bethbieger's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
Loading map...
Stockholm, Sweden

Birthplace of the Stockholm Syndrome

Now a hotel, this former bank was the site of a robbery that spawned a psychological phenomenon.
Ibadan, Nigeria

Kenneth Dike Library

Not only does this library house unique Arabic manuscripts, but it was also designed to keep the building cool during warm days.
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Brouwerij’t IJ

This bird-loving brewery is situated in an old municipal bathhouse, nestled beside a 300-year-old windmill.
Tokyo, Japan

Book and Bed Hostel

If you forgot something to read during your trip to Tokyo, this hostel has you covered.
Midleton, Ireland

Punishment Book at Jameson Distillery

The whiskey producer's archives includes a historical list of infractions committed by and associated penalties exacted upon employees.
Glaumbær, Iceland

Glaumbær Farm & Museum

This former farm In northern Iceland is now a museum, where visitors can tour beautifully-preserved turf houses.
Outer Hebrides, Scotland

The Scarista Bus

A mysterious, weather-beaten bus lies on the coast of Harris, enticing the curious to investigate.
Auburn, California

Foresthill Bridge

The tallest bridge in California was constructed for a project that was eventually cancelled.
Broadmeadow, Australia

Grandad's Magical Wonderland

This whimsical garden filled with fairies and incredible creatures has been enchanting children—and adults—since the 1970s.
Westminster, Massachusetts

The Spite Wall

One man built this massive wall to keep his neighbor from complaining about working on Sundays.
Goldfield, Nevada

Hard Luck Mine Castle

This magnificent, quirky home sits atop a literal gold mine in the middle of the Nevada desert.
Quincy, California

Keddie Wye

A showcase of engineering might that was also symbolic of westward expansion.
Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn Townhouse Secret Subway Exit

This innocent-looking townhome is actually a subway exit.
Manningtree, England

A House for Essex

This surreal art house looks like a geometric version of a small chapel.
Beirut, Lebanon

Maronite Mummies of the Qadisha Valley

Mummies preserved naturally for seven centuries.
Hökåsen-Badelunda, Sweden

Labyrinten vid Tibble (The Tibble Labyrinth)

This 2,000-year-old stone maze is one of the oldest in the country, but its purpose is still a mystery.
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Cats of Longwood Gardens

These lush botanical gardens employ the most purrfect pest control force.
Kalarrites, Greece

Holy Kipinas Monastery

This 13th-century monastery chiseled into the side of a mountain is equipped with a bridge that can be lifted to protect against raids.
Natural Bridge, Virginia

The Natural Bridge

A sacred site for Native Americans surveyed by George Washington and owned by both King George III and Thomas Jefferson.
Mgxotyeni, South Africa

Hole-in-the-Wall

A massive rock in the surf steeped in legends.
Bologna, Italy

Towers of Bologna

Over 100 towers were built in Bologna during the Middle Ages, but only 22 survive.
Ivolginskiy datsan, Russia

Ivolginsky Datsan

The mummified remains of Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov, Russia's most important Buddhist.
Turin, Italy

'Baci Rubati' ('Stolen Kisses')

This building has a giant piercing through one of its corners.
Henshaw, England

Sycamore Gap

Also known as "Robin Hood's tree," this tree became a famed location along Hadrian's Wall before it was cut down in an act of vandalism.