xavierholland's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
Loading map...
Isle of Skye, Scotland

Isle of Skye Dinosaur Tracks

On this stunning Scottish island, you can walk in the footsteps of dinosaurs.
Humboldt County, California

Avenue of the Giants

One of the most scenic stretches of road in America winds between some of the country's oldest trees.
Sequoia National Park, California

General Sherman

Quite simply the largest tree in the world (by volume).
Laguna Beach, California

Victoria Beach's Pirate Tower

This strange seaside tower got its name from a wealthy eccentric who would hide coins among its stones.
Inyo County, California

Sailing Stones of Racetrack Playa

The rocks in this arid basin leave trails of movement behind them.
Mammoth Lakes, California

Devils Postpile National Monument

Towering basalt columns, a creation of fire and ice.
Yosemite National Park, California

Horsetail Fall's Firefall

Under the right circumstances, this waterfall in Yosemite briefly turns a luminescent fiery orange.
San Francisco, California

Alcatraz Island

In all of the 29 years it was in operation, no prisoners ever escaped successfully... or so they claim.
San Jose, California

The Winchester Mystery House

A peculiar mansion built by the troubled heir to the Winchester Rifle Company fortune.
Barcelona, Spain

Inquisition's Blazon

On the wall of this medieval walkway, a symbol of the Spanish Inquisition.
Segovia, Spain

Alcázar de Segovia

This magnificent castle grew from a small Moorish fortress, and reportedly inspired two iconic Disney castles.
Tarragona, Spain

Pont del Diable

Stunning Roman aqueduct used for 1900 years and still standing.
Martorell, Spain

Pont del Diable

A gravity-defying "devil's bridge" that has a surprising architectural feature for its stability.
Segovia, Spain

Segovia Aqueduct

One of the few remaining ancient aqueducts described by Frontinus as 'the most solemn testimony of the Empire.'
Ávila, Spain

Medieval Walls of Ávila

These magnificent city walls rise from the barren sun-baked Spanish plains like something straight out of a fairytale.
Valencia, Spain

Cat House

This house's itty bitty size means no humans allowed.
Zugarramurdi, Spain

Museo de las Brujas (Witches Museum)

A museum dedicated to the Spanish occult in a town that was terrorized by the Inquisition.
Guimarães, Portugal

Castelo de Guimarães (Guimarães Castle)

This castle has links to Portugal’s founding and struggles for independence.
Valongo, Portugal

Valongo Sanatorium

An abandoned tuberculosis hospital said to be haunted by the patients who died within its walls.
Stockholm, Sweden

Codex Gigas (The Devil's Bible)

An illuminated manuscript comprising the life's work of a lone monk, inexplicably decorated with a portrait of Satan himself.
Goslar, Germany

Dukatenmännchen

This cheeky statue of a man defecating gold coins graces the facade of a medieval guildhall.
Berchtesgaden, Germany

The Eagle's Nest

Soaring over 6,000 feet in the Bavarian Alps, this beer garden was once Hitler's 50th birthday present.
Wierschem, Germany

Eltz Castle - Burg Eltz

This medieval castle overlooking the Elzbach river looks just like it did hundreds of years ago.
Mühltal, Germany

Castle Frankenstein

The birthplace of an eccentric alchemist and possible inspiration for the fictional reanimator of monsters.