

Discover Campo del Cielo Meteorite Field in Almirante Brown Department, Argentina: A vast landscape of craters created by meteorites.

Argentine Vintage Funeral Cadillacs

Discover Argentine Vintage Funeral Cadillacs in Caleu Caleu Department, Argentina: The clients of these mysterious hand-crafted funeral cars took their last ride in style.

Jaramillo Petrified Forest

Discover Jaramillo Petrified Forest in Deseado Department, Argentina: Conifers from the Jurassic Period transformed into stone in Patagonia.

Tierra Santa

Discover Tierra Santa in Buenos Aires, Argentina: Bible stories are brought to life with gloriously cartoonish kitsch in this South American theme park.

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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