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With wide foresight, we visited Maisons La Roche et Jeanneret when we made a trip to Paris in 2008. We only visited it from outside though, and If I remember correctly it was under renovation as well. So not really a tick-off.

In February 2022 we went to Marseille by train. Due to storms in Germany we arrived 2 days late. So had only half a day to see Marseille. Right after breakfast we took the metro and bus to Cité Radieuse. At first glimpse it looks like our Corbusier Haus in Berlin built for IBA 1957. But it has a few more details. We visited the floors which are accessible. Looks like nothing changed here since the 50th, thus it didnt loose any of this eras charme. Finally we went onto the roof. Amazing view at the Calanques and above Marseille.I still plan to visit further components. But this one is definitely top-notch.

Time of the visit: 22-24th of sept.,2025 and again on the 20th of oct. having a day trip from Busan -where I stayed for 4 werks- to visit my last missing component in Gyeonju,the Namsan mountain.

The most impressive single element of all the World Heritage Sites (I'm still missing Namhansanseong at this point) in Korea is, in my opinion, the Tongdosa Temple, but Gyeongju has many different fascinating components that, as a whole, are unbeatable. Gyeongju is in my top third of all the World Heritage Sites I've visited.

The Gyeongju Historic Areas are a serial UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Gyeongju.. They include multiple zones featuring the remains of the Silla Kingdom (57 BCE–935 CE) — temples, palaces, pagodas, tombs and Buddhist sculptures — reflecting a rich fusion of religious, artistic and secular architecture. Specifically, they:*showcase outstanding examples of Korean Buddhist art (sculptures, reliefs, pagodas) from the 7th–10th centuriwwes.*bear testimony to the culture, religion and social structure of the Silla dynasty for nearly a thousand years.They are composed of five distinct belts or areas around Gyeongju, each with its own set of monuments and features.

1:Mount Namsan Belt((north of the city) – Ruins of 122 temples – 53 stone statues, 64 pagodas, in 16 stone lanterns – rock-cut reliefs/engraved stones, tomb groups, stone banner-poles – Fortress wall on Namsan, the site of the Poseokjeong Pavilion & Seochulji Pond

2:Wolseong Belt( Ruined palace site of Wolseong – Gyerim woodland – Anapji Pond – Observatory Cheomseongdae)

3:Tumuli Park …

My wife and I believe that, along with Chartres, Laon Cathedral is one of the most beautiful in France. We stopped there several times. Was it its silhouette perched atop a hill, visible from afar? Was it the oxen carved into the towers? The elegant soaring of the central nave? The atmosphere of relative abandonment of the town? Or the way you have to walk up its main street to discover it? Perhaps a little of all of that...

As I am the first WHS member to write on the subject, a brief historical overview is in order The construction of Notre Dame Cathedral in Laon began around 1160 AD and was completed around the first quarter of the 13th century. We are in the early Gothic period; it would be the second Gothic cathedral built in France after the choir of Saint-Denis north of Paris.

The sculptures that adorn it were reworked in the 19th century because they had been badly damaged during the French Revolution. I also remember photos of the cathedral at the end of the First World War, taken from a side aisle. It apparently wasn't as heavily bombed as Reims or Soissons Cathedrals...

The cathedral was built all at once. This probably explains its perfect homogeneity and harmony. The 6 towers, including a lantern tower above the crossing of the transept and the nave, are said to have been built by the architect Villard de Honnecourt, a Picard who kept a sketchbook with him during …

Time of the visit: the 25th of oct.,2025

The Mireuksa Temple Site and the Wanggung-ri Site in Iksan are part of the UNESCO World Heritage “Baekje Historic Areas”. Mireuksa was one of the largest Buddhist temples of the Baekje Kingdom (18 BCE–660 CE), showcasing its refined architecture and religious culture. Wanggung-ri was the royal palace area, reflecting Baekje’s political power and urban planning.

Early in the morning I took the train from Gwangju to Iksan.As I came down the escalator, I was greeted by dance and music. Right by the exit, a stage had been set up where traditional Korean songs and dances were being performed. Fascinating. Too fascinating... I missed my bus by a minute and had to wait an hour for the next one.Luckily, interesting dances were performed, so the time passed quickly. The bus took what felt like forever (about 45-50 minutes) to reach Mireuksa.

At the information center next to the bus stop, I learned that there's a shuttle bus on weekends that runs the route from Iksan train station to Mireuska and then on to Wanggangri. There are 3-4 stops along the way, such as as a film set prison and the UNESCO World Centre (which you can visit, but it's not a must).I also got some leaflets.

I first visited the museum,then I discovered every inch of the open-air area.The restored Mireuksa pagoda is one of the oldest ones in South Korea.

The other pagoda is a completely new construction. The outlines of the …

It's hard to skip Recife if you are traveling around Brazil and Olinda is a suburb, or another city?, of Recife. It has its own charm for sure. After the bustling or slum-like Recife you get a chilling attitude of the locals. It was also a sunny day, which I suppose isn't surprising.

I parked my car at the east side of the main square which has free parking. I believe it's near an old club which is now closed. I think most of the area is free but I wanted to avoid the touts and I got that right. As soon as you walk up the road there will be people approaching you about doing a local tour. As I don't speak Portuguese and I didn't dress like a tourist they weren't very persist though, or maybe I don't look like I have lots of money lol. I took the steep road up to St. Francis Convent which wasn't open yet so I walked around the neighborhood first to see the sights. At the top of the hill you get the main piece: the lookout. All the local buildings don't matter much if one can see just that. There is a convent up here too but I gave it a miss because a) it wasn't highly recommended for one and b) it's more beautiful from the outside. There are other smaller buildings to see as well. One can also just sit up here and relax in the sun. There …

From a practical standpoint, camping under the pine trees near Milly-la-Forêt allows you to tick off the WHS for the Palace and Park of Fontainebleau and the Domaine de Fontainebleau (castle, gardens, park and forest), which is on the tentative list and could be a future extension of the WHS. It's also worth noting that the village is located within the Fontainebleau and Gâtinais Biosphere Reserve.

The castle is easily accessible from the campsite via the D837, which we did on a rainy day. We decided to visit the exterior of the castle and the park because, unlike the other WHS members, we aren't particularly fond of castle interiors...

The construction of the buildings as we see them today spanned from 1528 PC to the 19th century.

It is generally accepted that the Château de Fontainebleau is representative of the French Renaissance of the 16th century, but personally, and this is only a personal opinion, I find that the way the buildings have been added over time and the façades of the château do not rival those of the Italian Quattrocento and Cinquecento buildings, such as those that can be admired in Florence, for example, or in Rome and the Veneto, even though Italian artists were invited to the court to form what is known as the first and second Schools of Fontainebleau. The Pazzi chapel designed by Filippo Brunelleschi (1441-1446 PC) or the Villa Rotonda by Andrea Palladio (1566-1571 PC) are much more harmonious and homogeneous than the …

Visiting Røros during the off-season felt like stepping into a forgotten chapter of Norwegian history. The old copper-mining town became almost ghostly quiet when the crowds disappeared. At the heart of the town stood the former copper mining site, its massive mining piles of dark rock forming a miniature mountain that dominated the landscape. Walking up to these piles was a gentle but rewarding climb. From the top, the entire town unfolded below with rows of timber houses, the pastel-painted facades glowing softly in the pale light, and the unmistakable spire of Røros Church rising above the rooftops. Next to the mine piles, we could see the former wooden houses of the workers, some with grass growing on their roofs, and a few almost buried under the piles of rock, silent witnesses to the town’s industrial past. Even though Røros grew from an industrial mining heritage, the feeling it gives today is completely different. Its cozy urban landscape, with friendly proportions and gentle colors, feels inviting and human, remarkably warm even with such a huge pile of dark rocks standing right beside the town.

Beside the mining site ran a small creek that once helped power the copper works. Over time, the stream had been dammed, forming a series of charming waterfalls. The sound of rushing water contrasted beautifully with the stillness of the mine, adding life and movement to an otherwise quiet scene. In the late afternoon light, the water shimmered against the dark stones, reminding us …

Time of the visit: the 27th of oct.,2025

Naganeupseong is a remarkable example of a living fortress-town from Korea’s Joseon Dynasty, located near Suncheon.

What makes it special to be a potential world heritage site?

The fortress walls are impressively preserved: about 1,5km in length and up to 4 m tall with three main gates, forming a protective ring around the village.

Inside the walls, many families still live in traditional thatched-roof houses, using historical building styles and living their daily life.

Visitors can explore not just the architecture, but also participate in hands-on experiences: weaving, blacksmithing, traditional instruments, village school, etc.

Naganeupseong is a uniquely well-preserved fortress village in Korea where you can step back into the daily rhythms of the Joseon era and witness history still alive in its architecture and to a lesser degree in its traditions.

The entrance gates to the fortified village are still guarded today... by ladies who check your entry ticket.

I took bus 63 from the stop near the Suncheon Intercity Bus Terminal. Buses 68 and 16 also go to the village. Arriving in Naganeupseong, I first took a few photos of the bus schedule In Naganeupseong, there's an information board explaining which buses serve which routes. The bus schedule back to Suncheon is exemplary and accurate. There's also a lot of construction going on. Everything indicates that Naganeupseong is being prepared to be sent into the race

It was a sunny day, so I really enjoyed my time there. My original …

It seems I'm the first lucky person to have managed to step inside one of the theaters included in this proposal and write a review about my visit. And I have visited not just any theater, but the Teatro Angelo Mariani in Sant'Agata Feltria, which boasts the title of the oldest wooden theater in all of Italy.

Sant'Agata Feltria is a small town near San Marino. The distance from Florence is only 120 kilometers, but the incredibly winding road through the Apennine Mountains takes over two and a half hours. The nearest larger city, Rimini, is approximately 50 kilometers and an hour's drive away. In the 18th century, when the theater was built, these distances were considerable. Historically, Sant'Agata Feltria was located in the Marche region, but in 2006, following a referendum, it was placed in the Emilia-Romagna region. It is therefore no mistake that the Teatro Angelo Mariani is included on the list of theaters placed at Italian Tentative List as "Historic Theatres of the Marche Region." Interestingly, this theater was not included in the original 2021 TWHS, but was added in 2025 as part of the official candidacy for consideration for inscription in 2026.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, in towns like Sant'Agata Feltria, as a result of the activities of so-called condominio (associations of the town's wealthiest citizens), local theaters were built in central locations. Owning such a theater was apparently a testament to the town's prestige and the wealth of its residents. In Sant'Agata Feltria, …

Time of the visit:the 24th of oct.,2025

At 10.00 I took the bus 318 from Gwangju 's bus terminal to Unjusa temple where we arrived around 40 min. later.The day before I had taken a photo of the bus 318' s timetable.The aforementioned bus stop is outside the bus terminal, right in front of the terminal's main exit. You have to use Google Lens to understand the timetable, as everything is in Korean. Behind the departure line, it says "Unjusa Temple"... that's the correct bus. The bus stopped 3-4 meters from the Unjusa entrance gate.I asked the guard/receptionist for the timetable for the return trip. The timetable is posted on the outside wall of the reception. She showed me which of the infrequent buses I could take back to Gwangju.

My original intention was to stay until 4/5 p.m., but on the outbound trip, the bus passed the Hwasun Dolmen Complex(Unesco site) where the annual Dolmen Festival( every octobre) was taking place. So I changed my plans and wanted to take the 1:38 p.m. bus back to get off there..

As for the Unjusa temple it is a historic Buddhist temple located in Hwasun County, about 26 kilometers southwest of Gwangju, South Korea. It is famous for its mysterious collection of hundreds of stone Buddha statues and pagodas scattered across the hillside. According to legend, the temple was founded during the late Silla Dynasty by the monk Doseon, who planned to build a thousand Buddha statues and pagodas to …

Time of the visit:the 24th of oct.,2025

On my way back from Unjusa Temple to Suncheon and from there to Gwangju, I got off at the bus stop for bus 218 (bus 318 also stops there ) right in front of the dolmen complex. The Hwasun Dolmen in South Korea are Bronze Age stone tombs made of large rock slabs. There were likely used for elite burials or rituals and show the advanced megalithic culture of ancient Korea.I visited both the Hwasun( roughly 550 stone structures) as well as the Dalbawi cluster(40 stone structures).The annual Dolmen Festival takes place once a year in October. I was very pleased by the lucky coincidence, as the more than 500 dolmens and the pleasant park only captivate you for a short time. One of the less interesting World Heritage sites out there.The festival was incredibly entertaining, diverse, and appealing to all the senses. There were many food offerings of regional specialties in numerous stalls that resembled medieval European marquees. There was live music from Korean pop and folklore, as well as drum groups. It was teeming with dinosaurs (for whatever reason), colorful fake dolmens, large plastic figures, exhibition areas with bonsai trees, and enormous, artistically arranged flower fields that were pleasing to the eye. It was already quite crowded for a friday; on the weekend, the area must be packed.A great idea to hold the festival in the dolmen area... well implemented in the dolmen landscape. It was fun to eat something, …

Time of the visit:the 23rd of oct.,2025

The Getbol Suncheon Bay in South Korea is a UNESCO-listed wetland known for its vast tidal flats and rich biodiversity( lots of birds there as well as crabs). It is a vital sanctuary for migratory birds, offering visitors scenic trails, observation decks, and a glimpse into the region’s unique coastal ecosystem.

My expectations for this World Heritage Site were low. The wetlands sounded pretty boring. I took the bus from Busan in the morning and locked my luggage in the lockers at the Suncheon bus terminal. Google Maps is pretty useless in South Korea, with one exception: it shows the bus numbers and routes. Bus 66 is supposed to run fairly frequently, so I went to the nearby bus stop. Sure enough, bus 66 arrived at the stop about five minutes later.

About 20-25 minutes later, I was at the main entrance gate and was quite surprised by the number of tourists and the tourist infrastructure. I paid the 10,000 won entrance fee and went first to the museum, which also has an observation deck. First, I watched a short film about the area. Funnily enough, a man and his wife sat down next to me. In bad English, he pointed out to me that the fisherman in the film was his brother. As I was about to begin exploring the museum, an English-speaking volunteer approached me and offered to give me a tour of the museum. I accepted, but the insight …

The union of Wallachia and Moldova principalities in the second half of the 19th century was the starting point of modern Romania. A German prince was elected as head of state, who would later be crowned king of Romania as Carol I. He decided to build a palace in Carpathian mountains, close to Sinaia town, where he used to stay in a nearby monastery. Apart from being his residence, the palace would establish his new power and functions, being equipped with the latest luxury and innovations of that time (centralized heating, lifts, hot water) and become a gathering place for Romanian intellectuals and artists. Carol I commissioned a German architect, who managed to mix German style with local, vernacular Romanian features. The result surely did not disappoint, and would still be used after the end of the monarchy as reward residence place during Communism period, and even as a secured and private residence for the last dictator until 1989.

Today the place is still very popular with visitors – both Romanian and foreigners. It is conveniently located on the way from Bucharest to Brasov and Bran (“Dracula”) castle (it could even probably be visited as a day trip from the capital city despite the heavy traffic and delays on the road during summer and winter high seasons). Sinaia town offers various hotels and restaurants options, while altitude relieves from the high temperatures during summer time. It was the very first place we visited in Romania, having arrived the day before …

I had prepared both my body and mind for the adventure of a lifetime, hiking through the dense forests of Yakushima to see the legendary Jomon-Sugi Cedar Tree, a symbol of Japan’s ancient natural heritage. I imagined long trails through moss-draped cedar trees, crisp mountain air, and the quiet reverence of standing before this monumental tree, some 7,000 years old. I had even carried all my hiking equipment from home, ready for the challenge. The moment my plane arrived on the island, reality surprised me: heavy snow began to fall, an extremely rare event for Yakushima. The powder coated roads, rooftops, and trees, muting the usual sounds of the island. The snowfall was so severe that the local government had to close many roads and all hiking trails to the high mountains, including the path to Jomon-Sugi.

After two days of waiting with no change, I had to alter my plans. Thankfully, the coastal roads reopened, and during my downtime, the local hospitality lifted my spirits. Shop owners, café staff, and guides went out of their way to suggest scenic drives, hidden waterfalls, and even offered special discounts on souvenirs, turning my disappointment into small joys. I rented a car and explored the island by road, discovering Yakushima’s stunning coastal scenery. Rugged cliffs dropped into turquoise waters, waterfalls tumbled into hidden bays, and quaint fishing villages dotted the shoreline. Sakura were blooming, painting the island in delicate pinks and greens against the deep evergreens, a living watercolor. Along the …

Unlike Wojciech, when we arrived at the castle, the parking lot was deserted! It must be said that it had rained a lot the day before...

If there's one classical-style castle you shouldn't miss, this is it. Firstly, as a backdrop to its sulphurous history, and secondly, for its exceptional architecture, decor, and gardens.

As mentioned in the introduction to the TWHS, Nicolas Fouquet, the castle's commissioner, was Louis XIV's Superintendent of Finances, that is, Minister of Finance. He built the castle between 1656 and 1659 BC and the gardens between 1653 and 1660 BC.

Nicolas Fouquet surrounded himself with the most talented artists of his time: the architect Louis le Vau, the king's first architect, the painter Charles Le Brun, and the landscape architect André Le Nôtre. A true masterpiece was born from the alchemy between these three artists. They had previously been brought together at the Château de Vincennes on behalf of King Louis XIV.

Upon completion of the work, Nicolas Fouquet organized a lavish party on his estate, given in honor and worthy of his royal guest. This was enough to arouse the jealousy of the king, who had his superintendent arrested and imprisoned for life. The property was sealed and then sold, preserving it from the ravages of time. The judges at Fouquet's trial claimed that he had embezzled public funds to build this incredible monument. It is true that we learn in the museum set up in the basement of the castle and dedicated to …

The moment I landed at Québec City’s airport, I already felt something special in the air. As I walked through the terminal, I noticed the signs around me all in French. Though I knew Québec was a French-speaking province, seeing it everywhere made me feel as if I had suddenly stepped into another continent. Québec felt so special, almost like being in Europe, with its old-world architecture, cobblestone streets, and charming cafés; it was hard to believe we were still in America. It was clear: this was not just Canada; this was Québec, a place with its own character, language, and rhythm.

I was traveling with a group of friends who shared one common obsession, K-Drama, especially the fantasy series Goblin. For them, Québec City was not just another travel destination, but a film location pilgrimage. I, on the other hand, had never watched Goblin before, so I often felt a little lost as they got overly excited about random walls or street corners. Still, I couldn’t help laughing at their enthusiasm; it was both funny and endearing to see how passionately they compared every scene from the show to the real-life places around us.

Our first stop was, of course, Old Québec, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that feels like Europe transplanted into North America. Cobblestone streets, slate roofs, and centuries-old façades greeted us at every corner. The air was crisp, and the faint sound of street musicians added to the romantic mood. For me, it was …

Our Ugandan road trip to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park began in Kampala, taking us via Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth National Park, a detour to Rwenzori National Park before reaching the legendary “impenetrable forest” in 6 days.

According to UNESCO, Bwindi is one of the few remaining large expanses of both tropical highland and lowland forest. The highlands feature steep hills and narrow valleys, with altitudes ranging from about 1,200 to 2,600 meters. Its remarkable biodiversity includes many endemic plant species and iconic wildlife such as the greater primates.

This day our group of 6 Norwegians and one South African drove through Queen Elizabeth National Park, heading south along the border with the DR Congo. We made a short stop at QENP southern tip near Ishasha and got an incredible leopard experience. Continuing south, we basically followed the DRC border, through Kihihi and Bulema, then back along the border before turning south again. We entered Bwindi from the northern side, where the map shows a narrow “bottleneck” between the lowland and highland zones near Bugiri. Our route took us through the Ruhija area in the park’s eastern part, continuing south to its southeastern edge, where we exited towards Nyamabale and eventually reached our destination for the day: Chameleon Hills Forest Lodge at Lake Mutanda—after an epic 11½ hours on the road.

The drive was both challenging and breathtakingly scenic. The road winds through steep hills, dense rainforest, and remote villages, revealing misty valleys, lush greenery, and small tea plantations …

As I am the first member of WHS.org to write about Loarre Castle, I will quickly describe the monument.

The Romanesque castle-abbey, dating from the 11th century, is located approximately 30 km northwest of Huesca, in the province of Huesca, an autonomous community of Aragon in northern Spain. It is easily accessible via the A132 road, then the A1206.

There is a small, very pleasant campsite with a beautiful view at the foot of the castle and you can climb up on foot from there. Be careful though, the markings are not very clear, you have to trust your instincts. At the castle, there is a parking lot for motorized vehicles.

In 2024, entry tickets cost €6 at the visitor center. As the castle is perched at an altitude of 1,070 meters, the 180° view of the surrounding plain is breathtaking!

From what I remember, its impregnable position on the slope of the sierra allowed the Christians to protect themselves and monitor the movements of the Muslims in the southern plain. We wander from room to room, the San Pedro church, an armory, etc. more or less in ruins, climbing stairs to an upper platform where it is still possible to climb into the dungeon and watch the paragliders move in the sky.

The castle is believed to have only been in use between 1020 and 1035 and the beginning of the 12th century. There are a few historiated capitals in the church, but the overall structure forms a rather …

The last time this site was reviewed was over 6 years ago, so it needed a refresh. We visited this site in early October 2025. We had a hire car and drove to the town of Drama for the night and then visited this site first thing the next morning. The site opens at 8.00am and for reasons not known to me I put the Museum in the GPS to take me to the site and ended up exactly there which is the other end of the Archaeological site. No problems as you can enter here and buy tickets but there is very limited parking compared to the main entry gate. It ended up being the best option though, as we explored the site with very few other people before the crowds turned up and then visited the museum at the end, again in relative peace with no large crowds. It costs 6 Euro to visit the site and 10 Euro if you included the Museum, which I did.

The site has more structures than the previous archaeological site we visited in Aigai, however there is also some imagine still needed in exploring the site. Very good information boards though are provided to assist you in this. During our visit Basilica B area was unable to visited as they were undergoing restorative and stabilisation works in the area. You could still photograph the area from a reasonable distance but really could not examine the OUV details in this particular area. …

"Durham, Avignon and Prague are cities sharing the distinction of buildings in dramatic settings that jointly express military might and ecclesiastical power. [...] Of the three, the drama is greatest at Durham..." - David Souden, England's World Heritage

Well, I admittedly can't speak for Avignon, but I don't think it's just my nationality showing through when I say that my first view of Durham's castle and cathedral shortly after arriving by train knocked St. Vitus into a cocked hat. And the buildings lived up to that first view. Durham Cathedral is a stout, solid, powerful building - almost more like Bankside Power Station than a cathedral - with an impressive interior. I particularly liked the Galilee Chapel (resting place of the father of English history, Bede), with its arches decorated with zig-zags giving it a Spanish feel. We signed up for a guided tour and the knowledgeable guide took us through the history and architecture of the building, with ample reference to its OUV, but we stayed for a good while afterwards looking around the cloisters and museums and generally taking the building in.

I expected Durham Castle to be a disappointment after that - it's a less authentic building, it's only visible via a guided tour with no room for independent wandering, and I've already experienced being a student at an English university so am not stupefied with excitement by the sight of a long wooden dining table. I'm pleased to say the tour was worth it, though: the …