Germany Travel - Visiting Germany's Historic Sites - World Heritage Sites

Germany is rich in historic sites. Whether you are visiting a major city or a small town, you are not far from a historic site or monument. It can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. UNESCO makes it somewhat easier to decide where to go if you are a history buff by having designated several German cities, towns and sites as World Heritage Sites. While the UNESCO World Heritage Sites are only a sampling of the historic sites in Germany, you might want to learn more about them as you plan your trip.

How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are there in Germany?

Germany is home to over 30 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

• Germany Travel - Historic Cities of Germany - World Heritage Sites
• Germany Travel - Historic Castles, Gardens and Sites of Germany - World Heritage Sites
• Germany Travel - Historic Cathedrals and Religous Sites - World Heritage Sites
  

Who is UNESCO?

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The UNESCO World Heritage Foundation focuses on the preservation of cultural sites and the conservation of nature. Based on the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972.

What is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

UNESCO has identified and continues to identify important cultural and natural heritage sites that are unique and diverse around the world. From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, from cathedrals in Europe to those in South America, from national parks in the US to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and from the Seregenti to the Pyramids, the UNESCO World Heritage Sites are deemed to be of value to the world as a whole.

The UNESCO World Heritage Sites "belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located," based on the UNESCO policy and philosophy. The goal is to establish and maintain an international cooperation to protect those sites that are deemed to be of significant historic and natural significance and to provide resources to ensure that historic sites are preserved.

How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are there in the world?

The World Heritage List includes 830 properties which the World Heritage Committee considers as "having outstanding universal value".

The UNESCO effort has had an considerable impact on preservation of natural and cultural treasures around the world and the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Germany are no exception. It isn't a bad idea at all to consider visiting at least a few of these internationally recognized historic sites in Germany.

Regardless of where you go, you will find a world of history to explore in Germany, even my apartment building is historic. Often you will see the term "Denkmalshutz" on a building - this means it is under historic preservation in Germany. The wonderful thing about the UNESCO World Heritage Sites is you can plan your next around-the-world tour around them, or maybe simply your trip to Germany.