Ursa Major's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Budapest, Hungary

Béla Lugosi Bust at Vajdahunyad Castle

Late at night, the bust of the "Dracula" actor was snuck onto the facade of this Budapest castle.
Budapest, Hungary

Vajdahunyad Castle

This Hungarian castle was built out of cardboard and wood until it proved so popular that it got upgraded to stone.
Budapest, Hungary

Szabo Ervin Library

A 19th century artistocrat's mansion, turned into a library, hidden in a modern library.
Trakošćan, Croatia

Trakošćan Castle

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

Museum of the National Bank of Belgium

One of the oldest bank museums in Europe showcases unusual currencies of the world and other money-related miscellanea.
Paris, France

Flame of Liberty

This life-size replica of the Statue of Liberty's flame is also a tribute to Princess Diana by default.
Paris, France

Jules Lavirotte's 29 Avenue Rapp

A scandalous Art Nouveau collaboration that set Paris all atwitter at the turn of the century.
Paris, France

Shakespeare and Company

This iconic Parisian bookstore doubles as the "Tumbleweed Hotel" for traveling writers.
Paris, France

Bibliothèque nationale de France (National Library of France)

This massive library holds what was once the largest book collection in the world.
Paris, France

Basilique Notre-Dame-des-Victoires

A 400-year-old church covered floor to ceiling in ex-voto offerings from the faithful.
Paris, France

Le Passe-Muraille

This surreal statue brings a famous French novel about a supernatural cad to arresting life.
Paris, France

Montmartre Cemetery

A horde of stray cats rule in this secluded Parisian cemetery under a bridge.
Paris, France

Temple de la Sybille (The Temple of Sybille)

This structure atop a craggy cliff in one of the most beautiful parks in Paris boasts an unbeatable view.
Ljubljana, Slovenia

Stara Elektrarna (The Old Power Station)

A relic from the Industrial Revolution got a second life as a contemporary performing arts space.
Ljubljana, Slovenia

Ljubljana Mosque

Slovenia's first mosque is a striking mix of Islamic and modernist architecture.
Postojna, Slovenia

Olm

The "dragon babies" of southeastern Europe.
Bratislava, Slovakia

Neolog Synagogue Memorial

Dedicated to a synagogue that was destroyed after having survived World War II.
Bratislava, Slovakia

Hans Christian Andersen Statue

A sculpture of the beloved author surrounded by characters from his fairy tales.
Bratislava, Slovakia

The Pamätné Kamene of Bratislava

Brass plaques embedded in pavement preserve the memories of those who lost their lives at the hands of Nazis during World War II.
Bratislava, Slovakia

Schöner Náci

A sculpture of a beloved local figure, who tipped his top hat to everyone he passed on the streets of Bratislava.
Ljubljana, Slovenia

'The Area With Ljubljana's Own Weather'

A public work of art that also provides some relief from the summer heat.
Paris, France

Musée de la Vie Romantique

Down a cobblestone alleyway is a museum dedicated to Romanticism, with a secret garden.
Paris, France

Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint)

The oldest continuously operating mint in the world that has been making coins since the 9th-century.
Angers, France

La Maison d'Adam (Adam's House)

A medieval house adorned with enigmatic carvings, including one of a man displaying his masculine attributes.