Park Grove Manor, Oak Park

Atlas ObscuraOct 30

8 Gargoyles and Grotesques Hiding in Plain Sight

What’s more wondrous than towering spires on a building? Stained glass? Vaulted windows, or garden roofs? One word: Ghouls. Nothing jazzes up a normal old cathedral or mansion more than a mischievous face etched in stone, smiling (or, more likely, grimacing) at those passing below. Gargoyles and grotesques, in their own endearingly ugly way, are one of the best ways for architects to let their…

Adorned with playful, chubby-faced gargoyles and grotesques.

8 sights in this story

Park Grove ManorSightAdorned with playful, chubby-faced gargoyles and grotesques.
Elsewhere
DuomoPlace of worshipFlorence, ItalyFeatures a stone bull's head facing Via Ricasoli.
National CathedralPlace of worshipWashington, United StatesFeatures a small carving of Darth Vader.
House with ChimaerasSightKyiv, UkraineAnimal-themed building with hunting-inspired gargoyles.
The House with the HeadsSightAmsterdam, The NetherlandsAmsterdam building depicting faces of Greek gods.
Carlisle CathedralPlace of worshipCarlisle, United KingdomMemorializes an officer who died in the line of duty.
St. Nicholas CathedralPlace of worshipNewcastle-upon-Tyne, United KingdomHas a deformed rabbit figure on its back.
Paisley AbbeySightPaisley, United KingdomFeatures a gargoyle resembling H.R. Giger's Xenomorph.

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8 Gargoyles and Grotesques Hiding in Plain Sight