The Raaz library

Stories of places and their past

Explore 300 selected stories from the Raaz Atlas. Each one links to its sources and can be opened on the map.

Vespasian began it around 72 AD
Colosseum, IT
Most Catholic daimyo apostatized
Nagasaki, JP
Jean Parisot de Valette held Malta
Valletta, MT
And Joaquim Cardozo
Brasília, BR
Banks of the Seine UNESCO site in 1991
Eiffel Tower, FR
Geneva lies at 46°12' North
Geneva, CH
Now the First Emperor of a unified China
Great Wall of China, CN
Aged 25–30 million years
Lake Baikal, RU
Appointed by Kim Il Sung
Pyongyang, KP
Abu Yusuf Ya'qub al-Mansur
Rabat, MA
The Manesse Codex
Zurich, CH
He established the city as Alexandreia
Alexandria, EG
Basel was destroyed by the Magyars in 917
Basel, CH
Ranking third in North Africa
Casablanca, MA
Comprising over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands
Great Barrier Reef, AU
On 18 November 1727
Jaipur, IN
Since the 1990s
Lake Tanganyika, ZM
Lausanne Cathedral was consecrated in 1275
Lausanne, CH
Construction appears to date from two Sapa Incas
Machu Picchu, PE
Construction began in 1881 and stopped in 1889
Panama Canal, PA
Capturing leader Rumiñahui and ending organized resistance
Quito, EC
Laid out between 1860 and 1867
Rennes, FR
The statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886
Statue of Liberty, US
Covering 95.2% of the archipelago
Svalbard, NO
The Turks and Caicos Islands is
Turks and Caicos Islands, GB
Named for a resemblance
Porto-Novo, BJ
The population was 52,885 in 2024
Acre, IL
From the late 13th century
Angkor Wat, KH
Arrived on June 14, 1940, from Tarnów
Auschwitz, PL
A small town on a clay tablet
Babylon, IQ
Baden-Baden formally got its current name in 1931
Baden-Baden, DE
In the 20th century
Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family, ES
The Roman Baths were constructed around 60 AD
Bath, GB
Signed during the 2017 G7 summit
Bergamo, IT
So Odisha built a new one
Bhubaneswar, IN
The Bosporus Strait is a natural
Bosporus Strait, TR
It was established in 1753
British Museum, GB
Catania is the second-largest city in
Catania, IT
The Maya built it in the Terminal Classic
Chichen Itza, MX
Illogan in 1935
Cornwall, GB
The fortress came before the city
Cusco, PE
It separates Asian Turkey from European Turkey
Dardanelles, TR
New York City
Empire State Building, US
Capital of the province of Ferrara
Ferrara, IT
The Forbidden City is the imperial
Forbidden City, CN
The archipelago is located on the Nazca plate
Galapagos Islands, EC
Irving Morrow and Charles Ellis
Golden Gate Bridge, US
Lifting the ground 5,000 to 10,000 feet
Grand Canyon, US
Around 3000 BC
Konya, TR
Three provinces became one prefecture
Kyoto Prefecture, JP
The foundations went down on 9 August 1173
Leaning Tower of Pisa, IT
Alberto Pitentino redirected the River Mincio
Mantua, IT
From the 2000s to the 2020s
Mekong River, LA
Two cones, one summit
Mount Ararat, TR
Palmyra is an ancient city in central Syria
Palmyra, SY
The earliest remains date back to 515 BC
Persepolis, IR
By Decision 189/2001/QĐ-TTG
Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park, VN
The Oscans founded five villages here
Pompeii, IT
First appeared in 1661–62
Red Square, RU
The Historic Center of Salvador
Salvador, BR
Ultimately draining into the Gulf of St. Lawrence
St. Lawrence River, CA
Two miles west of Amesbury
Stonehenge, GB
Ground broken on 11 September
The Pentagon, US
The Maghsharan Tuareg are credited with founding it
Timbuktu, ML
From the late Oligocene to the late Miocene
Titicaca, BO
Settled around 3600 BC
Troy, TR
Into a transverse chasm 1,708 metres wide
Victoria Falls, ZM
Following the withdrawal of Pan American Airways
Wake Island, US
Hartmann III of Dillingen founded Winterthur in 1180
Winterthur, CH
With small portions extending into Montana and Idaho
Yellowstone National Park, US
That was AD 71
York, GB
Aachen Cathedral features an octagonal central chapel
Aachen Cathedral, DE
Located about 50 km southwest of Alexandria
Abu Mena, EG
And the Temple of Athena Nike
Acropolis of Athens, GR
In 580 BC
Aeolian Islands, IT
Aït Benhaddou is a historic ksar along the
Aït Benhaddou, MA
According to Walter Spink
Ajanta Caves, IN
A municipality and district of Antalya Province
Alanya, TR
Near the Golden Gate strait
Alcatraz Island, US
A palatine city, not a palace
Alhambra, ES
La Tène era bronze ax-heads from
Altdorf, CH
During the Soviet demarcation of Central Asia
Andijan, UZ
Its central towers standing for Mount Meru
Angkor, KH
Paulinus destroyed the sacred groves
Anglesey, GB
Antigua Guatemala is a city in
Antigua Guatemala, GT
Founded a settlement near the Kadamba River
Anuradhapura, LK
Also known as Via Appia
Appian Way, IT
Two years just for the foundations
Arc de Triomphe, FR
Founded in 324
Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, IT
Located in Iraq
Assur, IQ
Axum is the historic capital of
Axum, ET
Until the 1980s
Aysén Region, CL
About 67 km northeast of Beirut
Baalbek, LB
That mining continued throughout the Middle Ages
Bad Ems, DE
Bismarck survived assassination attempt in 1874
Bad Kissingen, DE
After World War II
Baden, AT
Built to commemorate a campaign
Badshahi Mosque, PK
An active stratovolcano straddling the Chinese–North Korean border
Baekdu Mountain, KP
Construction was concentrated around Old Bagan
Bagan, MM
Balkh is a city in northern
Balkh, AF
William Smith of Aberdeen designed the castle
Balmoral Castle, GB
Bam is a city in Kerman province
Bam, IR
In 1931, during the Great Depression
Banff National Park, CA
Bangor is a cathedral city and
Bangor, GB
The Behistun inscription is a large
Behistun inscription, IR
Have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2000
Bellinzona, CH
In 1776, Maria Theresa and her son
Belvedere, AT
And notably the Berlanga Cup
Berlanga de Duero, ES
In 1557, a forest charter was issued
Białowieża Forest, PL
Bosra is a major archaeological site
Bosra, SY
Winning championships in 1907, 1910, 1912, and more
Botafogo F.R., BR
It was designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans
Brandenburg Gate, DE
The British Library is the national
British Library, GB
Brussels Airport is the main international
Brussels Airport, BE
It was established on February 25, 1928
Bryce Canyon National Park, US
It started as somebody's house
Buckingham Palace, GB
Carved possibly around the 6th century
Buddhas of Bamiyan, AF
The acropolis of Butrint was built
Butrint, AL
During the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B period
Byblos, LB
Castle of pottery jars
Caltagirone, IT
Preparing for the 1982 FIFA World Cup
Camp Nou, ES
Canterbury Cathedral is a historic church in England
Canterbury Cathedral, GB
Capernaum was a fishing village on
Capernaum, IL
The Visigoths raided Cartagena circa 620–625
Cartagena, ES
Spain as part of a World Heritage Site
Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, ES
The Cave of Altamira is a
Cave of Altamira, ES
The town was the seat of
Celje, SI
Construction began in 1857
Central Park, US
Since the early 15th century
Charles Bridge, CZ
On March 24, 1663
Charleston, US
President of the Maine-et-Loire department
Château de Montsoreau, FR
Contracted in medieval Greek to Cherson
Chersonesus, UA
Chiang Mai is situated on the
Chiang Mai, TH
The government instituted the Gaida Gasti
Chitwan National Park, NP
From 1922 to 1931
Christ the Redeemer, BR
New York City
Chrysler Building, US
It was consecrated on 13 September 335
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, PS
The church was dedicated on 31 May 339
Church of the Nativity, PS
Ciudad Bolívar is the capital of
Ciudad Bolívar, VE
Cocos Island is a volcanic island
Coco Island, CR
Attracting an average of 6 million visitors annually
Cologne Cathedral, DE
The post was commenced on 28 January 1680
Colonia del Sacramento, UY
The Crozet Islands are a sub-Antarctic
Crozet Islands, FR
Ctesiphon was founded in the late 120s BC
Ctesiphon, IQ
At the prompting of the Oracle of Delphi
Cyrene, LY
Mount Damavand is a dormant stratovolcano in Iran
Damavand, IR
Dasht-e Lut is a desert featuring
Dasht-e Lut, IR
Michelangelo created the David from 1501 to 1504
David, IT
The church of Saint-Marcel
Delémont, CH
Dessau was first documented in 1213
Dessau, DE
Djenné-Jéno was first settled around 200 BC
Djenné, ML
In the 12th century BC
Djerba, TN
Forming École royale des ponts et chaussées
École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, FR
The Egyptian pyramids are ancient masonry
Egyptian pyramids, EG
Alongside the nearby Ajanta Caves
Ellora Caves, IN
Which had been the capital of Arzawa
Ephesus, TR
Ceased service in 1994
Erie Canal, US
With Gottfried Semper as the architect
ETH Zurich, CH
It was declared a national park in 1947
Everglades National Park, US
Part of the Laurel Highlands in southwestern Pennsylvania
Fallingwater, US
The city Akbar built and left
Fatehpur Sikri, IN
Situated 191 nautical miles off the Brazilian coast
Fernando de Noronha, BR
Thomas F McMillan built a cabin
Flagstaff, US
Florence Cathedral formally the Cathedral of
Florence Cathedral, IT
Frauenfeld is first mentioned in 1246 as Vrowinvelt
Frauenfeld, CH
In 1157, Berthold IV
Fribourg, CH
In 744, Saint Sturm
Fulda, DE
119 kilometers south of Colombo
Galle, LK
An area of approximately 40,000 interlocking
Giant's Causeway, GB
Inspired by English football stadiums
Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, IT
The pyramid of Khafre
Giza pyramid complex, EG
Limiting workdays to 12 hours
Glarus, CH
And Santa Fe Railway's main line
Grand Canyon National Park, US
The Great Enclosure walls are constructed without mortar
Great Zimbabwe, ZW
Serving as the capital of Guantánamo Province
Guantánamo, CU
A UNESCO biosphere reserve east of Bilbao
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, ES
The wall was built by three Roman legions
Hadrian's Wall, GB
Located in the Vijayanagara district of east-central Karnataka
Hampi, IN
It is the pre-eminently sacred site of Sikhism
Harmandir Sahib, IN
Situated between the Roman and Parthian/Sasanian Empires
Hatra, IQ
Hattusa, also known as Hattuşa, Ḫattuša, Hattusas, or
Hattusa, TR
Heard Island and McDonald Islands are
Heard Island and McDonald Islands, AU
A city in Hyōgo Prefecture
Himeji Castle, JP
The building was completed in April 1915
Hiroshima Peace Memorial, JP
Five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars line the sidewalks
Hollywood Walk of Fame, US
A consortium named Six Companies
Hoover Dam, US
It was certified as a National Geopark
Huangshan, CN
Took the monastery under his protection in 1133
Interlaken, CH
Plague in two lakeside cemeteries, 1338
Issyk-Kul, KG
The current structure dates to 1875
Itsukushima Shrine, JP
Told by Butchulla elder Olga Miller
K'gari, AU
Kairouan is a historic city in Tunisia
Kairouan, TN
Manage the park jointly with Parks Australia
Kakadu National Park, AU
Minister Siriwardhana constructed the Asgiri Maha Viharaya
Kandy, LK
Holy Roman Emperor and the King of Bohemia
Karlovy Vary, CZ
Commonly known as Karnak
Karnak Temple Complex, EG
With a population of about 5 million people
Kathmandu Valley, NP
The Kerguelen Islands were discovered by
Kerguelen Islands, FR
The founder of the Sasanian Empire
Kerman, IR
Kiyomizu-dera is a Buddhist temple in eastern Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera, JP
Together with Phaistos
Knossos, GR
Extending to 219,322 hectares (541,960 acres)
Komodo National Park, ID
Situated just south of its border with Uzbekistan
Köneürgenç, TM
Koper is the fifth-largest city in Slovenia
Koper, SI
The Hospitallers rebuilt the castle in the 1140s
Krak des Chevaliers, SY
Oak first, then white limestone
Kremlin, RU
And Grand Hetman Konstanty Ostrogski
Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, UA
It was inaugurated on 3 August 1778
La Scala, IT
One way in, one way out
Lake Balaton, HU
Dating back at least 4 million years
Lake Biwa, JP
Covering 13,512 km²
Lake Maracaibo, VE
A 49 km (30 mi) long tunnel
Lake Sevan, AM
Focusing on the Shaft
Lascaux, FR
Also known as Lepcis Magna
Leptis Magna, LY
A 71-meter (233 ft) stone statue
Leshan Giant Buddha, CN
Lloret de Mar is a Mediterranean
Lloret de Mar, ES
With 19 dating to the Roman period
Locarno, CH
People have been here at least 11,000 years
Lofoten, NO
British whaling barque anchored June 1834
Lord Howe Island, AU
It was established in 1997
Lorentz National Park, ID
In the 8th century CE
Luang Prabang, LA
Gautama Buddha delivered a sermon to his disciples
Lumbini, NP
Commonly known as Luzhniki Stadium and formerly
Luzhniki Stadium, RU
With a population of 221,141 in 2024
M'banza-Kongo, AO
Roughly halfway between Tasmania and Antarctica
Macquarie Island, AU
It was founded in 1396 by Parameswara
Malacca, MY
The first statue was replaced with
Manneken Pis, BE
Officially Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho
Maracanã Stadium, BR
Mardin is a city in Turkey's Mardin Province
Mardin, TR
The Marquesas Islands are volcanic islands
Marquesas Islands, PF
Masada is a mountain-top fortress complex
Masada, IL
Mauna Kea is a dormant shield
Mauna Kea, US
A priest and historian from the Ptolemaic Kingdom
Memphis, EG
Merv, also called the Merve Oasis, was a
Merv, TM
Arrived from Mount Athos with followers in 1344
Meteora, GR
Simone da Orsenigo was the architect
Milan Cathedral, IT
Its earliest Minoan settlement dates to 2000 BC
Miletus, TR
Over Prithviraj Chauhan
Minaret of Jam, AF
Modica is a city in Sicily
Modica, IT
Since the 19th century
Montreux, CH
Founder of the Islamic Emirate of Córdoba
Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, ES
The mountain and most of the
Mount Athos, GR
Mount Kinabalu is protected as Kinabalu Park
Mount Kinabalu, MY
Arranged with stars and the planets Jupiter
Mount Nemrut, TR
1st Baron St Helens
Mount St. Helens, US
Mount Tai is associated with sunrise
Mount Tai, CN
During the Middle Ages
Murom, RU
Juan de Villanueva designed the building
Museo del Prado, ES
Under Alfred H. Barr Jr. 's direction
Museum of Modern Art, US
On Linear B tablets
Mycenae, GR
Nablus is a city in the West Bank
Nablus, PS
Designated as an Institute of National Importance
Nalanda Mahavihara, IN
The National Gallery is located in London
National Gallery, GB
In collaboration with IBM Research
Nazca Lines, PE
Its watershed spans 11,798 square kilometers
Neretva, BA
Sometimes referred to as Mesambria or Melsembria
Nesebar, BG
In 1011 Rudolph III presented the
Neuchâtel, CH
The Hôtel de Ville was completed in 1886
Neuilly-sur-Seine, FR
Formed 18,000–14,000 years ago
Neusiedl Lake, HU
Approximately 180 kilometers west of Arusha City
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, TZ
In the Nineveh Plains of Upper Mesopotamia
Nimrud, IQ
Successive monarchs such as Tiglath-pileser III
Nineveh, IQ
Niokolo-Koba National Park is a protected
Niokolo-Koba National Park, SN
Following the decline of the Neo-Assyrian Empire
Nippur, IQ
Was designed by Vincenzo Sinatra
Noto, IT
A former pupil of Le Corbusier
Nova Gorica, SI
Nyon is a municipality in Nyon
Nyon, CH
The town stopped being Lychnidos
Ohrid, MK
Spreading over the 37,500 km2 delta by June
Okavango Delta, BW
Including the Temple Mount and Western Wall
Old City of Jerusalem, PS
Estimated at around 500 people by 1600
Olten, CH
Dying on 17 March 1897
Omo River, ET
Named by a garrison commander
Orange River, NA
The hill that was Volsinii
Orvieto, IT
The tower was designed by Nikolai Nikitin
Ostankino Tower, RU
The Palace of Westminster is the
Palace of Westminster, GB
Iron, hidden inside the masonry
Palais Garnier, FR
Founded around 664 BC
Palazzolo Acreide, IT
The supposed founder of the Palenque dynasty
Palenque, MX
The Phrygians built a temple
Pamukkale, TR
Linked to the Andean orogeny of the Tertiary
Pantanal, PY
The Pantheon is an ancient temple in Rome
Pantheon, IT
Alongside Ionian Greek building techniques
Pasargadae, IR
Père Lachaise Cemetery spans 44 hectares (110 acres)
Père Lachaise Cemetery, FR
Founding the Attalid dynasty
Pergamon, TR
Red Army seized unattended items
Pergamon Museum, DE
Located about 9 km east of Naples
Phlegraean Fields, IT
Who came from Ghana in the late 1970s
Piran, SI
Dating back 6,000 to 7,000 years
Plitvice Lakes National Park, HR
Porto Venere is a town on
Porto Venere, IT
The Thirty-fifth Ganden Tripa of the Gelug school
Potala Palace, CN
Silver by llama to the Pacific
Potosí, BO
Adjacent to the Church of St. George
Prague Castle, CZ
The expression of God as the Creator (Brahma)
Prambanan Temple, ID
The Princes' Islands consist of nine separate islands
Princes' Islands, TR
Twenty-three rivers and streams empty into Qinghai Lake
Qinghai Lake, CN
A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mehrauli
Qutb Minar, IN
And during the first Pahlavi era
Ramsar, IR
Approximately 2,660 meters (8,730 feet) long
Raqqa, SY
Who also worked on the Taj Mahal
Red Fort, IN