philoursmars's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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philoursmars's activity rankings
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Places visited in Marseille, France
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Places added to Marseille, France
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Places edited in Tunisia
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Places added to Bruges, Belgium
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Places edited in Turkey
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Places added to Segovia, Spain
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Places edited in France
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Places edited in Egypt
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Places edited in Luxembourg
Doğubeyazıt, Turkey

Ishak Pasha Palace

Standing proud atop a Turkish bluff, this Ottoman palace has retained its grandeur despite being abandoned for centuries.
Marseille, France

Château d'If

This historic island prison holds one of the dungeons from the Count of Monte Cristo even though it is a work of fiction.
Liège, Belgium

Bueren Mountain

This giant urban staircase was built to keep the city's brave fighting men from getting waylaid in the red light district.
Paris, France

Jules Lavirotte's 29 Avenue Rapp

A scandalous Art Nouveau collaboration that set Paris all atwitter at the turn of the century.
Paris, France

Le Louxor Palais du Cinema

Egyptian Revival movie palace abandoned for decades and restored in 2013.
Çumra, Turkey

Çatalhöyük

The largest Neolithic ruins in the world hide a notably clean prehistoric metropolis.
Ghent, Belgium

Gravensteen

This fairytale castle was built as a show of power but was nearly torn down thanks to its history of torture.
Özkonak Belediyesi, Turkey

Özkonak Underground City

This ancient subterranean megalopolis is known for the hot oil traps that were installed above each of its entrances.
Bayatbademleri Köyü, Turkey

Termessos

Once described as the "Eagle's Nest," this ruined ancient city rests on a remote mountaintop.
Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg Astronomical Clock

There has been an astronomical clock on this spot since the 14th century.
Esch-sur-Sûre, Luxembourg

Esch-sur-Sûre Castle

Once the local rulers had gone these enchanting ruins housed common folk in an almost real life fairy tale.
Assesse, Belgium

Grotto of St Anthony of Padua

This collection of lurid religious statues tell the tales of a saint who stood down the devil.
Binche, Belgium

Carnival of Binche

The tiny Belgian town's ancient version of Mardi Gras involves eerie wax masks, sticks for warding off evil, and ostrich plume hats.
Brussels, Belgium

Comic Strip Route

This collection of over 50 murals celebrates Brussels' rich history as the self-proclaimed home of the "comic strip."
Zugarramurdi, Spain

Cave of Zugarramurdi

This Navarrese cave's history of witchcraft and pagan ritual is not just embraced, but recreated each year.
Istanbul, Turkey

Obelisk of Theodosius

This remarkably well-preserved Egyptian plinth is pretty well traveled for a giant piece of stone.
Bruges, Belgium

Basilica of the Holy Blood

Christ's blood allegedly preserved in a Belgian town.
Halle, Belgium

The Blue Forest

Each spring, a dreamlike carpet of bluebells overtakes the forest floor.
Paris, France

La Conciergerie

This former “ante-chamber to the guillotine” has been refurbished to illustrate the brutal history of French justice.
Paris, France

The Sausage Stained Glass of the Eglise Saint Eustache

With a history of slaughter, feast, and famine, remnants of the pork industry decorate this area--even its church.
Paris, France

The Room of Endangered and Extinct Species

A haunting collection of the vanished and disappearing natural world.
Paris, France

Lion of The Botanical Gardens

A majestic lion statue guards this Parisian botanical garden, and feeds on an unsettling item.
Paris, France

Paris Padlocks of Love

permanently closed
The celebrated eyesore created by starry-eyed sweethearts.
Aix-en-Provence, France

Bibliotheque Mejanes

A French library that makes sure its love of books is writ large... giant in fact.