As of 2017, more than a thousand man-made and natural sites around the world are included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list. The organization is committed to preserving these unique, one of a kind places, popularizing their cultural, historical or environmental significance. World Heritage Sites are located in Hungary, Austria, Greece, Argentina and another 161 countries that have ratified the Convention for the Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage.
World Heritage Convention
The founding document that currently regulates the conservation, restoration, protection and popularization of unique historical and cultural monuments began to take shape after the First World War and was finally formed in the second half of the twentieth century. The World Heritage Convention in Hungary, Austria, Greece and other countries provides the following benefits to properties that have received special status:
- additionally guarantees the integrity and safety of unique monuments;
- promotes the popularization of objects, the growth of the prestige of the institutions that manage them;
- provides priority in the distribution of World Heritage Fund funds to support unique monuments;
- promotes the development of ecological tourism;
- improves control of the state of natural and cultural heritage sites.
Evaluation Criteria
There are several criteria according to which a particular monument can be assigned a special status. Among them, for example, are the following:
- The object is unique in its kind, exceptional for the civilization that has ever existed and still exists.
- It is a masterpiece of human genius.
- It is of exceptional importance, the object is directly related to traditions, rites, beliefs, art or literary works.
- It is an outstanding example of architecture, construction, technology or landscape, illustrating a significant period in history.
- It is a natural phenomenon, extremely beautiful and has aesthetic importance.
- The facility includes an important natural environment necessary for the conservation of biological diversity.
- It is a monument of the past, reflects important geological processes, physical and geographical features.
If a monument of nature, architecture or art meets at least one of the criteria, then it can be considered a World Heritage Site.
World Heritage Lists by Country
Most of the outstanding monuments (53) as of 2017 are located in Italy. This is the historical center of Florence and San Gimignano and Siena, Castell del Monte castle, traditional dwellings in the town of Alberobello, several archaeological zones, the Aeolian Islands and so on. In second place is China (52), followed by Spain (46), France (43), Germany (42). World Heritage Sites are also located in Austria, Greece, Argentina, and Hungary.
In Russia there are 28 (or 29, taking into account the monuments located on the territory of the Crimean peninsula) heritage sites, including the historical center of the Northern capital, the Kremlin and Red Square, historical sites of Novgorod, the Solovetsky Islands, monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal, Komi forests, a lake Baikal, Kamchatka natural volcanoes, Western Caucasus, Altai mountains, Wrangel island and so on.
Outstanding Heritage Sites in Greece
In Greece - one of the cradles of human civilization - one and a half percent of the total number of World Heritage sites, namely 18 objects. Most of them are included in the list solely according to cultural criteria, two monuments - according to mixed criteria.
The World Heritage of Greece is represented by such monuments (as an addition to the list):
- Temple of Apollo.
- Ruins of Delphi.
- Acropolis in Athens.
- Mount Athos is the spiritual center of Orthodoxy.
- Monasteries of Meteora.
- Monuments of Christianity in Thessaloniki.
- Epidaurus is an ancient city famous for its architectural monuments.
- The city of Rhodes.
- The ancient town of Mystra.
- Monuments of Olympia.
- Delos Island
- Byzantine monasteries.
- Archaeological site and temple of Hera on the island of Samos.
- Archaeological site of Vergina.
- Monuments of Mycenae and Tiryns.
- Historical center and monuments of Patmos island.
- Corfu old town.
- The ruins of Philip.
Archaeological sites
In ancient Greece, the first settlements appeared 5 thousand years ago. Archaeological excavations of such an ancient culture today are among the names of World Heritage Sites in Greece. These are the excavations of Epidaurus, Vergina, Mycenae and Tiryns, the ruins of Philip, Delphi, the ancient city of Mystras and medieval Rhodes. These places became World Heritage Sites in Greece due to their significance in the early period of human history - they were cultural and historical centers, capitals, and burial places of kings.
Early Christian and Byzantine monuments
Another important period in history - the development of Christianity - took place, including in the territory of modern Greece. World Heritage Sites include monuments of early Christianity and Byzantium, such as the Monastery in Patmos (in this place, according to tradition, John the Theologian preached), the monasteries Daphne, Nea Moni, Osios Lucas, the Church of St. Sophia, the Basilica of St. Dmitry, the Church of St. Nicholas, Prophet Elijah, Mount Athos and so on.
All these monuments have a special religious, cultural and historical significance for the whole world. World Heritage Sites in Greece must be seen with my own eyes. Such significant places will not leave anyone indifferent.
Austrian Special Heritage Sites
There are World Heritage Sites in Greece, Argentina, and Austria is one of the richest countries in the world. The list of outstanding monuments of the Republic of Austria includes nine items:
- Salzburg Center.
- Schonbrunn Palace and Gardens.
- The Dachstein mountain range in the Hallstatt community.
- Railroad Semmering.
- Eggenberg Castle and the historic center of Graz.
- Danube Valley Wachau.
- Landscape of lake Neusiedlersee.
- The historic city center of Vienna.
- Traditional pile huts around the Alpine mountains.
Five objects are located in the eastern part of the country, three more - in the northwest.
World Heritage in the Republic of Hungary
The Republic of Hungary has eight World Heritage sites. Hungary, Austria, Greece, Argentina - these countries are on the same line as the importance of cultural and historical monuments located on their territory. Outstanding objects include:
- Budapest. Of particular importance is the historical center of the Hungarian capital, the banks of the Danube, Fortress Hill, Heroes' Square, the State Opera House and other buildings.
- Ethnographic museum in the village of Hollokö. The village in northern Hungary, whose name translates as “Raven Stone”, is not just another open-air museum. In a small settlement, measured life flows, the same as in past centuries.
- Caves of the Slovak Karst and Aggtelek. The mountain range in which the caves are located is protected, as it is a unique landform.
- Benedictine Monastery in Pannonhalm Abbey. It is the oldest monastery in Hungary and the second largest Catholic abbey in the whole world.
- Necropolis of the city of Pecs.
- Hortobadi National Natural Park. The largest and oldest conservation area in all of Hungary.
- Förte Nature Reserve landscape. The biosphere reserve is classified as a protected object due to the fact that it has a unique landscape and biodiversity. The natural site is the westernmost flat brackish lake in Europe.
- Winemaking region Tokaj. White wines are produced there, the earliest evidence of the existence of Tokai winemaking dates back to the mid-sixteenth century.
Eleven Heritage Sites in Argentina
If almost all World Heritage Sites in Greece are included in the list of cultural significance, in Argentina the monuments are distributed more proportionally: three are included in the list according to cultural criteria, two according to nature, and one according to mixed criteria. Outstanding monuments in Argentina are:
- Protected area of Los Glaciares.
- Jesuit missions in the lands of the Indians.
- Conservation Area, Iguazu Park.
- Cave of Cueva de las Manos.
- Peninsula of Valdes.
- Natural parks Talampaya and Ischigualasto.
- The Jesuit quarter and the missions of Cordoba.
- The ancient path in the gorge of Waumac.
- Unique system of roads in the Andes.
- House of Dr. Kuruchet.
- Los Allerses Nature Reserve.
World Heritage Sites (in Hungary, Austria, Greece, Argentina and other countries) are places that are distinguished by outstanding natural, cultural, historical significance for all of humanity. The amazing landscapes and centuries-old stories behind these miracles are certainly worth it to go on a trip and get acquainted with all the sights in person. With World Heritage Sites, Hungary, Greece, Argentina and other countries are open to visitors, so you can buy tickets to one of the countries right now.