Atlas Obscura

Josef Broz Tito occupied a unique place in the cultural memory of the countries that previously comprised Yugoslavia. To some, he was a human rights-violating authoritarian. To others, he was a “benevolent dictator” who kept simmering ethnic tensions from boiling over, as they did after the breakup of Yugoslavia and subsequent Bosnian war. What better legacy to pair with the treasured Bosnian past times of sipping coffee and beer than his? At Cafe Tito, the mythical man watches over patrons from

Located at 8 rue Poissonnerie, this ancient house is famous for its impressive façade dating back to 1584.  This makes it one of the last remaining examples of such a painted house from that period left in the city.  The facade was decorated using "sgraffito" a technique popular in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries.  Sgraffito is done by applying different layers of plaster tinted in contrasting  colours to a moistened surface. It is said by some that the scene depicts Adam and Eve in the

The Mountain House isn't just a restaurant; it's a dining experience tucked among the redwoods of Kings Mountain in Woodside California. A winding mountain road must be traveled to reach the destination nestled beneath some of California's tallest trees. The rustic cabin feels storybook-like, as if it were built for a family of gnomes rather than hungry diners. Inside, the windowed ceiling dining room shows towering redwoods offering a humbling reminder of just how small we are in the presence o

Located slightly northwest of Harvard's Arnold Arboretum and within a residential area is Larz Anderson Park. A relatively small park compared to others in the area, but within this park contains a grand carriage house built during the Victorian era and housed within is the oldest automotive collection in the United States dating back to before the 20th century.  The park and the auto museum are named after French born American diplomat Larz Anderson. He had a long diplomatic career serving as s

Verlée is a small hamlet located an hour and a quarter's drive south-east of Brussels. Apart from a few limestone farmhouses, the village itself is small and of little interest. However, when leaving Verlée via the road to Petit Avin, visitors are surprised to discover a stone obelisk in the middle of the countryside. It stands on a ridge alongside the road. There are no nearby buildings and no signs explaining its presence. There is no inscription on it, and only the carved garlands at the top

What is a cryptid? A cryptid is an animal whose existence has been suggested but not proven by science—creatures like Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, the Chupacabra, and the Jersey Devil. The term comes from cryptozoology, the study of “hidden animals.” Quick Reference: Cryptid Destinations at a Glance Destination Location Cryptid Hours Admission Access Notes International Cryptozoology Museum Bangor, ME Multiple Check website Varies Reopened April 2026 at new location North American

You don’t normally expect to encounter the gods of Olympus while strolling through a suburban park outside Madrid. But Alcorcón, a city better known for apartment blocks and shopping centers than classical mythology, has quietly created its own version of Mount Olympus—and it comes complete with a solar system.  La Ribota Park, on the southern edge of the city, is an unassuming place: a pleasant patch of greenery where locals come to walk, relax, and escape the surrounding urban landscape. Yet s

Linh Phong Pagoda, widely known locally as Ong Nui Pagoda, stands as one of the most sacred and culturally significant spiritual landmarks in the region, dramatically positioned against the slopes of the rugged Ba Mountain range. Rooted in centuries of local heritage, the temple complex offers a deeply serene atmosphere where visitors embark on both a physical and spiritual journey by conquering a magnificent path of 600 stone steps leading up the mountainside. At the summit, the temple is renow

A bridge not for the ones who are afraid of heights... The Intschi-Reuss bridge is mainly used as a railway bridge. In the end, there isn't much to connect on both sides of the bridge. But to let the few inhabitants on one side of the bridge access the bus station on the other side, they decided to build a path underneath the bridge. So you can walk between the two massive concrete boxes which carry the load of the trains. But don't be afraid of heights — the only thing supporting you will be so

This is a statue memorializing the U.S. Army’s Green Berets and other Special Forces soldiers who gallantly brought the fight to the Taliban in Afghanistan in the early days after September 11th. During their action they spent time riding into combat on horseback along side their Afghan allies.   The statue, by artist Douwe Blumberg, is 1 1/2 times life size and is a detailed version of a combat ready soldier on horseback. Incorporated in the base of the statue is a piece of steel from the World

“A Christmas Carol” starring George C Scott as Scrooge was filmed on location in Shrewsbury and broadcast on CBS in the United States and released in theaters in the UK in December 1984.  An original gravestone, the details long weathered away, was used for the fictional memorial to Ebenezer Scrooge. It still lies just beyond the towering Yew Tree,  in the graveyard beside St Chad's Church. 

In a town known for basketball and as the birthplace of James Dean, perhaps the best-kept secret is the Quilters Hall of Fame. The inspiration for the Hall of Fame was the woman who owned the house, Marie Webster. Marie was born in nearby Wabash, Indiana, in 1859 and died in Princeton, New Jersey, in 1956. During her most productive quilting years, from 1911 to 1921, her quilt patterns were published in Ladies' Home Journal, which was the leading women's magazine at the time. She ran a successfu

Poste Thiers is the most famous red brick building in Nice.  This iconic Post Office is located at 21 Avenue Thiers. Poste Thiers was built in 1931 by government architect Guillaume Tronchet.  The construction used about 300,000 red bricks which were imported from Sarzana, Italy. The distinctive red brick masonry stands out in Nice because it is a sharp contrast to all the surrounding white Mediterranean stucco and stone facades. The building is designed in the Art Deco style with cubist stained

America’s geography is unmatched in diversity, spanning from scorching, sandy deserts to snow-capped mountains and dense swamps; coastal wetlands to high, grassy plains. There’s perhaps no better way to experience this incredible variety than by taking a back to basics approach and living in harmony with the land. In other words: camping. So grab your hotdogs, tents, hiking poles, and potable water—we’re hitting the road, taking you to camping sites around the country that are far more than your

Where to stay is a pivotal part of any trip, sometimes just as important as the destination itself. The place you rest your head can dictate not just the quality of sleep you get but the kinds of activities you choose, the people you meet, and the way you engage with the culture around you. That’s especially true at these accommodations, which are anything but ordinary—combining thoughtful design with unique entertainment and access to nature. From a secluded forest cabin to a lively circus camp

Illinois is known for its haunted houses and Halloween extravaganzas: the kinds of places that draw lines out the door and attract visitors from all over the country. But beyond these creepy crowd favorites are a number of lesser-known spooky spots, all with backstories both historical and paranormal—like the “devil baby” that haunts a former Chicago settlement house or the witchy tomb that draws in fans of the occult from far and wide. The Prairie State is home to all manner of legendary urban

The Town Hall has been central to Durham's history since 1350 and has opened its doors to the public following refurbishment work. Now everyone can discover its rich history and hidden stories. Audio guides, interactive information points and short films help you to explore this extraordinary building and the remarkable individuals who helped shape the city.  Learn about the powerful Prince Bishops, the evolution of local government and the historic and ongoing roles of the Mayor and the Mayor's

In a subterranean chamber under the massive Liverpool ONE shopping centre is the infrastructure that turned Liverpool from a lacklustre port city into a global powerhouse of shipping. While the city got it's charter back in 1207 with the intention of it being a port city, it struggled to gain much success. It was overshadowed by nearby Chester and lacked decent infrastructure; Loading and unloading ships was very slow, sometimes taking weeks to unload, as ships would anchor in the deep water of

Bristol has no shortage of churches, but one of its strangest temples is devoted to nature. Outside the University of Bristol’s School of Chemistry, artist Luke Jerram’s Palm Temple resembles a futuristic chapel made of wood and stained glass. Created in 2020 to celebrate the 600th anniversary of Brunelleschi’s famous dome in Florence, it eventually found a permanent home in Jerram’s native Bristol, where he donated it to the university. The structure is an ingenious architectural illusion. Two

The Prince of the Lilies is one of the signature images of Minoan Crete, reproduced on postcards, book covers, and museum posters worldwide: a slender, muscular figure wearing a crown of lilies and peacock feathers, striding forward through a garden, one hand on his chest. It's usually presented as a king, sometimes a priest-king, ruling from Knossos around 1500 BCE. The problem is that almost none of that figure actually survived. Excavated in fragments by Arthur Evans' team in the early 1900s,