Author: Ms. R.

Tallinn’s oldest cemetery—a 16th-century graveyard located in the historic suburb of Kalamaja— was controversially transformed in the 1960s into a recreation park during the Soviet occupation. Recently, recognition of the park’s importance to Estonian cultural heritage has led to its restoration and it is now a space for both recreation and memory. Several of the ancient tombstones have been retrieved and are gathered on display by the original baroque gate tower, and a special area marks former burial spots…….

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Tucked away in a tiny street near the center of Rione Sanita lies a peculiar secret garden. Hidden away from roving eyes, accessible only by appointment, this beautiful 10,000 square foot yard hides a wealth of history and mystery. Flushed with mandarin, lemon, even banana plants, fountains, a stage for outdoor theater and music performances, and a litter of over 20 cats, this quiet idyll is operated and cared for by the caretaker Gennaro Oliveiro. Oliveiro leads guests through……

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Sometime in his adolescence, in the 700s, Lu Yu, an aspiring writer and professional clown, had his first taste of tea soup. This probably occurred not far from Lu’s childhood home: a Buddhist monastery that overlooked a scenic lake in Central China. But Lu was unimpressed; he called the soup “ditch water.” What bothered Lu was not the tea, but all the other ingredients. The offending brew contained scallions, ginger, jujube dates, citrus peels, Dogwood berries, and mint, all……

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Carillons are peculiar musical instruments that basically consist of bells that are played with the use of a keyboard. The instrument had its peak popularity in the Low Countries (Netherlands and Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium), in the Middle Ages. Therefore, it could be expected that one of the world’s superlative carillons would have been a gift from Belgium to its destination country. Less expected, however, is what this destination country is. The world’s tallest carillon is located……

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With several of the country’s most important legal bodies concentrated in one city, Karlsruhe is the seat of German law. There’s the Bundesgerichtshof (Federal Court of Justice), the Generalbundesanwalt beim Bundesgerichthof (Federal Public Prosecutor at the German Court of Justice), and the Bundesverfassungsgericht (Federal Constitutional Court). Since 2005, an extraordinary art installation has underscored Karlsruhe’s deeply rooted ties to law and order. In creating the piece, artist Jochen Gerz first interviewed dozens of judges, law enforcement officers, lawyers, and……

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The Grote Kerk (the “large church”) of Naarden is one of the town’s most prominent features, dating back to the 15th century. Besides the beautiful interior and connections to renowned Czech philosopher John Amos Comenius, people with a sharp eye will notice what appear to be—and are in fact—cannonballs lodged in the walls of the building. After Napoleon’s defeat in the 1813 Battle of Leipzig against the Sixth Coalition, the victors swept through many of his recently acquired territories,……

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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 visit a road outside Lancaster, California with grooves that play the finale of the William Tell Overture. Our podcast is an audio guide to the world’s wondrous, awe-inspiring, strange places. In under 15 minutes, we’ll take you to an incredible site, and along the way you’ll meet some fascinating people and hear their stories. Join us daily,……

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