Looking for a unifying history, Uzbekistan finds its answer in a 14th Century Turco-Mongol conqueror... despite the fact he wasn't Uzbek.

An 18-meter-long sarcophagus of a constantly growing dead prophet.

This "tower of death" has acted as an observatory, a religious hub, and an executioner's lair.

Ancient barriers wrap around what was once an important stop along the Silk Road.

Once a bustling fishing port, this semi-ghost town is now more than 90 miles away from the shore.

Light still pours into the ruins of this ancient Islamic observatory.

The Avenue of Mausolea is a series of grand palatial tombs.

Submerged trees jut ghost-like out of an idyllic turquoise mountain lake.

An outstanding piece of retro Sci-Fi architecture built into a sacred mountain.

The world's second-tallest flagpole stands proud despite dropping rank.

The first version of this stalwart construction appeared around 3,000 years ago.

This ancient Silk Road outpost overlooking the Wakhan Valley is miraculously still standing.

A building facade covered with the statues of 11 giants of Tajik literature.

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

A peculiar trapezoidal building covered with wonderful humorous reliefs.

This cheeky statue of a man defecating gold coins graces the facade of a medieval guildhall.

Twelve sweet, nutty, life-sized statues are housed in this second-story shrine to almond paste.

The Goose Girl of Göttingen, Germany might well be the most kissed girl in the world.

Every half hour the eye-rolling clock face sticks out its tongue to mock the good citizens of Koblenz.

The small alleys in Lübeck's Old Town are a result of medieval urban sprawl.

A stunning two-story timepiece within a medieval Brick Gothic church.

This magnificent museum claims to house the cranium of a disciple and the skull of a pope.

Twisted buildings adorn the banks of the Rhine river.

This Dresden church was purposely rebuilt Protestant after being demolished in World War II.