With abundant natural and cultural destinations to explore, Germany now boasts 51 recognized UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Germany’s rich cultural heritage has been further recognised by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), after seven new locations in the country were awarded World Heritage Site status during the 44th UNESCO meeting in China.
With the updated official UNESCO list counting more than 1,000 sites in 167 countries around the world, Germany now boasts 51 recognised World Heritage Sites, the third highest of any nation globally after Italy (58) and China (56). Germany’s World Heritage Sites comprise three natural locations and 48 cultural locations.
As a key destination to experience natural and cultural treasures, GCC visitors can discover a plethora of diverse World Heritage Sites along eight routes in Germany, which begin and end near international airports, making them easily accessible from regional gateways. Due to their uniqueness and authenticity, all UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Germany are considered significant for humanity therefore under special protection.
New UNESCO World Heritage Sites now recognised in Germany include the Mathildenhöhe artists’ colony in Darmstadt, the Lower Germanic Limes, The Danube Limes as well as historic spa resorts in Baden-Baden, Bad Ems and Bad Kissingen, which secured the title of World Heritage’s ‘Great European Baths’.
“With this year’s new additions, 51 natural and cultural heritage sites in Germany now hold the ‘UNESCO World Heritage’ seal of quality. Germany now sits at the top of the list of countries travellers are willing to visit in the Europe, averaging 22 per cent, or five per cent higher than last year,” said Petra Hedorfer, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of GNTB.
Mathildenhöhe artists’ colony in Darmstadt
Founded in 1899 by the Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig, Mathildenhöhe artists’ colony has been noted as a historic centre of modern-day architecture and art in Europe. Prior to the turn of the century, aspiring architects and artists had the opportunity to turn their ideas into experimentation, inspiring what is now known as the Bauhaus art movement. The infamous location includes a wedding tower designed by the architect Joseph-Maria Olbrich, seen as a landmark of the city and an excellent vantage point over the Rhine-Main plain.
The Lower Germanic Limes
The 400-kilometer section of the ancient Roman border fortifications runs along the North Rhine-Westphalia to Katwijk Rhineland-Palatinate through the Dutch North Sea coast. The Lower Germanic Limes is now noted as a World Heritage Site as part of the ‘Borders of the Roman Empire’ series. The river formed a natural border between the Roman province, where life across 44 towns, forts, legionary camps and temples formed the roots of today’s large cities, including Bonn and Cologne.
The Danube Limes
The Danube Limes follow the course of the Danube River from what is known today as Bad Gögging in Bavaria, through Austria and Slovakia. As the second-longest river in Europe, the Roman military frontiers stretch approximately 600-kilometer and has contributed to the development of the cultural landscape. Parts of the earlier facilities are still visible today and are carefully developed for tourists to visit, the archaeological sites ‘document niedermünster’ and the ‘Porta Praetoria’ in Regensburg are key examples of popular destinations.
Significant spa towns in Europe
With European spa culture peaking between the 1700 and the 1930s, Germany’s abundant spa towns around mineral springs have far more than historic and medical significance; these major urban developments created architectural framework for recreation, cultural and social life. Not only have the German spa towns of Baden-Baden, Bad Ems and Bad Kissingen been recognised by the UNESCO, eight additional European spa towns have been awarded listings.
The ongoing German Spa Tradition campaign cements Germany’s cultural traditions through a series of high-quality medical-therapeutic applications and wellness offers. In 2019, Germany recorded 7.2 million international overnight stays in spa towns. As a result of the pandemic, interest in wellness and health vacations has increased significantly and continues to steadily increase.
Germany began welcoming European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved, fully vaccinated travellers on 25 June. All travellers are advised to check individual German states entry requirements before travel.
