Atlas Obscura
Maybe you’re running from a killer, or you’re lost in your old high school on your way to the final exam. Maybe your teeth are crumbling and falling out, or your car is spinning out of control. But whatever form your bad dreams take, they’re almost certainly part of your life, and an unwelcome part at that. “I've always been personally very interested...
Built in the 1280s by King Edward I, Conwy Castle is widely considered one of the finest fortifications of medieval Europe, worthy of its World Heritage status. Adjacent, spanning the River Conwy, is a magnificent suspension bridge with big castellated towers similar in style with the castle. But wait—a suspension bridge of such size can’t possibly...
There has perhaps been no other person who has captured the spirit of Colorado quite like John Denver. His song “Rocky Mountain High” was adopted as a state song in 2007, and in 1974 he was named poet laureate of Colorado. After decades of moving from place to place, he made his final home in Aspen. After Denver died in a plane crash in 1997, the...
No one knows precisely when the Patan Dhoka was first constructed, but it was likely sometime during the Malla period (13th – 18th centuries). It has been refurbished many times over the centuries, including after the infamous 1934 earthquake when it was severely damaged. Most recently, it received a facelift in 2018 when it was repainted to honor...
The grand ruins of the Argyll and Bute Hospital, first known as the Argyll District Asylum, are a fine example of the institutional psychiatric care provided across Scotland from the 1800s onwards. This building stands as a tangible reminder of its once vital role in providing healthcare to the local community of Lochgilphead and the wider area of...
Isola Boschina is the oldest known island of the river Po—the longest river in Italy. When the island emerged in the 17th century, it became property of the bishop of Mantua. The island is big enough and in a good position to be one of the few stable river islands. The bishop gave the usage rights to a local noble family who eventually took the whole...