Places Mathias Van de Velde Wants to Go

This castle ruin in the middle of nowhere is a gem for wildlife enthusiasts.

This collection of 80 polarizing foods aims to challenge your subjective notions of repulsion.

A public park commemorating the iconic works of a satirist, with medieval ruins on the side.

Look up as you explore Baku’s old town to find a monument to the local feline population.

A colorful and enigmatic cemetery in the middle of nowhere.

A massive collection of petroglyphs dating back some 40,000 years.

What might be the largest completely Jewish town in the world outside of Israel now faces dwindling numbers and empty streets.

This mysterious but iconic tapered tower appears in many Azeri fairytales and legends.

Spring that emits water and fire at the same time is said to have remedial properties, and sparked its own religion.

The building's fluid, wavelike walls are a true feat of architectural ingenuity.

Azerbaijani ghost town, decaying after a war left it an armed forces buffer zone.

In the foothills of the lesser Caucasus, a centuries-old fortress still stands.

Resonant stone, that has been played since prehistoric times.

Foreign invaders almost left this lovely Caucasus palace alone—almost.

A unique museum dedicated to culture and artistry of carpet weaving.

Home to nearly a third of the world's mud volcanoes, Azerbaijan is home to a messy, bubbling, and sometimes explosive landscape.

This striking icon of the disputed Republic of Artsakh caused a stir at a Eurovision Song Contest.

A scenic canyon with thick forests and historic ruins.

Swirling layers of white and red rock earned these mountains their festive nickname.

A shrine of fire worship built on top of a natural flame.

A quirky, larger than life sculpture on an old bunker pays tribute to an eccentric carnival entertainer.

A Danish fisherman spent 25 years covering nearly every inch of his home with tens of thousands of shells as a gift to his wife.

Hans Christian Andersen for the postmodern world.

A former smithy turned cultural hub with the capital's largest mural space.