Before firefighters, villagers relied on this simple hook to save their thatched cottages from a fiery doom.

The tallest building in the Republic of the Congo is a source of pride despite its towering maintenance costs.

A crypt believed by many Congolese to be a center of black magic.

This roadside monument commemorates the huge weapon built by an Ethiopian emperor's hostages.

A powerful tribute to the victims who suffered under Ethiopia's most devastating regime.

This nightlife venue and cultural center keeps a unique Ethiopian musical tradition alive in the nation’s capital, but breakneck urban development threatens to shut it down.

Walk through the history of a Dutch truck manufacturer, from 1928 to today.

Inspired by "The Starry Night" this Dutch bike path turns into a glowing work of art each night.

A UFO-shaped event building originally intended to be a science museum showcasing the future.

Crouch down, stretch tall, and be sure to flail your legs to pay homage to the Monty Python classic.

Constructed by forced laborers, this submarine pen is now a museum and war memorial.

This gilded emblem was once stolen by a Cookie Monster impostor, who demanded a charitable ransom for its return.

The mass grave of the 27 victims of the "Vampire of Hanover."

A bronze statue of Momo, a girl holding a huge ear, sits waiting to listen to anyone who needs it.

Striking occult iconography on a medieval German church.

After this historic church was destroyed by World War II bombing, its blackened shell was left standing as a monument.

An extraordinary mechanical calculator designed by the mathematician and philosopher Gottfried Leibniz.

This gateway to subterranean Hanover plays jazz, pop and rock to surprised passersby.

A spitting ode to a German serial killer.

One of the oldest wine cellars in Germany is now a restaurant beneath Bremen's town hall.

A stunning gilt bronze relief denounced by Hitler as "degenerate art"—even though it was dedicated to the Nazi leader.

Böttcherstraße's bells, extolling Nordic virtues and the great conquerors of the world.

One room inside this building mesmerizes all with its parabolic dome.

The only microgravity tower in Europe can produce nine seconds of weightlessness.