laurathexplorer's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Edinburgh, Scotland

Balm Well

The healing properties of this well attracted royals and commoners throughout the Middle Ages.
Edinburgh, Scotland

The Scotsman Steps

The colorful stairs are made with marble from the world's major quarries.
Edinburgh, Scotland

The Miss Jean Brodie Steps

These steps offer a breathtaking view of one of Europe's most besieged fortresses.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Innocent Railway Path

The U.K.'s first underground railway line is now a lively thoroughfare for runners and cyclists.
Edinburgh, Scotland

George Mackenzie's Mausoleum

The tomb of one of Scotland's bloody historic villains is a magnet for bumbling desecrators.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Sir Nils Olav

This king penguin is a knighted brigadier of the Norwegian Army.
Edinburgh, Scotland

General Register Building of the National Archives of Scotland

Every birth, death, and marriage is recorded in these color-coded leather-bound books.
Edinburgh, Scotland

The Great Hall Ceiling at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery

Sprawled across the Great Hall ceiling are various constellations and images relating to the zodiac.
Edinburgh, Scotland

William Wallace and Robert the Bruce Statues

Overlooked by many, the two famous Scottish warriors guard the main gate of Edinburgh Castle.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Dunbar's Close

A verdant 17th-century-style garden hidden along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.
Edinburgh, Scotland

St. Bernard's Well

A beautiful Greco-Roman structure houses a well once believed to have healing powers.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Wild West Morningside

An American ghost town hides along a side street in Scotland's capital.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Beltane Fire Festival

Summer in Scotland begins with a spectacularly wild and colorful event rooted in ancient pagan traditions.
Edinburgh, Scotland

The Witchery

Near the former site of numerous witch burnings, this lavish Edinburgh mainstay pays homage to Scotland's brutal history.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Cramond Ghost Island

Accessible only at low tide, the deserted island is dotted with World War II ruins.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Old Calton Cemetery

A 18th century graveyard and its astonishing cortege of macabre iconography.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Burke & Hare Murder Dolls

Tiny effigies of the victims of Edinburgh's famous Anatomy Murders.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Gilmerton Cove

This series of Scottish caves has no clear purpose other than baffling historians.
Edinburgh, Scotland

The Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh

One of the oldest scientific gardens in Britain, containing more than 13,302 plant species in its core collection.
Edinburgh, Scotland

The Witches' Well

The fountain marks the area where hundreds of accused witches were burned at the stake.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Holyrood Abbey Ruins

Ruined 11th century abbey built by King David I in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg

Belval Blast Furnaces

Two standing giants remain as a tribute to Luxembourg's metallurgical past.
Berdorf, Luxembourg

Hohllay Cave

This Luxembourg cave is covered in cryptic looking marks left by mining activity.
Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Bock Casemates

An expansive complex of subterranean tunnels is all that remains of one of Europe's most formidable medieval fortresses.