ckoohle's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Bielefeld, Germany

Bielefeld Conspiracy

According to a satirical conspiracy theory that persists today, this German city of 300,000 is a hoax invented by the CIA.
New York, New York

Alice in Wonderland Statue

This whimsical group of statues is a favorite of children who love to climb all over Lewis Carroll's beloved characters.
Paris, France

Pep's Maison

One of the last umbrella repair shops in Paris upholds the nostalgic art of umbrella making.
Nottingham, England

The Lost Caves

Hidden in a grotto 26 feet below Nottingham's oldest hotel, this stylish subterranean drinking den is notoriously hard to find.
Darwin, Australia

Darwin Oil Storage Tunnels

World War II ended before these tunnels built to protect vital oil from Japanese bombs were ever used.
Columbus, Ohio

Gates of Hell

The entrance to this sinisterly named tunnel hides behind a Tim Hortons.
Matmatat-Al-Qadimal, Tunisia

Matmata Underground Houses

Made famous by 'Star Wars,' these troglodyte homes face an uncertain future.
Beer, England

Beer Quarry Caves

This Roman quarry once held secret masses and smuggler's contraband and is now home to rare species of bats.
London, England

Euston's Lost Tunnels

A network of concealed passageways lies within a busy London Underground station.
El Chaltén, Argentina

Cerro Fitz Roy

The inspiration for the Patagonia Clothing logo, Cerro Fitz Roy turns pink at sunrise.
Oakland, California

Cleveland Cascade

A restored 1920s cascade stairway provides one of the best views of Oakland's Lake Merritt.
Oakland, California

Lake Merritt's Bonsai Garden

Bonsai garden in Oakland is curated by the first non-Japanese female bonsai master in the United States.
Oakland, California

Chapel of the Chimes

Julia Morgan's Moorish-Gothic labyrinth of fountains, trees, natural light and Oakland's notable dead.
Italy

The Grotto Church of Saint Michael

A spiritual sanctuary in a natural cave.
George Town, Malaysia

Pinang Peranakan Mansion

The lavish, well-preserved home of a wealthy Baba Nyonya family is now a cultural museum.
Mpulungu, Zambia

Niamkolo Church

Now abandoned, this stone church was part of the missionary efforts that initiated the Christianization of Zambia.
Istanbul, Turkey

Yeralti Camii (Underground Mosque)

A surprising and unconventional mosque hidden in the subsoil of Istanbul.
Athens, Greece

Agia Dynamis

This small 16th-century church in Athens is almost entirely surrounded by a modern building.
Tielt-Winge, Belgium

Vlooybergtoren

The "stairway to heaven" lookout tower was built to resist weather, arson, and the laws of physics.
Santa Marta, Colombia

Ciudad Perdida

An ancient city hidden in the heart of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Valenciennes, France

Abandoned Eurostar Train

This is what trains will look like after the zombie apocalypse.
Denver, Colorado

Mile-High Steps at the Colorado State Capitol

The spot in the Mile-High City that's exactly 5,280 feet above sea level (at least for now).
London, England

K2 Telephone Boxes

The wooden telephone box hidden away in London's Piccadilly was the original prototype of the iconic kiosk.
Laupahoehoe, Hawaii

Kaluakauka (Doctor's Pit)

The spot where the namesake of the Douglas fir met his mysterious end on a Hawaiian volcano.