List of World Heritage Sites in Western Europe facts for kids

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) helps protect amazing places around the world. These special spots are called World Heritage Sites. In Western Europe, there are 171 of these sites!

These sites are found in 9 different countries. Germany and France have the most, with 46 and 45 sites each. Some smaller places like Liechtenstein, Monaco, and the British islands of Isle of Man, Guernsey, and Jersey don't have any sites yet.

Twelve of these sites are shared between countries, meaning they cross borders. The very first site from this region to be added to the list was the Aachen Cathedral in Germany, back in 1978. That was the same year the whole World Heritage list started!

Every year, the UNESCO committee decides which new places to add. They also check if any sites are in danger. To be chosen, a site must meet special rules. There are six rules for cultural heritage (things made by people, like old buildings) and four for natural heritage (places in nature, like mountains or forests). Some sites are even "mixed," meaning they have both cultural and natural importance. In Western Europe, most sites are cultural (151), with 18 natural sites and 2 mixed ones.

Right now, none of the sites in Western Europe are in danger. But some have been in the past! For example, the Cologne Cathedral in Germany was listed as endangered in 2004 because tall buildings were being built too close to it. Luckily, it was removed from the danger list in 2006 after the issue was resolved.

Another German site, the Dresden Elbe Valley, was listed in 2006 because a bridge was being built through it. When construction continued, it was removed from the World Heritage list completely in 2009. This was only the second time a site had ever been removed! The first was Oman's Arabian Oryx Sanctuary. More recently, the Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City in the UK was listed as endangered in 2012 due to new building plans. It was removed from the list in 2021 when those plans went ahead.

Western Europe's World Heritage Sites

Here's a look at some of the incredible World Heritage Sites in Western Europe.

Germany's Amazing Places

• Aachen Cathedral
  • This stunning cathedral was built a very long time ago, starting in 786 AD. It was the first large vaulted building since ancient Roman times! It was also the burial place of Charlemagne, a famous emperor who died in 814.
• Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch
  • These old abbey ruins and a special gatehouse (called a 'Torhall') are from the Carolingian period. They have amazing sculptures and paintings that are still in good shape!
• Bauhaus and its Sites
  • The Bauhaus was a super important art school in the 20th century, started in 1919. Its buildings are great examples of modern design. The sites include school buildings and houses where teachers lived.
• Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe
  • This is the biggest hillside park in Europe! It has incredible water features and a huge statue of Hercules. It shows off the grand ideas of kings from the Baroque and Romantic periods.
• Berlin Modernism Housing Estates
  • These six housing areas were built between 1910 and 1933. They show how architects tried to make better, more affordable homes for people. Their designs influenced building projects all over the world.
• Collegiate Church, Castle, and Old Town of Quedlinburg
  • Quedlinburg lets you step back in time with its 16th and 17th-century timber-framed houses and medieval streets. The castle and cathedral hold the remains of King Henry I.
• Cologne Cathedral
  • Work on this massive cathedral began in 1248, but it wasn't finished until 1880! Even after being heavily bombed in World War II, it's now Germany's most visited landmark.
• Fagus Factory in Alfeld
  • Built in 1910, this factory was famous for its modern design, especially its wide use of glass. It was a preview of the famous Bauhaus style.
• Hanseatic City of Lübeck
  • Lübeck was a major trading city for the Hanseatic League in Northern Europe. Even though a lot of it was destroyed in World War II, much of its original 12th-century architecture remains.
• Maulbronn Monastery Complex
  • This is one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries north of the Alps. Built between the 12th and 16th centuries, its church helped spread the Gothic style. It also had a clever water system!
• Messel Pit Fossil Site
  • This is an amazing place to find fossils! It helps scientists understand what the Earth was like 57 to 36 million years ago, especially how early mammals evolved.
• Mines of Rammelsberg, Historic Town of Goslar and Upper Harz Water Management System
  • This site shows how people mined metals for over 800 years. The complex system of ponds, channels, and tunnels helped extract ore and was a hub for mining inventions.
• Monastic Island of Reichenau
  • Founded in 724, this Benedictine monastery had a huge impact on art and learning in the region. Its churches, built between the 9th and 11th centuries, have impressive wall paintings.
• Museumsinsel (Museum Island), Berlin
  • This island in Berlin has five amazing museums built between 1824 and 1930. They hold collections that show how civilizations developed over time.
• Naumburg Cathedral
  • This cathedral is a beautiful example of medieval architecture and art.
• Pilgrimage Church of Wies
  • Built between 1745 and 1754, this church is a masterpiece of Bavarian Rococo art.
• Old town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof
  • This medieval town has buildings from almost 2,000 years ago, including Roman, Romanesque, and Gothic styles. It was a major trading center in the Holy Roman Empire.
• Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier
  • Trier was a Roman colony founded in the 1st century AD. Many Roman buildings are still standing, and its cathedral is Germany's oldest church.
• Speicherstadt and Kontorhaus District with Chilehaus
  • This "warehouse district" in Hamburg is the largest of its kind in the world. Built on wooden foundations, it was a free zone for trading goods without customs fees.
• Speyer Cathedral
  • Founded in 1030, this Romanesque cathedral was one of the grandest in the Holy Roman Empire and the burial place for German emperors for almost 300 years.
• St Mary's Cathedral and St Michael's Church at Hildesheim
  • These two churches are from the 11th century and are famous for their Romanesque architecture and precious artworks, like painted wooden ceilings and bronze doors.
• Town Hall and Roland on the Marketplace of Bremen
  • Bremen's Town Hall was built in the 15th century when the city joined the Hanseatic League. The Roland statue, built in 1404, symbolizes the city's freedom.
• Town of Bamberg
  • Bamberg became an important Christian center in 1007. Its architecture influenced buildings in northern Germany and Hungary. In the 18th century, it was a hub for famous writers.
• Upper Middle Rhine Valley
  • This 65 km (40 mi) stretch of the Rhine River is famous for its many castles, historic towns, and vineyards. It has inspired countless artists and writers.
• Völklingen Ironworks
  • This is the only fully intact ironworks from the 19th and 20th centuries in Western Europe and North America. It shows how iron was made in the past.
• Wartburg Castle
  • Perched on a hill, this castle was rebuilt in the 19th century. It's famous because Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German here while in hiding.
• Water Management System of Augsburg
  • Augsburg's water systems, built over centuries, include canals, water towers, and power stations. They have provided drinking water and power to the city for a long time.
• Würzburg Residence with the Court Gardens and Residence Square
  • This huge and fancy Baroque palace is one of Germany's largest. It was built for the prince-bishops and is known for its grand design.
• Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen
  • This industrial site has all the equipment of a historic coal mine that started operating about 150 years ago. Its 20th-century buildings are also very notable.

France's Cultural Treasures

• Abbey Church of Saint-Savin sur Gartempe
  • Often called the "Romanesque Sistine Chapel," this church has amazing, well-preserved murals from the 11th and 12th centuries.
• Amiens Cathedral
  • This is a classic example of a 13th-century Gothic church. It took almost 200 years to build and is still in great shape today.
• Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments
  • Arles was an important Roman city. It has many ancient Roman and Romanesque buildings that show its long history.
• Bordeaux, Port of the Moon
  • Famous for its wine, Bordeaux also has beautiful classical and neo-classical buildings. It shows how cities changed in the 18th century.
• Bourges Cathedral
  • This cathedral is known for its simple yet unique design. Some medieval houses still stand around it.
• Canal du Midi
  • This 360 km (220 mi) canal, built in the 17th century, connected the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. It was a huge engineering feat and looked beautiful too!
• The Causses and the Cévennes
  • This mountainous region shows how farmers adapted to the tough landscape. It's one of the last places where traditional summer herding (transhumance) is still practiced.
• Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura
  • Six caves here have revealed some of the oldest figurative art in the world, dating back 43,000 to 33,000 years ago! They include animal carvings and musical instruments.
• Champagne hillsides, houses and cellars
  • This site includes historic vineyards and cellars where the famous Champagne wine is made. It shows the long history of winemaking in the region.
• Chartres Cathedral
  • Rebuilt after a fire in 1194, this cathedral is a masterpiece of French Gothic art, with stunning 12th and 13th-century sculptures and stained-glass windows.
• Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay
  • Founded in 1119, this abbey was built to be self-sufficient and keep its residents away from the outside world. It even had its own bakery and ironworks.
• Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne
  • This impressive medieval fortified city has strong walls and towers, showing its long history of defense.
• Historic Site of Lyon
  • Lyon has a rich history, with buildings and areas that show its development over centuries.
• Jurisdiction of Saint-Émilion
  • Grape growing was introduced here by the Romans and has been a huge part of the economy for thousands of years. The vineyards and historic buildings tell the story of this wine-focused community.
• Le Havre, the City Rebuilt by Auguste Perret
  • After being heavily bombed in World War II, Le Havre was rebuilt by architect Auguste Perret. He used modern methods and concrete to create a city that blended old and new.
• The Loire Valley
  • This beautiful valley has historic towns, villages, castles, and farmlands along the Loire River. It's a stunning example of how humans have shaped the landscape.
• Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin
  • This area shows the history of coal mining in France, with old factories, miners' houses, and other structures related to the industry.
• Palace and Park of Fontainebleau
  • French kings used this palace from the 12th century. It was expanded in the 16th century to be a "New Rome," mixing Renaissance and French art styles.
• Palace and Park of Versailles
  • This was the main home for French kings from Louis XIV to Louis XVI. It was a model for royal palaces across Europe for over a century, with beautiful architecture and gardens.
• Paris, Banks of the Seine
  • The Seine River flows through Paris, lined with famous landmarks like the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. The city's design influenced urban planning worldwide.
• Place Stanislas, Place de la Carrière and Place d'Alliance in Nancy
  • Nancy is a unique example of a capital city built with a unified, modern design in the 18th century. Its squares and boulevards are very harmonious.
• Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct)
  • This ancient Roman aqueduct bridge, built around 10-25 AD, is an amazing example of Roman engineering and art. It's almost 50 meters (164 feet) high!
• Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley
  • This valley has 147 prehistoric sites and 25 decorated caves, including the famous Lascaux Cave. The cave paintings, especially of animals, are incredibly detailed and colorful.
• Provins, Town of Medieval Fairs
  • This fortified medieval town was a major center for international trade fairs and the wool industry. Many buildings were built specifically for these markets.
• Roman Theatre and its Surroundings and the "Triumphal Arch" of Orange
  • The Roman theatre in Orange is one of the best-preserved Roman theatres, with an intact facade. The Triumphal Arch was built around 10-25 AD.
• Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France
  • This site includes churches and hospitals along the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, showing the importance of this journey.
• From the Great Saltworks of Salins-les-Bains to the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans
  • These two saltworks show how salt was produced. The Royal Saltworks, built in 1775, was designed with modern ideas. The other saltworks was active for over 1200 years!
• Strasbourg, Grande île and Neustadt
  • The Grande Ile is the historic heart of Strasbourg, with a cathedral, old churches, and palaces. It shows the city's long history and unique blend of cultures.
• Vézelay, Church and Hill
  • This Benedictine abbey has been an important pilgrimage site since the 9th century. Famous leaders like Bernard of Clairvaux and Richard the Lion-Hearted gathered here for crusades.

United Kingdom's Historic Sites

• Blaenavon Industrial Landscape
  • In the 19th century, Wales was a world leader in iron and coal. Blaenavon shows the landscape created by these industries, including quarries, workers' homes, and railways.
• Blenheim Palace
  • This grand palace was designed to celebrate a victory over the French. It's important because it helped create a unique English Romantic style of architecture.
• Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church
  • St Martin's is England's oldest church. These sites are important for the history of Christianity in England. The cathedral shows both Romanesque and Gothic styles.
• Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd
  • King Edward I built these castles in Wales to control the area. They are considered some of the best examples of military architecture from that time.
• City of Bath
  • Founded by the Romans as a spa town, Bath has a rich history. It's famous for its Roman ruins and beautiful Palladian architecture.
• Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape
  • This area was a huge tin and copper mining center in the 18th and 19th centuries. The mining techniques developed here were used all over the world.
• Derwent Valley Mills
  • This was the birthplace of the factory system! Innovations here, like the water frame and workers' housing, were key to the Industrial Revolution and influenced places across Europe and North America.
• Dorset and East Devon Coast
  • These cliffs are an amazing place to find fossils, showing a continuous record of life from 185 million years ago.
• Durham Castle and Cathedral
  • Durham Cathedral is a stunning example of Norman architecture and helped develop the Gothic style. The castle was home to powerful bishops.
• The English Lake District
  • This beautiful landscape of mountains and lakes was shaped by both nature and human activity. It inspired many artists and writers and led to early efforts to protect natural beauty.
• Forth Bridge
  • This cantilever railway bridge over the Firth of Forth is an iconic symbol of Scotland. It was a major engineering achievement when it was built.
• Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast
  • This natural wonder has 40,000 basalt columns sticking out of the sea, formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago.
• Heart of Neolithic Orkney
  • This collection of Neolithic sites includes ancient settlements, tombs, and stone circles, showing how people lived and held ceremonies thousands of years ago.
• Jodrell Bank Observatory
  • This observatory is a very important place for studying space. It has huge radio telescopes that have helped us learn a lot about the universe.
• New Lanark
  • Inspired by early factories, New Lanark was a model community built for mill workers. A philanthropist named Robert Owen created public facilities and education here, supporting factory reform.
• Old and New Towns of Edinburgh
  • Edinburgh's Old Town is medieval, while the New Town was developed in the late 1700s. They show the different ways cities were planned in medieval and modern times.
• Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal
  • This aqueduct was built during the Industrial Revolution to carry a canal over a valley. It used new techniques with cast and wrought iron, influencing engineering worldwide.
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
  • These famous gardens, created in 1759, were designed by important landscape architects. They were used to study plants and the environment, advancing our understanding of these subjects.
• Saltaire
  • Saltaire was a model village built by a mill owner for his workers. It included public buildings and showed a new way of caring for industrial communities in the 19th century.
• Sceilg Mhichíl
  • This monastery from the 7th century is on a rocky island off Ireland's coast. It shows the tough lives of early Irish Christians.
• St Kilda
  • This isolated group of islands was inhabited for over 2,000 years but has no permanent residents now. It has unique old buildings and is a vital breeding ground for many seabirds.
• Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites
  • These Neolithic sites, including the famous Stonehenge, are huge stone monuments. Their purpose is still a mystery, but they show how ancient people interacted with their environment.
• Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey
  • Fountains Abbey was one of Britain's largest and richest monasteries before it was dissolved. The beautiful garden that includes the abbey influenced garden design across Europe.
• Tower of London
  • Started by William the Conqueror in 1066, the Tower of London is a symbol of power and an important example of Norman military architecture.
• Westminster Palace, Westminster Abbey and Saint Margaret's Church
  • This site has been central to English and British government since the 11th century. Westminster Abbey is where all English and British monarchs have been crowned. The palace is a great example of Gothic Revival architecture.

Belgium's Heritage Sites

• Belfries of Belgium and France
  • This entry includes 56 important bell towers across France and Belgium, built over many centuries.
• Flemish Béguinages
  • These communities were built by religious women called Béguines who lived devoted lives without leaving the world. Entire towns in Flanders were created based on this idea in the 13th century.
• La Grand-Place, Brussels
  • This city square in Brussels is a well-preserved example of social and cultural life in the late 17th century, with its city hall and historic buildings.
• Brugge
  • Bruges was a major economic and trading city in the late Middle Ages. It still has its beautiful Gothic and neo-Gothic architecture, showing its style from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.
• The Four Lifts on the Canal du Centre
  • These hydraulic lifts helped boats overcome a big height difference on the Canal du Centre. They are the last working lifts of their kind from the early 20th century.
• Major Town Houses of the Architect Victor Horta (Brussels)
  • These houses in Brussels were designed by architect Victor Horta and are important examples of the Art Nouveau style.
• Neolithic Flint Mines at Spiennes (Mons)
  • These are the largest and oldest ancient mines in Europe, showing amazing innovations in mining flint.
• Notre-Dame Cathedral in Tournai
  • Built in the 12th century, this cathedral has Romanesque nave, transept, and towers, with a Gothic choir added later. It's a major heritage site in Wallonia.
• Stoclet House
  • Built in 1905, this house is a fantastic example of the Vienna Secession art and architecture movement. Its angular design was a turning point in Art Nouveau.

Switzerland's Unique Locations

• Benedictine Convent of St John at Müstair
  • This Christian monastery from the Carolingian period has Switzerland's best collection of figurative murals from around 800 AD.
• La Chaux-de-Fonds / Le Locle, Watchmaking Town Planning
  • These two towns in the Swiss Jura mountains developed around the watchmaking industry. They were rebuilt after fires to support this single industry, making them "huge factory-towns."
• Convent of St Gall
  • This Carolingian convent was one of Europe's most important. Its library is one of the oldest and richest in the world, with many valuable manuscripts.
• Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces
  • These vineyard terraces stretch for about 30 km (18 mi) along Lake Geneva. They date back to the 11th century and show a long history of winemaking.
• Old City of Bern
  • Founded in the 12th century, Bern was rebuilt in a unified style after a fire. It kept its medieval charm with sandstone buildings, arcades, and fountains.
• Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch
  • This site includes some of the highest mountains in the Central Alps and Eurasia's largest glacier. It's important for studying climate change and has inspired art and tourism.
• Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona
  • This mountainous area shows an amazing example of how mountains are built when continents collide. It's been a key site for geology since the 18th century.
• Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona
  • This site has three castles and fortified walls that protected the ancient town and controlled passage through the Ticino valley.

Austria's Grand Sites

• Graz – Historic Centre and Schloss Eggenberg
  • The Habsburg family lived in Graz for centuries, making it a city with grand buildings in many different styles.
• Hallstatt-Dachstein / Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape
  • This region grew around salt mining, which started as early as 2,000 BCE. It's also known for its mountains and long caves.
• Salzburg
  • Known for composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Salzburg is famous for its church-state qualities. It blends German and Italian cultures, seen in its Gothic and Baroque buildings.
• Vienna
  • Vienna's historic center has beautiful Baroque castles, gardens, and grand buildings from the late 19th century.
• Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn
  • This Rococo palace was the home of the Habsburg emperors. It was designed as a single, unified project and was even the site of the world's first zoo!
• Semmering railway
  • Built between 1848 and 1854, this railway crosses rugged mountains. It was a huge engineering challenge for its time, with many tunnels and bridges still in use today.
• Wachau Cultural Landscape
  • This 40 km (25 mi) valley along the Danube River has been important since prehistoric times. It's home to historic towns, villages, monasteries, and castles.

Ireland's Ancient Wonders

• Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne
  • This site is a unique example of ancient settlements, showing cultural, artistic, and scientific progress over four thousand years.

Netherlands' Watery Landscapes

• Droogmakerij de Beemster (Beemster Polder)
  • This early 17th-century polder is land reclaimed from the sea, with fields, roads, canals, and settlements all built on it.
• Defence Line of Amsterdam
  • This 135 km (84 mi) defense line was built around Amsterdam to protect it from naval attacks. It could flood the area to stop invaders.
• Ir.D.F. Woudagemaal (D.F. Wouda Steam Pumping Station)
  • This steam pumping station is an important example of how the Netherlands manages its water.
• Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout
  • This network of dykes, reservoirs, pumping stations, and windmills shows how the Dutch have drained land for farming since the Middle Ages.
• Van Nellefabriek
  • Built in the 1920s, this factory was designed as an "ideal factory" with a modern, functional style. It used lots of glass to let in light.
• Schokland and Surroundings
  • Schokland was a peninsula that became an island, then was abandoned, and later repopulated after the surrounding sea was drained. It shows how people have lived with changing water levels.
• Seventeenth-Century Canal Ring Area of Amsterdam
  • By digging canals to drain the swampy land, Amsterdam became a leader in city planning. Its concentric canals and infrastructure helped the city grow and prosper.
• Rietveld Schröderhuis
  • Built in 1924, this small family house has flexible rooms and a unique exterior. It's a great example of the De Stijl art and architecture movement and modern architecture.

Luxembourg's Fortified City

• Luxembourg: its Old Quarters and Fortifications
  • Luxembourg's location was very important, so it was fortified and expanded by different European powers over centuries. Even though many walls were removed, parts still remain.

Trans-border Sites (Shared with other regions)

• Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
  • These forests are used to study how beech trees spread across different environments. They are found in many European countries.
• Archaeological Border complex of Hedeby and the Danevirke
  • Hedeby was an important Viking settlement and trading hub. The Danevirke is an ancient fortification of earth walls and moats.
• The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier
  • This site includes 17 buildings by the famous modern architect Le Corbusier, spread across seven countries. They show how modern architecture solved society's needs.
• Fertö / Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape
  • This lake area has been lived in for 8,000 years. It has 18th and 19th-century villages and castles built on top of older settlements.
• Frontiers of the Roman Empire
  • This site includes Hadrian's Wall and other Roman frontiers built to defend the Roman Empire. It shows how the Romans protected their borders.
• Monte San Giorgio
  • This mountain near Lake Lugano has the best fossil record of marine life from the Triassic Period (245–230 million years ago), including many different sea creatures and land fossils.
• Muskauer Park / Park Mużakowski
  • This beautiful landscaped park crosses the border between Poland and Germany. It was designed as a "painting with plants" to blend with the natural landscape.
• Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region
  • These mountains in Germany and Czechia have been mined for metals since the 12th century. The landscape was shaped by mining inventions.
• Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps
  • This site has 111 small sites with remains of prehistoric stilt houses built on lake edges, rivers, or wetlands. They offer lots of information about ancient farming cultures.
• Pyrénées – Mont Perdu
  • This mountain landscape on the French and Spanish border has huge canyons and valleys. It also shows the cultural lifestyle of seasonal herding in the mountains.
• Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes
  • These two historic railway lines cross the Swiss Alps, making it easier to reach isolated mountain towns. Building them required amazing bridges and tunnels.
• Wadden Sea
  • This flat coastline with mudflats, marshes, and dunes is shared by Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands. It's a vital breeding ground for millions of birds and many other species.

Images for kids

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  Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe

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  Archaeological Border complex of Hedeby and the Danevirke

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  The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement

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  Belfries of Belgium and France

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  Fertö / Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape

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  Frontiers of the Roman Empire

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  Monte San Giorgio

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  Muskauer Park / Park Mużakowski

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  Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region

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  Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps

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  Pyrénées – Mont Perdu

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  Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes

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  The Wadden Sea