Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
Dungan Mosque
Built entirely of interlocking pieces, construction of this Chinese Muslim house of worship required zero nails.
Places I want to go
Places on this traveler's wishlist.
Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
Built entirely of interlocking pieces, construction of this Chinese Muslim house of worship required zero nails.
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
This retro, UFO-like structure is a remnant of the Soviet-era circus.
At-Bashi District, Kyrgyzstan
Extremely isolated Silk Road caravanserai in the middle of nowhere.
Kantubek, Uzbekistan
Former island in the Aral Sea used to be a top-secret Russian bio-weapons facility.
Pernik, Bulgaria
One of the largest mines in Bulgaria is now home to a vast museum more than 100 feet underground.
Sofia, Bulgaria
Sofia's legislative center is continuously reinventing itself.
Asparuhovo, Bulgaria
These natural cliffs look like they are a part of an old castle complex.
Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
This massive stone and steel monument remembers a century-old battle that cost thousands of lives and nearly destroyed the city.
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
A gigantic statue of a Russian soldier watches over the ancient city of Plovdiv, a prominent reminder of the Soviet period in Bulgaria.
Sofia, Bulgaria
A vast Communist-era exhibition space in the Bulgarian capital.
Gabrovo, Bulgaria
A mountain pass in Bulgaria's Balkan Mountains was the site of four historic battles.
Shipka, Bulgaria
A magnificent, glittering building tucked into a tiny Bulgarian mountain town.
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
This ancient theater, restored in the 20th century, lives on as a venue for dramatic and musical performances.
Varna, Bulgaria
This once-grandiose behemoth of a monument from the socialist era now sits quiet and closed up.
Samovodene, Bulgaria
Outstanding, eerie frescoes and decorations fill this 19th-century monastery.
Vidin, Bulgaria
The second-largest Jewish temple in Bulgaria was deserted after World War II, seized by the communist government and then abandoned again.
Sofia, Bulgaria
A striking symbol of the Bulgarian capital.
Sofia, Bulgaria
A Bulgarian monument to Russia's role in World War II is constantly being painted in pop culture protest.
Sofia, Bulgaria
A collection of art from Bulgaria's time as a communist state.
Rilski manastir, Bulgaria
This historic black and white monastery is one of Bulgaria's architectural jewels.
Shumen, Bulgaria
This massive concrete sculpture is said to be the heaviest communist monument on Earth.
Belogradchik, Bulgaria
Bizarrely shaped rock formations in northwest Bulgaria come with equally bizarre legends.
Ardino, Bulgaria
An architectural marvel that spans the Arda River, and has stories of a haunted past.
Predjama, Slovenia
Castle and secret tunnel withstood a siege until its owner was killed by the Holy Roman Empire, while sitting on the toilet.