A vivid and terrifying mural blends pop-culture-style depictions of Hell with traditional Orthodox imagery.

Once the tallest building in Chisinau, this unique tower is a relic of Soviet architecture.

These Egyptian statues have survived for 3,400 years and were an acoustic wonder of the ancient world.

The ruins of a 12th-century seaside castle on the southwest coast of Scotland.

The ghost town left by the worst nuclear disaster of all time is being taken over by nature and urban explorers.

This attraction was abandoned after the Chornobyl disaster.

The dining hall that nourishes workers in Chornobyl's Exclusion Zone is also open to visitors.

This derelict superstructure was a very important warning system for the Soviet military.

Of all the houses that grace this neighborhood, only one is a testament to surreal architecture.

This snug medieval lane is one of the narrowest streets in the world.

A fire once nearly devoured this gorgeous 14th-century Gothic cathedral.

The European towns of Brașov and Râșnov each have proud signs reminiscent of the Hollywood sign.

This once-derelict building is now one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world.

Romania's triumphal arch looks out over Bucharest.

The kitsch mansion of the former Romanian president Nicolae Ceaușescu features a golden bathroom.

One of the most photographed locations in the entire city.

An abandoned Byzantine fortress and notorious prison.

A black cat protests the City Guild in Riga's Old Town.

The oldest housing complex in Riga is a mini timeline of architectural trends.

A statue built to honor the elite soldiers who fought for Latvia during World War I.

The reconstruction of this prominent building fulfilled a long-written command.

A stone marker and sculpture in the city of Riga stake a claim for the very first community Christmas tree.

Latvia's symbolic mountain-shaped national library is home to millions of cultural tomes.

An old hill fort covered in over 100,000 crosses is a symbol of Lithuanian nationalism and beliefs.