This celebration of Latvia’s freedom and independence avoided demolition over half a century of Soviet occupation.

The reconstruction of this prominent building fulfilled a long-written command.

Access to this hidden site of a 14th-century mass suicide is prohibited, unless it is to pray for the dead.

Inspired by the famous sculptures on Easter Island, this head serves as a popular meeting spot by Shibuya Station.

This gnome sculpture and his wonderous hat forces train passengers to do a double-take.

An enormous pair of straw sandals woven in the traditional way—to keep demons at bay.

A Buddhist temple on an artificial island that houses a monument to the fugu fish.

Only the face remains of this giant Buddha statue, which is said to be a source of luck for students.

This enormous monument is one of the most iconic structures in Tokyo, rudely nicknamed "The Golden Turd."

This monument celebrates this shopping district's past history as a feudal silver mint.

This dockworkers' lunch joint has been left leaning by a century of storm floods.

Tragic reminders of the 1945 firebombing campaign over Tokyo still haunt this bridge.

An eclectic sculpture park rises atop a giant pile of ashes in Sweden.

An 11th-century runestone decorates the halls of Terminal 2 of this Scandinavian travel hub.

This charming Latvian lane doubled as Baker Street on the Soviet Union’s version of Sherlock Holmes.

A statue of the legendary Celtic warrior queen who fought the Roman invaders stands in one of the cities she once destroyed.

This grisly exhibit houses skeletons and weapons from a devastating 14th-century clash.

A king's bloodstained shirt is among the gruesome collection of artifacts displayed below Stockholm's Royal Palace.

Finally reunited, the three effigies now stand in a museum courtyard.

What looks like a birch tree smushed between two pieces of glass often confounds commuters.

A plaque marks the house in Stockholm where the French philosopher René Descartes lived up until his death.

A labyrinth of clothing, electronics, and other counterfeit items.

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

This collection of 80 polarizing foods aims to challenge your subjective notions of repulsion.