According to Atlas Obscura, Cerne Abbey in England's Dorset village has survived over a thousand years by taking a practical approach: when Henry VIII dissolved it in 1539, the monks' home simply became someone else's manor. Two medieval buildings remain in stunning condition—the ornate Abbot's Porch with its spy hole for screening visitors, and a rare 15th-century guest house that once hosted royalty. Today, the family living there since 1978 offers private tours, complete with tea in the courtyard.

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