This abandoned Croatian stronghold never saw a great deal of conflict but it is still a beloved relic nonetheless.

Narrow-gauge railway with its own personal power grid.

This cluster of little wooden huts once ground local farmers’ wheat into flour during the days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

This heart-shaped island looks substantially less lovely after a recent bulldozing project.

A musical instrument played by the sea.

Island wonderland for communist autocrats.

The shell of a medieval fortress offers commanding views of the area it once protected.

Double spiral staircases are not unheard of, but they are very rare.

The world's largest historic armory was established by independent citizens to defend themselves from the wars of larger forces.

The Renaissance-era courthouse is a relic from the fortified town's centuries of Venetian rule.

The medieval "dragon" on an Austrian city's coat-of-arms comes to life in a fountain.

The only gulag ever to exist in socialist Yugoslavia.

Humble beginnings for one of the world's most famous scientists.

A centuries old castle atop a dormant volcano houses museums devoted to both women and witches.

The Slovenian architect designed many landmarks in the capital city, including his own dream house.

Martin Bricelj Baraga's monolithic sculpture measures the blueness of the sky, and changes color to match it.

A whimsical bridge adorned with decorative dragons.

This abandoned Slovenian military barracks has become a punky-political art squat.

A chain of 16 wondrous lakes formed as a result of the gradual dissolution of soluble layers of bedrock.

Croatia's towering concrete blossom grows from the site of a World War II concentration camp.

The world's oldest grape-producing vine has survived four centuries of turmoil and even has its own anthem.

Trimmed trees grow alongside the graves like topiary tombstones.

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

Once a state-of-the-art tuberculosis treatment spa, these ruins are now ruled by paintball players.