mcurtis ae9d5908's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Hamburg, Germany

St. Pauli Elbtunnel

Hamburgers are intensely proud of their tunnel beneath the river.
Kiel, Germany

Hörnbrücke

The world's first and only three-segment bascule bridge folds up into the shape of a capital "N" to let boat traffic through.
Schleswig, Germany

The Bog Bodies at the Schleswig-Holstein Landesmuseum

Ample proof that watery ends make for well-preserved, millenia-old mummies.
Hinte, Germany

Suurhusen Church

The Suurhusen church tower in Germany leans over farther than the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Bourtange, Netherlands

Fort Bourtange

This beautifully designed star-shaped fort was the premier defense system of the late 1500s.
Völklingen, Germany

Volklinger Ironworks

A former ironworks that was the first UNESCO industrial site.
Colmar, France

Statue of Liberty, Colmar

A copy of the Statue of Liberty greets visitors to the birthplace of Auguste Bartholdi.
Cartagena, Spain

Bateria de Castillitos

The two massive guns that defended Cartagena Bay.
Istanbul, Turkey

Kaiser Wilhelm Fountain

A fountain standing as a testament to a doomed alliance.
Istanbul, Turkey

Basilica Cisterns of Istanbul

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.
Edessa, Greece

Kanavourgio

Once the largest rope factory in Greece, this abandoned plant now stands like a ghost of industry past.
Thessaloniki, Greece

Thessaloniki Train Cemetery

Thousands of rusting train cars have been slowly falling apart on the edge of Greece's second largest city.
Pula, Croatia

Pula Arena

One of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters is still used today, but for less brutal events.
Zadar, Croatia

Sea Organ

A musical instrument played by the sea.
Šibenik, Croatia

Sea Tunnel at St. Anthony’s Canal

This unique structure allowed boats to bypass underwater mine barriers in the channel to enter the harbor.
Ston, Croatia

Walls of Ston

Longest fortress system anywhere in Europe.
Kupari, Croatia

The Abandoned Hotels of Kupari

The now-overgrown beach resort was once frequented by Yugoslav military elite.
Kodër Spaç, Albania

Spaç Prison

This abandoned prison was so notorious that its name has become a metaphor throughout Albania.
Tirana, Albania

Pyramid of Tirana

An Albanian monument to the Communism that nearly crushed the country is now a crumbling wreck.
Zvërnec, Albania

St. Mary’s Monastery

One of 200 religious buildings recognized as a “culture monument.” 
Përmet District, Albania

Benja Thermal Baths

A medieval bridge stretches over a sulfur-rich river that leads to year-round natural hot springs.
Gjirokaster, Albania

Gjirokaster Castle

This ominous Albanian fortress houses tanks and downed planes as a reminder of their victories over Western imperialism.
Sarandë District, Albania

Syri i Kalter: The Blue Eye

A naturally beautiful, seemingly bottomless deep blue spring.
Butrint, Albania

Butrint National Park

A scenic UNESCO site that doubles as a habitat for various forms of wildlife.