Author: Ms. R.

Along the banks of the Valira River, which makes up the western border of Valira Park in La Seu d’Urgell, lies a set of cloisters, unusual in that they are detached from any building. What makes these cloisters even more unusual is that they do not feature saints and demons, but rather famous people from the modern era. Figures such as Albert Einstein, Charlie Chaplin, Winston Churchill, and Sigmund Freud adorn the capitals of the pillars. The modern cloisters……

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One of the largest pubcos in the United Kingdom, JD Wetherspoon runs almost 900 boozers across the country, several of which repurpose Grade II-listed historic buildings. One of its finest examples can be found in the town of Royal Tunbridge Wells, housed in a grand opera house built in Edwardian Baroque style. Boasting a capacity of 1,100, the Opera House originally opened in 1902 and was purchased by Union Cinemas in 1931 to be converted into a cinema. Though……

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In the Clifton area of Bristol is Goldney Hall, a grand mansion built in 1724 and currently used as one of the University of Bristol’s dormitories. Its gardens are home to an orangery, a gothic tower, a mysterious Hercules statue, and a shell-lined grotto, often considered the finest example from the 18th century. The Goldney Grotto, as it is commonly known, was created circa 1739 and designated as a Grade I listed building by English Heritage. The centerpiece of……

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From the 1960s to the 70s, Italy was quite notorious for its horror cinema, serving as a haven of excessive gore, Gothic aesthetics, and every shade of macabre. Particularly popular was the giallo genre and its unholy trinity—Mario Bava, Lucio Fulci, and Dario Argento of Suspiria fame—but it was also the heyday of exploitation, B-movies, cheap slashers, and erotic mysteries. Many of such Italian horror movies were set in a bleak old castle on the hilltop, where a mad scientist……

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This story was originally published on The Conversation. It appears here under a Creative Commons license. Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks in Ohio was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites on Sept. 19, 2023. The eight mound complexes that received this designation are spread across central and southern Ohio and were built between the beginning of the common era and the 12th century. The mounds are marvels of Indigenous science and astronomy, which helped Native Americans organize everything from……

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In the mostly rural Burgenlandkreis county, just southwest of Leipzig in Germany, a tradition of making cheese using millions of live mites dates back at least 500 years. Today, there is only one commercial maker of Milbenkäse left: Würchwitzer Milbenkäse Manufaktur, a two-man operation founded in 2006 by Helmut Pöschel, a retired biology teacher, and Christian Schmelzer, a theologian. “After the Wall came down, there were only a small number of people left producing mite cheese. Helmut then kept……

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Listen and subscribe on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. In this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, we’re in Amsterdam, learning about a badass woman who championed queer folx and provided a safe haven throughout World War II via her quirky bar in the red light district. MORE: Schedule a visit of Cafe ‘t Mandje with Badass Tours, which runs tours in Amsterdam focusing on women’s history, LGBTQ+ history, BIPOC history, and Jewish history, as……

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This Atlas Obscura–themed crossword comes from independent crossword constructor Brendan Emmett Quigley. He has been a professional puzzlemaker since 1996, and his pieces have appeared in dozens of publications. He’s also a member of the Boston Typewriter Orchestra. You can solve the puzzle below, or download it in .pdf or .puz. Note that the links in the clues will take you to Atlas Obscura pages that contain the answer. Happy solving!…

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