A late-night restaurant empire was launched from this humble storefront.

A local dive where religious kitsch, Southern identity, and queer culture collide.

This wondrous hideaway is suspended in a bamboo forest above a sanctuary for rescued llamas and alpacas.

This Norman castle was once the site of a Victorian-era prison, and now exists as a luxury hotel.

The former home of Victoria's first Lieutenant-Governor.

A kitsch shrine dedicated to the ogre-slaying folktale hero born from a peach.

The hilltop town of Segni was once home to an ancient Roman colony and garrison.

A little-known castle set in a nature reserve.

The former home of the hard partying literary power couple is now one of the only museums devoted to their story.

One of Canada's most incredible rare book collections holds hundreds of thousands of gorgeous tomes that the general public can touch.

A book collector's dream, this Toronto bookstore has the world's first "Biblio-Mat," a random book vending machine.

This half-forgotten fortress was constructed by the Ottoman conqueror of Constantinople.

One of the notorious Soviet leader Joseph Stalin's many summer retreats.

A 200-year-old bar with a cheeky name claims to have served Edgar Allan Poe his final drink.

The walls are decorated with whimsical murals painted by the creator of the Madeline franchise.

Eat a tasty meal in the house where John Steinbeck was born.

A 19th century library favored by Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft, known by locals as "the Ath."

A giant bronze coil of feces is both a tribute to doggie defecation and a reminder to pick it up.

The notorious Wild West outlaw was raised in this unassuming abode.

One of America's first spies started out as a teacher in this little red one-room schoolhouse.

The only thing sweeter than the potatoes is the canine proprietor of this roadside stall.

Local legend says the remains of Father Christmas lie within the medieval grounds.

Mysterious library of an infamous financier and spiritual seeker.

The world's largest collection of porcelain "veilleuses-theiere," or night light teapots, includes four that belonged to Napoleon.