The world is full of some wonderful and spectacular sites to visit. However, there are also numerous controversial ones which also make for interesting attractions for tourists. These are some of the most infamous, historical sites in the world.

1. Auschwitz Concentration Camps, Oswiecim, Poland

This series of Nazi-operated prison camps saw the killings of about four million people during World War II. The site is now a memorial and a museum which houses some of the personal belongings of the victims.

2. Devil’s Island, French Guiana

The infamous island lies off the coast from French Guiana. It was used as a penal colony between 1852 and 1946 mainly for French convicts. It’s believed that over 80,000 prisoners were housed there over the years before it closed in 1952. The convicts endured harsh living conditions and most died there. Over 50,000 tourists visit Devil’s Island each year now.

3. Western Wall, Jerusalem, Israel

This is considered to be the holiest site in Judaism. It’s also the top tourist attraction in Israel. The wall sits next to a holy complex that was captured by Israel during wartime in 1967. The Wall is actually located in East Jerusalem.

4. A-bomb Dome, Hiroshima, Japan

Hiroshima was the site of an American atomic bomb in World War II which destroyed much of the city. The A-bomb Dome is what’s left of the Industrial Promotion Hall. It’s one of the few remaining buildings from the center of the 1945 attack and is now viewed as a historical and famous landmark that serves as a memorial to those who lost their lives.

5. Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet

The Dalai Lama used the palace as a main residence until 1959 when the 14th Dalai Lama was forced to flee to India due to the Tibetan uprising that failed against China. The palace was a sacred monument in the past to Tibetan Buddhists, but it’s now a museum that’s run by China’s government.

6. The World Trade Center site, New York City, USA

The site used to house the twin towers of the World Trade Center before they were attacked and destroyed by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001. The site now attracts thousands of visitors each day to honor the dead.

7. Dharavi Slum,  Mumbai, India

Ever since the popular film Slumdog Millionaire was released the slum tourism industry had been on the rise. The movie was shot in Dharavi, where the population is believed to be anywhere from about 600,000 to a million people. Dharavi is regarded as the largest slum in Asia. There are numerous guided tours available which help the area’s residents financially as they receive some of the profits.

8. Chernobyl, Ukraine

This is the location of one of the worst nuclear disasters in history. The site is now used as a tourist attraction. People visit the nuclear reactor as well as Pripyat, which has now become a ghost town filled with deserted blocks of apartments and schools, etc.

9. Cu Chi tunnels, Vietnam

The tunnels are located close to Ho Chi Minh City. They were navigated by Viet Cong guerrillas during the Vietnam War to frustrate their enemy. Some of the tunnels are now open as tourist attractions and to educate people about the war. There’s also a shooting range above ground.

10. Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China

This is the largest city square in the world and one of China’s top tourist attractions. It sits next to the Forbidden City and various other tourist attractions. Many events take place at the square each year, but it’s famous as the site where about 400 students were killed by the government in 1989.

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