Ursa Major's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Paris, France

Fountain of Innocents

A 16th-century fountain marks the site of a lost medieval cemetery once filled with mass graves.
Paris, France

The Bears of Gobelins

During the summer months, giant teddy bears take over Paris near Les Gobelins metro station.
Paris, France

Carousel of Extinct and Endangered Animals

Known as the "Dodo Manège," this carousel features a herd of animals that have disappeared—or may be gone soon.
Paris, France

Grande Galerie de l'Évolution

Natural history museum celebrating biodiversity with a parade of taxidermy animals.
Paris, France

The Wall of Philip II Augustus

The remains of the medieval wall that once surrounded Paris with ties to the construction of the Louvre.
Paris, France

Arènes de Lutèce

Remains of Roman amphitheater hidden in a sleepy quarter of Paris.
Paris, France

Foucault's Pendulum

19th century pendulum and a clock restored by a rogue group of guerilla artists.
Paris, France

Centre Pompidou

An "inside out" building in the historical center of Paris, featuring Europe’s largest modern art museum.
Chevreuse, France

Promenade des Petits Ponts

A total of 22 tiny bridges cross this canal of the Yvette River, forming a unique trail.
Bratislava, Slovakia

Július Satinský Statue

This statue points to another unusual companion work of art often overlooked by visitors.
Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Melusina Statue

This magenta statue commemorates the legendary marriage between a mermaid and the city's founder.
Budapest, Hungary

Zero Kilometer Stone

The geographical center of Budapest is marked with a 10-foot-tall stylized zero.
Budapest, Hungary

Columbo Statue

Uh, pardon me, ma'am, but I couldn't help noticing that there's a Columbo statue in the middle of Budapest.
Budapest, Hungary

The Holy Right

The mummified right fist of a 1,000-year-old saint-king sits inside an ornate golden reliquary.
Budapest, Hungary

Mátyás Fountain

A triumphant marble and bronze fountain depicting a 15th-century Hungarian king and his hunting party.
Budapest, Hungary

The Flying Nun

The true meaning behind this sculpture remains unknown.
Budapest, Hungary

Béla Lugosi Bust at Vajdahunyad Castle

Late at night, the bust of the "Dracula" actor was snuck onto the facade of this Budapest castle.
Budapest, Hungary

Vajdahunyad Castle

This Hungarian castle was built out of cardboard and wood until it proved so popular that it got upgraded to stone.
Budapest, Hungary

Szabo Ervin Library

A 19th-century artistocrat's mansion, turned into a library, hidden in a modern library.
Trakošćan, Croatia

Trakošćan Castle

This Croatian fairytale castle is slowly falling apart thanks to years of neglect.
Brussels, Belgium

Museum of the National Bank of Belgium

One of the oldest bank museums in Europe showcases unusual currencies of the world and other money-related miscellanea.
Paris, France

Flame of Liberty

This life-size replica of the Statue of Liberty's flame is also a tribute to Princess Diana by default.
Paris, France

Jules Lavirotte's 29 Avenue Rapp

A scandalous Art Nouveau collaboration that set Paris all atwitter at the turn of the century.
Paris, France

Shakespeare and Company

This iconic Parisian bookstore doubles as the "Tumbleweed Hotel" for traveling writers.