Bulgaria boasts a rich cultural tapestry, with 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites weaving a narrative of its historical significance. From the stunning Rila Monastery, a masterpiece of Bulgarian medieval art, to the ancient city of Nessebar with its well-preserved architecture, each site is a testament to Bulgaria's diverse heritage and contributes to the global tapestry of cultural treasures.
Boyana Church
Cultural, 1979 Sofia
Part of the Bulgarian Orthodox order, Boyana Church is located on the outskirts of Sofia. It was constructed in three stages; the eastern wing in the late 10th or early 11th century, the central part in the mid-13th century and an expansion to the west in the mid-19th century. The church contains many frescoes, some dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries and others from later years. There are a total of 89 scenes with 240 human images depicted.
The following consent is required: Tracking & performance, Targeting & advertising.
Rila Monastery
Cultural, 1983 Kyustendil Province
The Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria, and is situated in the southwestern Rila Mountains, south of the capital. It is often regarded as one of the country's most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments, regularly attracting over 900,000 visitors a year. It was founded in the 10th century and has undergone many rebuilding efforts due to raids and wars. It now houses about 60 monks and was visited by Pope John Paul ll in 2002.
The following consent is required: Tracking & performance, Targeting & advertising.
Madara Rider
Cultural, 1979 Shumen Province
The Madara Rider, representing the figure of a knight triumphing over a lion, is carved into a 100-m-high cliff near the village of Madara in north-east Bulgaria. Madara was the principal sacred place of the First Bulgarian Empire before Bulgaria’s conversion to Christianity in the 9th century. The inscriptions beside the sculpture tell of events that occurred between AD 705 and 801.
Discovered in 1944, this tomb dates from the Hellenistic period, around the end of the 4th century BC. It is located near Seutopolis, the capital city of the Thracian king Seutes III, and is part of a large Thracian necropolis. The tholos has a narrow corridor and a round burial chamber, both decorated with murals representing Thracian burial rituals and culture. These paintings are Bulgaria’s best-preserved artistic masterpieces from the Hellenistic period.
In the valley of the Roussenski Lom River, in north east Bulgaria, a complex of rock-hewn churches, chapels, monasteries and cells developed in the vicinity of the village of Ivanovo. This is where the first hermits had dug out their cells and churches during the 12th century. The 14th-century murals testify to the exceptional skill of the artists belonging to the Tarnovo School of painting.
Situated on a rocky peninsula on the Black Sea, the more than 3,000-year-old site of Nessebar was originally a Thracian settlement (Menebria). At the beginning of the 6th century BC, the city became a Greek colony. The city’s remains, which date mostly from the Hellenistic period, include the acropolis, a temple of Apollo, an agora and a wall from the Thracian fortifications. Among other monuments, the Stara Mitropolia Basilica and the fortress date from the Middle Ages, when this was one of the most important Byzantine towns on the west coast of the Black Sea. Wooden houses built in the 19th century are typical of the Black Sea architecture of the period.
The Srebarna Nature Reserve is a freshwater lake adjacent to the Danube and extending over 600 ha. It is the breeding ground of almost 100 species of birds, many of which are rare or endangered. Some 80 other bird species migrate and seek refuge there every winter. Among the most interesting bird species are the Dalmatian pelican, great egret, night heron, purple heron, glossy ibis and white spoonbill.
Spread over an area of over 27,000 ha, at an altitude between 1008 and 2914 m in the Pirin Mountains, southwest Bulgaria, the site comprises diverse limestone mountain landscapes with glacial lakes, waterfalls, caves and predominantly coniferous forests. It was added to the World Heritage List in 1983. The extension now covers an area of around 40,000 ha in the Pirin Mountains, and overlaps with the Pirin National Park, except for two areas developed for tourism (skiing). The dominant part of the extension is high mountain territory over 2000m in altitude, and covered mostly by alpine meadows, rocky screes and summits.
Discovered in 1982 near the village of Sveshtari, this 3rd-century BC Thracian tomb reflects the fundamental structural principles of Thracian cult buildings. The tomb has a unique architectural decor, with polychrome half-human, half-plant caryatids and painted murals. The 10 female figures carved in high relief on the walls of the central chamber and the decoration of the lunette in its vault are the only examples of this type found so far in the Thracian lands. It is a remarkable reminder of the culture of the Getes, a Thracian people who were in contact with the Hellenistic and Hyperborean worlds, according to ancient geographers.
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe Natural, 2017 Several sites (shared with Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine)
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina boasts two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, among them the iconic Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad and the Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar. These sites reflect the rich cultural and historical tapestry of the region, capturing the essence of architectural marvels that have withstood the test of time.
Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar
Cultural, 2005 Mostar
The historic town of Mostar, spanning a deep valley of the Neretva River, developed in the 15th and 16th centuries as an Ottoman frontier town and during the Austro-Hungarian period in the 19th and 20th centuries. Mostar has long been known for its old Turkish houses and Old Bridge, Stari Most, after which it is named. In the 1990s conflict, however, most of the historic town and the Old Bridge was destroyed. The Old Bridge was recently rebuilt and many of the edifices in the Old Town have been restored or rebuilt with the contribution of an international scientific committee established by UNESCO.
The following consent is required: Tracking & performance, Targeting & advertising.
Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge
Cultural, 2007 Višegrad
The Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge of Višegrad across the Drina River in the east of Bosnia and Herzegovina was built at the end of the 16th century by the court architect Mimar Koca Sinan on the orders of Grand Vizier Mehmed Paša Sokolović.
Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards Cultural, 2016 Several sites (shared with Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia)
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe Natural, 2007 Šipovo (shared with Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine)
Croatia
Croatia is home to 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. From the historic city of Dubrovnik, encircled by medieval walls, to Plitvice Lakes National Park's cascading waterfalls, these sites reflect Croatia's rich heritage and beauty, drawing visitors into a world where history and nature converge harmoniously.
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Natural, 1979 Plitvicka Jezera
The waters flowing over the limestone and chalk have, over thousands of years, deposited travertine barriers, creating natural dams which in turn have created a series of beautiful lakes, caves and waterfalls. These geological processes continue today. The forests in the park are home to bears, wolves and many rare bird species.
The following consent is required: Tracking & performance, Targeting & advertising.
Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian
Cultural, 1979 Split
The ruins of Diocletian's Palace, built between the late 3rd and the early 4th centuries A.D., can be found throughout the city. The cathedral was built in the Middle Ages, reusing materials from the ancient mausoleum. Twelfth- and 13th-century Romanesque churches, medieval fortifications, 15th-century Gothic palaces and other palaces in Renaissance and Baroque style make up the rest of the protected area.
The 'Pearl of the Adriatic', situated on the Dalmatian coast, became an important Mediterranean sea power from the 13th century onwards. Although severely damaged by an earthquake in 1667, Dubrovnik managed to preserve its beautiful Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces and fountains. Damaged again in the 1990s by armed conflict, it is now the focus of a major restoration programme co-ordinated by UNESCO.
The following consent is required: Tracking & performance, Targeting & advertising.
Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica in the Historic Centre of Poreč
Cultural, 1997 Poreč
The group of religious monuments in Porec, where Christianity was established as early as the 4th century, constitutes the most complete surviving complex of its type. The basilica, atrium, baptistery and episcopal palace are outstanding examples of religious architecture, while the basilica itself combines classical and Byzantine elements in an exceptional manner.
Trogir is a remarkable example of urban continuity. The orthogonal street plan of this island settlement dates back to the Hellenistic period and it was embellished by successive rulers with many fine public and domestic buildings and fortifications. Its beautiful Romanesque churches are complemented by the outstanding Renaissance and Baroque buildings from the Venetian period.
The Cathedral of St James in Šibenik (1431-1535), on the Dalmatian coast, bears witness to the considerable exchanges in the field of monumental arts between Northern Italy, Dalmatia and Tuscany in the 15th and 16th centuries. The three architects who succeeded one another in the construction of the Cathedral - Francesco di Giacomo, Georgius Mathei Dalmaticus and Niccolò di Giovanni Fiorentino - developed a structure built entirely from stone and using unique construction techniques for the vaulting and the dome of the Cathedral. The form and the decorative elements of the Cathedral, such as a remarkable frieze decorated with 71 sculptured faces of men, women, and children, also illustrate the successful fusion of Gothic and Renaissance art.
The following consent is required: Tracking & performance, Targeting & advertising.
Stari Grad Plain
Cultural, 2008 Hvar
Stari Grad Plain on the Adriatic island of Hvar is a cultural landscape that has remained practically intact since it was first colonized by Ionian Greeks from Paros in the 4th century BC. The original agricultural activity of this fertile plain, mainly centring on grapes and olives, has been maintained since Greek times to the present. The site is also a natural reserve. The landscape features ancient stone walls and trims, or small stone shelters, and bears testimony to the ancient geometrical system of land division used by the ancient Greeks, the chora which has remained virtually intact over 24 centuries.
Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards Cultural, 2016 (shared with Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia)
Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe Natural, 2017 (shared with Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine)
Czechia
Czechia hosts 17 UNESCO sites, each a cultural and historical gem. From the medieval town of Český Krumlov to the elegant gardens of Kroměříž Castle, these sites showcase the nation's diverse heritage. Explore the dramatic landscapes of the Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc and the charming village of Holašovice, as Czechia's UNESCO sites offer a captivating journey through time and architecture.
Historic Centre of Prague
Cultural, 1992 Prague
Built between the 11th and 18th centuries, the Old Town, the Lesser Town and the New Town speak of the great architectural and cultural influence enjoyed by this city since the Middle Ages. The many magnificent monuments, such as Hradcany Castle, St Vitus Cathedral, Charles Bridge and numerous churches and palaces, built mostly in the 14th century under the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles IV.
The following consent is required: Tracking & performance, Targeting & advertising.
Historic Centre of Český Krumlov
Cultural, 1992 South Bohemian Region
Situated on the banks of the Vltava river, the town was built around a 13th-century castle with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements. It is an outstanding example of a small central European medieval town whose architectural heritage has remained intact thanks to its peaceful evolution over more than five centuries.
The houses in Telc, which stands on a hilltop, were originally built of wood. After a fire in the late 14th century, the town was rebuilt in stone, surrounded by walls and further strengthened by a network of artificial ponds. The town's Gothic castle was reconstructed in High Gothic style in the late 15th century.
Pilgrimage Church of St John of Nepomuk at Zelená Hora
Cultural, 1994 Vysočina Region
This pilgrimage church, built in honour of St John of Nepomuk, stands at Zelená Hora, not far from Ždár nad Sázavou in Moravia. Constructed at the beginning of the 18th century on a star-shaped plan, it is the most unusual work by the great architect Jan Blazej Santini, whose highly original style falls between neo-Gothic and Baroque.
Kutná Hora developed as a result of the exploitation of the silver mines. In the 14th century it became a royal city endowed with monuments that symbolized its prosperity. The Church of St Barbara, a jewel of the late Gothic period, and the Cathedral of Our Lady at Sedlec, which was restored in line with the Baroque taste of the early 18th century, were to influence the architecture of central Europe. These masterpieces today form part of a well-preserved medieval urban fabric with some particularly fine private dwellings.
Between the 17th and 20th centuries, the ruling dukes of Liechtenstein transformed their domains in southern Moravia into a striking landscape. It married Baroque architecture (mainly the work of Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach) and the classical and neo-Gothic style of the castles of Lednice and Valtice with countryside fashioned according to English romantic principles of landscape architecture. At 200 km2 , it is one of the largest artificial landscapes in Europe.
The following consent is required: Tracking & performance, Targeting & advertising.
Gardens and Castle at Kroměříž
Cultural, 1998 Zlín Region
Kroměříž stands on the site of an earlier ford across the River Morava, at the foot of the Chriby mountain range which dominates the central part of Moravia. The gardens and castle of Kroměříž are an exceptionally complete and well-preserved example of a European Baroque princely residence and its gardens.
Holašovice is an exceptionally complete and well-preserved example of a traditional central European village. It has a large number of outstanding 18th- and 19th-century vernacular buildings in a style known as 'South Bohemian folk Baroque', and preserves a ground plan dating from the Middle Ages.
Litomyšl Castle was originally a Renaissance arcade-castle of the type first developed in Italy and then adopted and greatly developed in central Europe in the 16th century. Its design and decoration are particularly fine, including the later High-Baroque features added in the 18th century. It preserves intact the range of ancillary buildings associated with an aristocratic residence of this type.
This memorial column, erected in the early years of the 18th century, is the most outstanding example of a type of monument specific to central Europe. In the characteristic regional style known as Olomouc Baroque and rising to a height of 35 m, it is decorated with many fine religious sculptures, the work of the distinguished Moravian artist Ondrej Zahner.
The Tugendhat Villa in Brno, designed by the architect Mies van der Rohe, is an outstanding example of the international style in the modern movement in architecture as it developed in Europe in the 1920s. Its particular value lies in the application of innovative spatial and aesthetic concepts that aim to satisfy new lifestyle needs by taking advantage of the opportunities afforded by modern industrial production.
The following consent is required: Tracking & performance, Targeting & advertising.
Jewish Quarter and St Procopius' Basilica in Třebíč
Cultural, 2003 Vysočina Region
The ensemble of the Jewish Quarter, the old Jewish cemetery and the Basilica of St Procopius in Třebíč are reminders of the co-existence of Jewish and Christian cultures from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The Jewish Quarter bears outstanding testimony to the different aspects of the life of this community. St Procopius' Basilica, built as part of the Benedictine monastery in the early 13th century, is a remarkable example of the influence of Western European architectural heritage in this region.
Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří (Ore Mountains) spans a region in south-eastern Germany (Saxony) and north-western Czechia, which contains a wealth of several metals exploited through mining from the Middle Ages onwards. The region became the most important source of silver ore in Europe from 1460 to 1560. Mining was the trigger for technological and scientific innovations transferred worldwide. Tin was historically the second metal to be extracted and processed at the site. At the end of the 19th century, the region became a major global producer of uranium. The cultural landscape of the Ore Mountains has been deeply shaped by 800 years of almost continuous mining, from the 12th to the 20th century, with mining, pioneering water management systems, innovative mineral processing and smelting sites, and mining cities.
Landscape for Breeding and Training of Ceremonial Carriage Horses at Kladruby nad Labem
Cultural, 2019 Pardubice Region
The property is situated on the Elbe River flood plain where there is sandy soil, ox bow lakes and the relic of a riparian forest. The structure and functional use of plots of land (pastures, meadows, forests, fields, park), network of paths, avenues, trees in regimented lines and arranged clusters as well as the solitary trees, the network of watercourses, ensembles of buildings in the farmsteads and the overall composition including functional relations and links between these components - all this fully serves the needs of breeding and training of the Baroque draught horses of the Kladruber breed which were used during the ceremonies at the Habsburg Imperial Court.
This cultural landscape has been shaped for centuries by the living tradition of cultivating and trading the world’s most renowned hop variety, used in beer production around the globe. The property includes particularly fertile hop fields near the river Ohře that have been farmed continuously for hundreds of years, as well as historic villages and buildings used for processing hops.
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe Natural, 2021 (shared with Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine)
Estonia
Estonia is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It was first accepted into the convention in 1995 with its first site, the Historic Centre of Tallinn, added in 1997.
Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn
Cultural, 1997 Tallinn
In the centre of Estonia's capital Tallinn sits the historic old town, with its Germanic charm, cobbled streets and local markets. Archeological finds date this part of the city back around 5,000 years, when the country was known as Revala. In the time since, the country has falling between the hands of Denmark, Sweden, Russia and Germany before becoming the Republic of Estonia in 1991.
The following consent is required: Tracking & performance, Targeting & advertising.
Common Sites
Struve Geodetic Arc Cultural, 2005 Väike-Maarja Parish, Tartu (shared with Belarus, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Moldova, Russia, Sweden, Ukraine)
There are eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Hungary. The country's first sites were added at the 11th session in 1987. All eight of the UNESCO sites were renamed in 2003 to better reflect their heritage.
Budapest, including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue
Cultural, 1987 Budapest
This site has the remains of monuments such as the Roman city of Aquincum and the Gothic castle of Buda, which have had a considerable influence on the architecture of various periods. It is one of the world's outstanding urban landscapes and illustrates the great periods in the history of the Hungarian capital.
The following consent is required: Tracking & performance, Targeting & advertising.
Old Village of Hollókő and its Surroundings
Cultural, 1987 Nógrád County
Hollokö is an outstanding example of a deliberately preserved traditional settlement. This village, which developed mainly during the 17th and 18th centuries, is a living example of rural life before the agricultural revolution of the 20th century.
The variety of formations and the fact that they are concentrated in a restricted area means that the 712 caves currently identified make up a typical temperate-zone karstic system. Because they display an extremely rare combination of tropical and glacial climatic effects, they make it possible to study geological history over tens of millions of years.
Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and its Natural Environment
Cultural, 1996 Pannonhalma, Győr-Moson-Sopron County
The first Benedictine monks settled here in 996. They went on to convert the Hungarians, to found the country's first school and, in 1055, to write the first document in Hungarian. From the time of its founding, this monastic community has promoted culture throughout central Europe. Its 1,000-year history can be seen in the succession of architectural styles of the monastic buildings (the oldest dating from 1224), which still today house a school and the monastic community.
Cultural, 1999 Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Heves, Hajdú-Bihar and Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok counties
The cultural landscape of the Hortobágy Puszta consists of a vast area of plains and wetlands in eastern Hungary. Traditional forms of land use, such as the grazing of domestic animals, have been present in this pastoral society for more than two millennia.
In the 4th century, a remarkable series of decorated tombs were constructed in the cemetery of the Roman provincial town of Sopianae (modern Pécs). These are important both structurally and architecturally, since they were built as underground burial chambers with memorial chapels above the ground. The tombs are important also in artistic terms, since they are richly decorated with murals of outstanding quality depicting Christian themes.
The Fertö/Neusiedler Lake area has been the meeting place of different cultures for eight millennia. This is graphically demonstrated by its varied landscape, the result of an evolutionary symbiosis between human activity and the physical environment. The remarkable rural architecture of the villages surrounding the lake and several 18th- and 19th-century palaces adds to the area’s considerable cultural interest.
Latvia, one of the three Baltic states, is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites; the Historic Centre of Riga, the Old town of Kuldīga, and the transitional site of the Struve Geodetic Arc, all listed for their cultural significance.
Historic Centre of Riga
Cultural, 1997 Riga
Riga, Latvia's UNESCO-listed capital, enchants visitors with its spectacular blend of medieval and Art Nouveau architecture. The Historic Centre is a testament to the capital's rich cultural tapestry, showcasing well-preserved landmarks and cobbled streets that resonate with the city's fascinating history.
The following consent is required: Tracking & performance, Targeting & advertising.
Old town of Kuldīga
Cultural, 2023 Kuldīga
Located in the western part of Latvia, the town of Kuldīga is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a traditional urban settlement, which developed from a small medieval hamlet into an important administrative centre of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia between the 16th and 18th centuries. The town structure of Kuldīga has largely retained the street layout of that period, and includes traditional log architecture as well as foreign-influenced styles that illustrate the rich exchange between local and travelling craftspeople from around the Baltic Sea.
Struve Geodetic Arc Cultural, 2005 Ērgļi Municipality, Jēkabpils (shared with Belarus, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Norway, Moldova, Russia, Sweden, Ukraine)
Lithuania
Lithuania is home to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The most recent site to be added is Modernist Kaunas: Architecture of Optimism, 1919-1939, recognising the modernist architecture of Kaunas, a city lost to Poland during WWII.
Vilnius Historic Centre
Cultural, 1994 Vilnius
Political centre of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the 13th to the end of the 18th century, Vilnius has had a profound influence on the cultural and architectural development of much of eastern Europe. Despite invasions and partial destruction, it has preserved an impressive complex of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and classical buildings as well as its medieval layout and natural setting.
The following consent is required: Tracking & performance, Targeting & advertising.
Curonian Spit
Cultural, 2000 Neringa and Klaipėda district (partly in Russia)
Human habitation of this elongated sand dune peninsula, 98 km long and 0.4-4 km wide, dates back to prehistoric times. Throughout this period it has been threatened by the natural forces of wind and waves. Its survival to the present day has been made possible only as a result of ceaseless human efforts to combat the erosion of the Spit, dramatically illustrated by continuing stabilisation and reforestation projects.
Kernavė Archaeological Site (Cultural Reserve of Kernavė)
Cultural, 2004 Širvintos district
The Kernavė Archaeological site, about 35 km north-west of Vilnius in eastern Lithuania, represents an exceptional testimony to some 10 millennia of human settlements in this region. Situated in the valley of the River Neris, the site is a complex ensemble of archaeological properties, encompassing the town of Kernavė, forts, some unfortified settlements, burial sites and other archaeological, historical and cultural monuments from the late Palaeolithic Period to the Middle Ages.
Modernist Kaunas: Architecture of Optimism, 1919-1939
Cultural, 2023 Kaunas
This property testifies to the rapid urbanisation that transformed the provincial town of Kaunas into a modern city that became Lithuania’s provisional capital between the First and Second World Wars.
There are four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Montenegro. The first site to be inscribed was the Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor which was immediately added to UNESCO's in danger list following damage sustained by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that occurred that year. Using UNESCO funding, the region was restored and removed from the list in 2003.
Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor
Cultural, 1979 Kotor, Herceg Novi, Tivat
This UNESCO site encompasses the old town of Kotor, the fortifications of Venetian Cattero, and the surrounding region of the inner Bay of Kotor. Kotor Old Town is contained within the well-preserved city walls, dating back to 1166. The military fortifications were constructed during the Venetian rule and added to the UNESCO register after the 1979 earthquake, which damaged much of the city and left the fortifications in danger.
The following consent is required: Tracking & performance, Targeting & advertising.
Durmitor National Park
Natural, 1980 Žabljak
This breathtaking national park was formed by glaciers and is traversed by rivers and underground streams. Along the Tara river canyon, which has the deepest gorges in Europe, the dense pine forests are interspersed with clear lakes and harbour a wide range of endemic flora.
There are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in North Macedonia. The Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid region was the first site in the country to be added to UNESCO's World Heritage list in 1979. It wasn't until 2021 that North Macedonia saw its second site added, a transitional (multi-country) site that protects the beech forests of the Carpathians and other regions of Europe.
Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid region
Mixed, 1979 Ohrid
The region straddles the mountainous border between North Macedonia and Albania, and is noted for Lake Ohrid which is one of Europe's deepest and oldest lakes. UNESCO state that is has a "unique aquatic ecosystem of worldwide importance, with more than 200 endemic species". It is so important that NASA named one of Titan's (one of Saturn's moons) lakes after it. The area is also a designated RAMSAR Wetland Site, having met all nine of RAMSAR's strict criteria.
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe Natural, 2021 Mavrovo and Rostuša (shared with Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine)
There are 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Poland, 15 of which are cultural and two are natural. The Wieliczka Salt Mine and the Historic Centre of Kraców were among the first sites to be added to the newly formed UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1978.
Historic Centre of Kraków
Cultural, 1979 Lesser Poland
Kraków's historic centre was chosen for UNESCO's original World Heritage List and was inscribed at its second session in 1978. The medieval part of the city centre was surrounded by a defensive wall with 46 towers and seven main entrances, with construction taking around 200 years. In the 1800's most of the fortifications were demolished although much of the original character and buildings in the historic centre were retained. The original moat which would've encircled the city walls, was filled in and turned into a park, known as Planty Park.
The following consent is required: Tracking & performance, Targeting & advertising.
Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines
Cultural, 1978 Lesser Poland
The deposit of rock salt in Wieliczka and Bochnia has been mined since the 13th century. This major industrial undertaking has royal status and is the oldest of its type in Europe. The site is a serial property consisting of Wieliczka and Bochnia salt mines and Wieliczka Saltworks Castle.
Auschwitz Birkenau, German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp (1940–1945)
Cultural, 1979 Lesser Poland
Perhaps one of the best known historical sites in Poland, and arguably in Europe, Auschwitz is a complex of concentration camps operated by Nazi Germany during World War Two. The camps were a major site of the Nazis' Final Solution to the Jewish Question - a Nazi plan to murder all Jews and the complex was the site of upward of 1,100,000 deaths. Auschwitz closed in January 1945 with its liberation by the Soviet army, and became a memorial and museum in 1947.
The Białowieża Forest World Heritage site, on the border between Poland and Belarus, is an immense range of primary forest including both conifers and broadleaved trees covering a total area of 141,885 hectares. Situated on the watershed of the Baltic Sea and Black Sea, this transboundary property is exceptional for the opportunities it offers for biodiversity conservation. It is home to the largest population of the property’s iconic species, the European bison.
During the Warsaw Uprising in August 1944, more than 85% of Warsaw's historic centre was destroyed by Nazi troops. After the war, a five-year reconstruction campaign by its citizens resulted in today's meticulous restoration of the Old Town, with its churches, palaces and market-place. It is an outstanding example of a near-total reconstruction of a span of history covering the 13th to the 20th century.
Zamosc was founded in the 16th century by the chancellor Jan Zamoysky on the trade route linking western and northern Europe with the Black Sea. Modelled on Italian theories of the 'ideal city' and built by the architect Bernando Morando, a native of Padua, Zamosc is a perfect example of a late-16th-century Renaissance town. It has retained its original layout and fortifications and a large number of buildings that combine Italian and central European architectural traditions.
Malbork Castle, if measured by land area, is the largest castle in the world. It is a classic example of a medieval fortress and was constructed in the 13th century as a Teutonic castle. The Teutonic Order is a Catholic religious order founded in 1190 and formed to aid Christians on their pilgrimages to the Holy Land and to establish hospitals. Nowadays it is a purely religious and focuses mainly on charitable work. The castle served as a royal residence and the seat of many Polish offices and institutions before passing over to German rule in 1775 until the end of the Second World War.
Torun owes its origins to the Teutonic Order, which built a castle there in the mid-13th century as a base for the conquest and evangelisation of Prussia. It soon developed a commercial role as part of the Hanseatic League. In the Old and New Town, the many imposing public and private buildings from the 14th and 15th centuries (among them the house of Copernicus) are striking evidence of Torun's importance.
Kalwaria Zebrzydowska: the Mannerist Architectural and Park Landscape Complex and Pilgrimage Park
Cultural, 1999 Lesser Poland
Kalwaria Zebrzydowska is a breathtaking cultural landscape of great spiritual significance. Its natural setting – in which a series of symbolic places of worship relating to the Passion of Jesus Christ and the life of the Virgin Mary was laid out at the beginning of the 17th century – has remained virtually unchanged.
The Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica, the largest timber-framed religious buildings in Europe, were built in the former Silesia in the mid-17th century, amid the religious strife that followed the Peace of Westphalia. Constrained by the physical and political conditions, the Churches of Peace bear testimony to the quest for religious freedom and are a rare expression of Lutheran ideology in an idiom generally associated with the Catholic Church.
The wooden churches of southern Little Poland represent outstanding examples of the different aspects of medieval church-building traditions in Roman Catholic culture. Built using the horizontal log technique, common in eastern and northern Europe since the Middle Ages, these churches were sponsored by noble families and became status symbols.
A landscaped park of 560ha astride the Neisse River and the border between Poland and Germany, it was created by Prince Hermann von Puckler-Muskau from 1815 to 1844. Blending seamlessly with the surrounding farmed landscape, the park pioneered new approaches to landscape design and influenced the development of landscape architecture in Europe and America.
Built to the plans of German architect Max Berg between 1911-1913, Centennial Hall was part of a series of works commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 1813 War of Liberation against Napoleon Bonaparte. It is an early example of European reinforced concrete buildings and survived the destruction of World War Two.
Tarnowskie Góry Lead-Silver-Zinc Mine and its Underground Water Management System
Cultural, 2017 Silesia
Located in Upper Silesia, in southern Poland, one of the main mining areas of central Europe, the property includes the entire underground mine with adits, shafts, galleries and other features of the water management system. Most of the property is situated underground while the surface mining topography features relics of shafts and waste heaps, as well as the remains of the 19th century steam water pumping station.
Krzemionki Prehistoric Striped Flint Mining Region
Cultural, 2019 Świętokrzyskie
Located in the mountain region of Świętokrzyskie, Krzemionki is an ensemble of four mining sites, dating from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age (about 3900 to 1600 BCE), dedicated to the extraction and processing of striped flint, which was mainly used for axe-making.
Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region in Poland and Ukraine Cultural, 2013 Lesser Poland, Subcarpathia (shared with Ukraine)
Situated in the eastern fringe of Central Europe, the transnational property numbers a selection of sixteen tserkvas (churches). They were built of horizontal wooden logs between the 16th and 19th centuries by communities of Orthodox and Greek Catholic faiths.
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe Natural, 2021 Subcarpathia (shared with Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, North Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine)
There are nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Romania, seven are cultural and two are natural. The most recent site to be added is the Rosia Montană Mining Cultural Landscape, added in 2021. Upon its inscription, it was immediately listed as endangered due to threats posed by plans to resume mining. Prior to its closure in 2006, it was a state-run gold mine with a long and prosperous history dating back to the Stone Age.
Danube Delta
Natural, 1991 Tulcea County
The waters of the Danube, which flow into the Black Sea, form the largest and best preserved of Europe's deltas. The Danube delta hosts over 300 species of birds as well as 45 freshwater fish species in its numerous lakes and marshes.
The following consent is required: Tracking & performance, Targeting & advertising.
Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania
Cultural, 1993 Sibiu, Alba, Harghita, Brașov, and Mureș County
This UNESCO site consists of seven villages in southeastern Transylvania, each home to a fortified church. Although there are upwards of 150 fortified churches in the region, these seven sites are among the best preserved. They include;
Biertan fortified church (completed 1524)
Câlnic Fortress (completed c.13th century)
Dârjiu fortified church (completed 16th century)
Prejmer fortified church (completed 1240)
Saschiz fortified church (completed 1496)
Valea Viilor fortified church (completed 16th century)
Viscri fortified church (completed c.13th century)
Founded in 1690 by Prince Constantine Brancovan, the monastery of Horezu, in Walachia, is a masterpiece of the 'Brancovan' style. It is known for its architectural purity and balance, the richness of its sculptural detail, the treatment of its religious compositions, its votive portraits and its painted decorative works.
The eight Romanian Orthodox churches of Moldovia, located in the historical north of Romania, were built between the 1480s and the late 1500s, and since 1993 have been inscribed onto UNESCO's World Heritage list. Many of the structures feature colourful frescoes painted on their exterior with ornate architectural details and traditional eastern European roofing. The eight churches included in this listing are:
Beheading of St. John the Baptist Church (completed 1502)
Dormition of the Mother of God Church (completed 1530)
Annunciation Church (completed 1532). Also known as Moldovita Monastery, it was built as a protective barrier against the Muslim Ottoman conquerors from the East.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross Church (completed 1487)
St. Nicholas Church (completed 1530)
St. George Church (completed 1488)
Resurrection Church (completed 1581) (pictured above). Also known as Sucevita Monastery, it contains both Byzantine and Gothic elements and its frescoes depict biblical stories from the Old and New Testaments.
Founded by German craftsmen and merchants known as the Saxons of Transylvania, Sighişoara is a fine example of a small, fortified medieval town which played an important strategic and commercial role on the fringes of central Europe for several centuries
These eight churches are outstanding examples of a range of architectural solutions from different periods and areas. They show the variety of designs and craftsmanship adopted in these narrow, high, timber constructions with their characteristic tall, slim clock towers at the western end of the building, either single- or double-roofed and covered by shingles. As such, they are a particular vernacular expression of the cultural landscape of this mountainous area of northern Romania.
Built in the 1st centuries B.C. and A.D. under Dacian rule, these fortresses show an unusual fusion of military and religious architectural techniques and concepts from the classical world and the late European Iron Age.
Located in the Metalliferous range of the Apuseni Mountains in the west of Romania, Roșia Montană features the most significant, extensive and technically diverse underground Roman gold mining complex known at the time of inscription. As Alburnus Maior, it was the site of extensive gold-mining during the Roman Empire.
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe Natural, 2021 Subcarpathia (shared with Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, North Macedonia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine)
There are four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Serbia, and one in the independent state of Kosovo. The first site added was Stari Ras in 1979, followed by others in 1896, 2004, 2007 and 2017. The Medieval Monuments in Kosovo site was placed on UNESCO's endangered list in 2006 due to the region's political instability.
Stari Ras and Sopoćan
Cultural, 1979 Novi Pazar
Once an important capital, positioned in the centre of an early medieval state and close to vital trading routes, Stari Ras nowadays has little to show of its former magnificence. What is left of the former fortress are ruins and the surrounding lush hills of the region. The nearby Monastery of Sopoćani formed part of this UNESCO site and was established sometime around 1259-1270. The building was deconsecrated in 1689 but reestablished in the 20th century when a thriving brotherhood of monks settled in the monastery for the first time in 237 years.
The following consent is required: Tracking & performance, Targeting & advertising.
Studenica Monastery
Cultural, 1986 Kraljevo
The Studenica Monastery was established in the late 12th century by Stevan Nemanja, founder of the medieval Serb state, shortly after his abdication. It is the largest and richest of Serbia’s Orthodox monasteries. Its two principal monuments, the Church of the Virgin and the Church of the King, both built of white marble, enshrine priceless collections of 13th- and 14th-century Byzantine painting.
The four edifices of the site reflect the high points of the Byzantine-Romanesque ecclesiastical culture, with its distinct style of wall painting, which developed in the Balkans between the 13th and 17th centuries.
The Late Roman fortified palace compound and memorial complex of Gamzigrad-Romuliana, Palace of Galerius, in the east of Serbia, was commissioned by Emperor Caius Valerius Galerius Maximianus, in the late 3rd and early 4th centuries. The site consists of fortifications, the palace in the north-western part of the complex, basilicas, temples, hot baths, memorial complex, and a tetrapylon. The group of buildings is also unique in its intertwining of ceremonial and memorial functions.
There are eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Slovakia, evenly distributed across the country. The village of Vlkolínec in the industrial northern region of Žilina is one of Europe's best preserved rural mountain-side settlements. It was added in 1993.
Historic Town of Banská Štiavnica and the Technical Monuments in its Vicinity
Cultural, 1993 Banská Bystrica Region
Over the centuries, the town of Banská Štiavnica was visited by many outstanding engineers and scientists who contributed to its fame. The old medieval mining centre grew into a town with Renaissance palaces, 16th-century churches, elegant squares and castles.
The following consent is required: Tracking & performance, Targeting & advertising.
Levoča, Spišský Hrad and the Associated Cultural Monuments
Cultural, 1993 Prešov and Košice Regions
Spišský Hrad has one of the largest ensembles of 13th and 14th century military, political and religious buildings in eastern Europe, and its Romanesque and Gothic architecture has remained remarkably intact.
The village of Vlkolínec in central Slovakia is unique because it is reltively untouched. It was added to the World Heritage list by UNESCO because it is "a remarkably intact settlement of 45 buildings with the traditional features of a central European village". It is the region’s most complete group of these kinds of traditional log houses, and is still a working village.
Bardejov is a small but exceptionally complete and well-preserved example of a fortified medieval town, which typifies the urbanisation in this region. Among other remarkable features, it also contains a small Jewish quarter around a fine 18th-century synagogue.
Wooden Churches of the Slovak part of the Carpathian Mountain Area
Cultural, 2000 Prešov Region
The Wooden Churches of the Slovak part of Carpathian Mountain Area inscribed on the World Heritage List consist of two Roman Catholic, three Protestant and three Greek Orthodox churches built between the 16th and 18th centuries. The property presents good examples of a rich local tradition of religious architecture, marked by the meeting of Latin and Byzantine cultures.
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe Natural, 2007 Prešov Region (shared with Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine)
There are five UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Slovenia, concentrated mostly in the central and eastern parts of the country. Many of the sites were inscribed within the last decade with the exception of the Škocjan Caves, which were inscribed at UNESCO's 10th session in 1986.
Škocjan Caves
Natural, 1986 Škocjan (Municipality of Divača)
The Škocjan Caves are one of the most important natural formations in the world due to a series of different factors as listed by scientists and geologists. The complex is one of the largest known underground canyons in the world and has examples of natural beauty and great aesthetic value. The caves have their own microclimate and therefore a special ecosystem has developed within them. The area has great cultural and historical significance due to the inhabitation of humans on the site since prehistoric times.
The following consent is required: Tracking & performance, Targeting & advertising.
The works of Jože Plečnik in Ljubljana – Human Centred Urban Design
Cultural, 2021 Ljubljana and Črna Vas
The works Jože Plečnik carried in Ljubljana between World War I and World War II present an example of a human centred urban design that successively changed the identity of the city following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, when it changed from a provincial city into the symbolic capital of the Slovenian people. The architect Jože Plečnik contributed to this transformation with his personal, profoundly human vision for the city, based on an architectural dialogue with the older city while serving the needs of emerging modern 20th century society. The property consists of a series of public spaces (squares, parks, streets, promenades, bridges) and public institutions (national library, churches, markets, funerary complex) that were sensitively integrated into the pre-existing urban, natural and cultural context and contributed to the city’s new identity.
Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe Natural, 2017 Municipalities of Kočevje, Ilirska Bistrica, Loška Dolina (shared with Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerlands, Ukraine)
Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine form part of this unique corner of Europe however we don't offer campsites in these countries. See below for a brief summary of sites in these three countries.
Belarus
Białowieża Forest Natural, 1992 Brest Province and Grodno Province
The Białowieża Forest World Heritage site, on the border between Poland and Belarus, is an immense range of primary forest including both conifers and broadleaved trees covering a total area of 141,885 hectares.
Mir Castle Complex Cultural, 2000 Mir Grodno Province
The construction of this castle began at the end of the 15th century, in Gothic style. It was subsequently extended and reconstructed, first in the Renaissance and then in the Baroque style. After being abandoned for nearly a century and suffering severe damage during the Napoleonic period, the castle was restored at the end of the 19th century, with the addition of a number of other elements and the landscaping of the surrounding area as a park. Its present form is graphic testimony to its often turbulent history.
Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh Cultural, 2005 Nesvihz, Minsk Province
The Radziwill dynasty, who built and kept the ensemble from the 16th century until 1939, gave birth to some of the most important personalities in European history and culture. Due to their efforts, the town of Nesvizh came to exercise great influence in the sciences, arts, crafts and architecture. The complex consists of the residential castle and the mausoleum Church of Corpus Christi. The palaces and church became important prototypes marking the development of architecture throughout Central Europe and Russia.
Struve Geodetic Arc Cultural, 2005 Brest Province and Grodno Province (shared with Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Norway, Moldova, Russia, Sweden, Ukraine)
Kyiv: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings (in danger) Cultural, 1990 Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra
Designed to rival Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, Kyiv's Saint-Sophia Cathedral symbolises the 'new Constantinople', capital of the Christian principality of Kyiv, which was created in the 11th century in a region evangelised after the baptism of St Vladimir in 988.
L'viv: the Ensemble of the History Centre (in danger) Cultural, 1998 Lviv Oblast
The city of L''viv, founded in the late Middle Ages, was a flourishing administrative, religious and commercial centre for several centuries. The medieval urban topography has been preserved virtually intact (in particular, there is evidence of the different ethnic communities who lived there), along with many fine Baroque and later buildings.
Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans Cultural, 2011 Chernivtsi Oblast
The Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans represents a masterful synergy of architectural styles built by Czech architect Josef Hlavka from 1864 to 1882. The property, an outstanding example of 19th-century historicist architecture, also includes a seminary and monastery and is dominated by the domed, cruciform Seminary Church with a garden and park.
Ancient City of Tauric Chersonese and its Chora Cultural, 2013 Sevastopol
The site features the remains of a city founded by Dorian Greeks in the 5th century BC on the northern shores of the Black Sea. It encompasses six component sites including vineyards whose production was exported by the city which thrived until the 15th century, several public building complexes and residential neighbourhoods, as well as early Christian monuments alongside remains from Stone and Bronze Age settlements; Roman and medieval tower fortifications and water supply systems.
The Historic Centre of Odesa (in danger) Cultural, 2023 Odesa Oblast
The Historic Center of Odesa, part of the Black Sea port city, is a densely built-up area, planned according to classicism canons, characterised by two- to four-storey buildings and wide perpendicular streets lined with trees. Historic buildings reflect the rapid economic development of the city in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The site includes theatres, bridges, monuments, religious buildings, schools, private palaces and tenement houses, clubs, hotels, banks, shopping centres, warehouses, stock exchanges and other public and administrative buildings designed by architects and engineers, mostly from Italy.
Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region in Poland and Ukraine Cultural, 2013 Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Zakarpattia Oblasts (shared with Poland)
Struve Geodetic Arc Cultural 2005 Khmelnytskyi Oblast, Odesa Oblast (shared with Belarus, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Sweden)
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe Natural, 2007 Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Zakarpattia Oblasts (shared with Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland)
Ben deals with all things design, working on the visual design of our annual guides, Destinations magazine, information leaflets, social media and email campaigns, and much more across the Alan Rogers, Rallies and Worldwide brands. He also produces written content for our blogs alongside our other contributors.
Europe is home to over 450 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Southern Europe alone has over 130. We'll be journeying through Greece, Vatican City, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Malta this week, so hold on tight!
We will be covering over 450 of Europe's UNESCO sites over four blogs; sorted into northern, southern, western and central and eastern Europe starting with the northern states. We hope to inspire more people to visit more UNESCO sites when travelling.
