lhoyne's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Bodiam, England

Bodiam Castle

A beautiful ruin of a 14th-century Plantagenet castle built by a medieval mercenary.
Villahermosa, Mexico

Mayan 2012 Prophecy Carvings

This singular broken monument, now housed in a museum, was the cause of a worldwide "Mayan Doomsday" phenomenon.
Huasca de Ocampo, Mexico

Los Prismas Basálticos Waterfalls

Two waterfalls flow down the cliff faces decorated with rare natural basalt columns.
San Pablo Villa de Mitla, Mexico

Column of Death

A mysterious pillar in an ancient burial chamber is said to predict how long you have to live.
Oaxaca, Mexico

Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca (Ethnobotanical Garden of Oaxaca)

A 16th-century monastery boasts a lush array of plants native to Mexico’s most biodiverse region.
Papantla, Mexico

Pirámide de los Nichos (Pyramid of the Niches)

The singular ruins of a mysterious lost city.
Monte Albán, Mexico

Monte Albán

These sacred Mesoamerican ruins feature peculiar petroglyphs hidden in the stones.
Cuilapam de Guerrero, Mexico

Princess Donají Tomb

This abandoned convent keeps the tomb of a legendary beheaded princess.
San Pablo Villa de Mitla, Mexico

Hierve El Agua

This beautifully deceptive waterfall is something far different from what it appears to be.
Chicago, Illinois

Damen Silos

These abandoned grain silos and tunnels are an urban exploration dream.
Sasebo, Japan

Huis Ten Bosch

Historical Japanese-Dutch relations are honored with haunted rides and flower fields in this replica town.
Isahaya, Japan

Konagai's Fruit-Shaped Bus Stops

This town near Nagasaki is flecked with fruit-flavored bus stops.
Shanghai, China

Shimao Wonderland Intercontinental Hotel

The world's first hotel built in an abandoned water-filled quarry.
Langfang Shi, China

Tianzi Hotel

Where better to stay the night than inside a trio of ancient Chinese deities representing "the good life."
Panjin Shi, China

Red Beach

A part of the world's largest marsh seems to be growing bright red Martian grass.
Sintra, Portugal

Pena National Palace

This unreal Portuguese palace looks as though it's made from a pile of different castles.
Olvera, Spain

Olvera Castle - Castillo de Olvera

Moorish signal station on a stratgic rocky outcrop.
Qinhuangdao Shi, China

Old Dragon's Head

Where the Great Wall of China meets the sea.
Kumamoto, Japan

Kumamoto Castle

The iconic castle that withstood a magnitude 6.2 earthquake has become a symbol of resilience.
Jodhpur, India

Mahila Baag Jhalra

Hidden in the shadow of a rocky fortress is one concubine’s long-forgotten legacy.
Quriyat, Oman

Majlis al Jinn Cave Chamber

This giant underground cave chamber can only be accessed through a small opening at the top.
Nakhl, Oman

Nakhal Fort

An imposing Omani fortress surrounded by date palm trees.
Sana'a, Yemen

Dar al-Hajar

Yemen's "Stone Palace" looks like it was carved right out of the tall stone column on which it is built.
Cooperstown, New York

Kingfisher Tower

A sewing machine tycoon built this miniature castle for the people and to beautify a lakeshore.