A mysterious emblem tucked in an small alleyway is actually the coat of arms of a heroic medieval family.

A floundering Polish shipyard was once the soul of the Solidarity movement that capsized communism.

Memorial to the lost dead of Gdansk, whose resting places were destroyed during World War II.

This 700-year-old structure is one of the most unique architectural and historic monuments in Gdańsk.

The site of the first battle of World War II.

This fairytale inspired, warped building houses restaurants, shops, and a radio station.

A haunting deserted hotel is a favorite with artists and photographers.

A former top secret military tunnel is now stuffed with snow and open year-round to skiers.

An ornate Thai pavilion in the middle of Sweden.

A botched 18th-century canal silenced one of Sweden's most magnificent waterfalls.

This serene wooded hilltop has a dark history as the climactic point of the Swedish witch trials.

A massive land art sculpture fills a green space once tarnished by a landfill.

A naturally occurring tunnel in this Nordic mountain makes it look like it's been shot.

This colorful statue welcomes visitors to a Barcelona park.

Padlocks cover this rickety footbridge with love.

A monument to Lenin has been transformed into a statue of everyone's favorite black-helmeted, fool-choking Sith Lord.

Disused seaplane hangar gets a second life as the jaw-dropping home of Estonia's museum of maritime history.

This dizzying tower was built to better broadcast the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

A black cat protests the City Guild in Riga's Old Town.

The oldest housing complex in Riga is a mini timeline of architectural trends.

Flamboyant architecture from the turn of 20th century.

A beautiful but toxic fountain of mercury.

A vista of the city and sea from atop the little-known viewing deck on an unassuming Columbus statue.

The oldest giants in Catalonia are now displayed in a 14th-century Gothic church.