UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Below is an illustrated index of the 154 UNESCO World Heritage Sites profiled on Sacred Destinations so far. For photo credits, please see corresponding articles.
Commissioned by Charlemagne in 786 AD, Aachen's cathedral is the oldest in Northern Europe and contains several holy relics.
Made famous by James Bond, this is perhaps the most dramatically positioned Meteora monastery. It is perched atop a slender pinnacle and accessible only by 140 steep steps.
This little 14th-century monastery of the Meteora is approached by a relatively gentle path. Inside it features splendid frescoes by famed Cretan painter Theophanes the Monk.
This active nunnery in the Meteora contains an important relic: the head of St. Charalambos, whose powers include warding off illness.
A series of 29 Buddhist cave temples dating from as early as the 2nd century BC, the Ajanta Caves contain some of the best masterpieces of Buddhist art in India.
This spectacular Cistercian monastery (founded 1153) features fine Manueline architecture and a giant kitchen with a stream running through it.
Dating from 4200 to 500 BC, the petroglyphs at Alta are an important record of prehistoric life near the Arctic Circle.
Famed for its architecture and sculpture, Amiens Cathedral is the largest cathedral in France. With Chartres and Reims, it is one of three "High Gothic" French cathedrals built in the 13th century.
Angkor Thom means "the great city" in Khmer. The 12th-century Buddhist royal city is famed for its grand Bayon Temple, but has several other sights of interest as well.
Angkor Wat is the star of Angkor and indeed all of Cambodia. Believed to be the largest religious structure in the world, this Hindu temple is designed as a microcosm of the universe.
Located near the entrance to the imperial Forum, this arch contains a relief depicting the destruction and looting of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD.
This baptistery was built at the end of the 5th century, when the Arian Visigoths ruled Italy. The dome mosaic shows the baptism of Christ with a personification of the River Jordan.
Built in 310, this huge brick structure was the throne hall of Constantine and other Roman emperors. Today it is used as a Protestant church.
Located in a peaceful village setting overlooking a pasture, this church's beautiful architecture is enhanced by fascinating Romanesque sculpture inside and out.
Constructed around 2500 BC, Avebury is the largest prehistoric stone circle in Britain. It boasts not only ancient mysteries but a pleasant setting amidst Avebury village and green fields.
Ávila's fortress-like cathedral was begun in the Romanesque style in the 12th century and later continued in the Gothic style, resulting in intriguing combination of styles and materials.
Although it's out of the way, true temple buffs won't want to miss Banteay Srei, a beautiful 10th-century Hindu temple complex with intricate carvings in deep red sandstone.
This splendid Romanesque basilica outside the walls of Ávila marks the site of the martyrdom of St. Vincent by the Romans.
Filled with spectacular frescoes by Giotto, this church is Assisi's crowning glory. It is a place of pilgrimage for Francis devotees and art lovers alike.
This 13th-century church is the final resting place of St. Clare, the beloved friend of St. Francis and founder-abbess of the Order of the Poor Clares.
King Joao I founded this Dominican monastery after winning a major battle. The splendid edifice was constructed over two centuries in the Gothic and Manueline styles.
In the exact center of Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple represents the intersection of heaven and earth. Built around 1190, the Buddhist temple is famed for its enigmatic faces.
Located an hour from Angkor Wat, this temple hidden in the jungle is perhaps the best place to feel like Lara Croft or Indiana Jones.
One of the finest and earliest Gothic cathedrals in France, with a unique transept-free plan, soaring side aisles, magnificent portal sculptures and a full collection of medieval stained glass windows.
Among Petra's ancient temples is a Byzantine church dating from the 5th and 6th centuries. Still being excavated, Petra Church contains some extraordinary Byzantine mosaics.
The center of Mississipian Indian culture from 900 to 1300 AD, Cahokia was the largest pre-Columbian community in North America and produced several ritual earthwork mounds.
The Way of St. James is a medieval pilgrimage route across northern Spain that is still walked by millions of pilgrims and adventurers today.
The Monumental Cemetery was constructed in 1278 to house the sacred dirt brought back from Golgotha during the Crusades. It then became the burial place of the Pisan upper class.
Majestic architecture and venerable history are what bring most visitors to Canterbury Cathedral, but it is also full of wonderful details - from medieval stained glass to hidden Green Men.
The most sacred of the seven hills in Rome, Capitoline Hill once hosted a great temple. Today it is home to the Capitoline Museum, with temple ruins and classical sculptures.
Located on an strategically important site, Carthage was an important classical city and a major center of early Christianity.
On the door of this church in 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses against the sale of indulgences - and launched the Reformation. The church contains the tombs of Luther, Melanchthon and Frederick the Wise.
Built in 962 and enlarged in the 12th century, this pilgrimage chapel stands atop a rock pinnacle 260 feet high. It contains a marvelous carved portal and frescoes.
One of the greatest achievements in the history of architecture, Chartres Cathedral is almost perfectly preserved in its original medieval design, from its famed portal sculptures to glowing stained glass.
The stained glass windows of Chartres Cathedral are some of the oldest, most extensive and beautiful windows in Europe, dating from as early as the 1140s AD.
Chichén Itzá is the largest of the ancient Mayan ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula. A center of Mayan pilgrimage for over 1,000 years, it is now one of Mexico's most-visited tourist destinations.
In this twin-towered Gothic church, Luther preached the Reformation, was married (1525) and baptized his six children. Inside, Cranach's huge Reformation Altar includes scenes of Christ and Luther.
Discovered in the 1990s, this is one of the most important collections of prehistoric rock art in the world. It has been designated a World Heritage Site.
This is easily the greatest Gothic cathedral in Germany and it has been Cologne's most famous landmark for centuries. Once the tallest building in the world, it still has the largest facade anywhere.
Nestled high in the hills of southwest France, the picturesque little village of Conques is home to a magnificent Romanesque church and a golden medieval shrine.
A World Heritage Site, this fortified monastery offers some fascinating Templar history and the astounding stone carvings characteristic of Manueline architecture.
Founded in 874, this World Heritage Temple in Kyoto has a five-story pagoda dating from 951 and a beautiful garden.
This 11th-century Byzantine monastery and World Heritage Site is famed for the golden mosaics that cover its walls.
These magnificent Buddhist sculptures were carved in stone cliffs around Dazu, Szechuan province, between 892 and 1245. They are a World Heritage Site for their importance to Buddhist art.
This excellent museum displays some of the finest works of art in Greece as it chronicles the history and importance of Delphi from the 15th century BC to the 4th century AD.
This remote island in the South Pacific is home to the famously intriguing moai statues, which were carved by Polynesian settlers between about 400 and 1500 AD.
The Ellora Caves are a magnificent complex of 34 Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples extending over more than 2 kilometers in central India.
Mount Emei is the highest of the four Buddhist sacred mountains of China, rising 3,099 m. It is noted for its breathtaking scenery, mysterious natural wonders, and historical Buddhist sites.
Famed for its Caryatid Porch, this beautiful temple on the Acropolis honors Erechtheus, a legendary king of Athens, as well as the great Greek gods Poseidon and Athena.
A peacefully isolated church and monastery in the wooded slopes outside Assisi's walls, this was the first monastic home of St. Francis and his followers.
Nestled in a wooded valley in Burgundy, the Abbey of Fontenay is a well-restored 12th-century Cistercian monastery founded by St. Bernard of Clairvaux.
Founded by Cistercian monks in 1132, this is the largest monastic ruin in Britain. It offers many interesting things to see in a beautiful natural setting.
Located on Gozo Island in Malta, these two round prehistoric temples with statues of full-figured goddesses were dedicated to the Earth Mother.
This is the tallest stone Buddha statue in the world, carved out of a cliff by an 8th-century monk to calm the turbulent confluence of three rivers. Each eyebrow is 18 feet long.
Originally intended to be coated in silver, this harmonious temple ended up in simple wood. It houses an image of Kannon and includes lovely gardens.
Constructed at least 4,500 years ago and shrouded in fascinating mystery, the pyramids of Giza are the only Ancient Wonder of the World to survive today.
The most famous and important of the Meteora monasteries, Great Meteoron has a large church topped by a 12-sided dome and decorated with elaborate frescoes.
This historic 7th-century mosque stands on a site that has been sacred since 1000 BC. It has medieval mosaics on the facade and a shrine to John the Baptist inside.
Every Tunisian city has a Great Mosque, but the one in Kairouan is the most important. It is the oldest mosque in North Africa and commonly regarded as the fourth holiest site in Islam.
Shrouded in mystery and having alleged connections to Atlantis, this great sculpture continues to fascinate visitors. It is thought to be an ancient guardian of Khafre's pyramid.
This temple ruin in the city center is one of the largest structures in Petra. It was built in the late 1st century BC and is still being excavated.
Best known for its complete copy of the Buddhist scriptures, the 14th-century Tripitaka Koreana.
The 5,000-year-old Hagar Qim temple is the best-preserved of several ancient limestone temples in Malta. The temple is laid out on a clover-leaf shape of multiple apses with a forecourt and facade.
This world-famous structure is a Byzantine church built by Justinian. It was later converted to a mosque and is now a museum.
Believed to have been founded by Apollo, Hierapolis was the site of sacred hot springs associated with Pluto, god of the underworld. The city had a significant Jewish community and was mentioned by Paul in Colossians.
Founded in 1010, the cathedral of Hildesheim contains many treasures of early medieval art, including bronze doors carved with biblical scenes and a bronze column showing the life of Christ.
Founded in 1345 by St. Sergius and containing his relics, this is the most important monastery in Russia and the spiritual center of Russian Orthodox Christianity.
An impressive example of Manueline architecture, this spectacular monastery showcases the wealth that poured into Lisbon from the colonies during the Age of Discovery.
This historic temple in Lhasa is the holiest site in Tibetan Buddhism. It houses a venerated Buddha statue and has been a major pilgrimage destination for centuries.
Like nearby Uluru, the Olgas are sacred to the Anangu and provide visitors with a dazzling show of color as the sun crosses the sky throughout the day.
This gold-leaf-covered temple is one of the most beautiful sights in Kyoto, nestled in the woods and reflected in the waters of its garden pond.
This popular Buddhist temple offers a healing waterfall and an incredible view over the city of Kyoto from its wooden terrace.
This 13th-century Hindu temple dedicated to the sun god is shaped like a giant chariot. It is best known for the exquisite stone carvings that cover the entire structure.
This remarkably well-preserved Crusader castle looks almost exactly as it did 800 years ago. T.E. Lawrence called it "the finest castle in the world."
The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família is a magnificent basilica designed by celebrated Art Nouveau architect Antoni Gaudi. It remains unfinished, with estimated completion in 2026.
This famous cave complex in southwest France contains some of the oldest and finest prehistoric art in the world. The paintings, which mainly depict majestic animals, are some 17,000 years old.
The exotic facade of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame overlooks Le Puy from the top of steep medieval street. It is still a major starting point for pilgrimages to Santiago.
One of Europe's great icons, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is the campanile (bell tower) of Pisa Cathedral. In addition to its astonishing lean, the tower is notable for its magnificent Romanesque arcading.
This pretty 13th-century parish church was one of the first Gothic churches built in Germany. It stands right next door to the cathedral.
Stretching for a half-mile along the west bank of a river, this site includes some 1,350 caves and 40 pagodas, filled with thousands of Buddhist statues carved out of the hard limestone cliffs.
One of four major Buddhist pilgrimage sites, Mahadevi Temple in Lumbini marks the site of the Buddha's miraculous birth.
The house where Luther and his family lived is well-preserved and full of Reformation relics, including Luther's desk, his pulpit, and first editions of his books.
This well-preserved ancient ceremonial site high on a mountain ridge in Peru contains the ruins of a large Inca palace, temples and other buildings.
One of the most powerful women in western history, Galla Placidia was probably never buried here. The main attraction is the splendid mosaics dating from 430 AD.
The Renaissance mansion of Philip Melanchthon, Luther's right-hand man and the main author of the Augsburg Confession. It is now a museum commemorating his life.
The Mezquita of Cordoba is a beautiful and fascinating 8th-century mosque that symbolizes the religious changes Cordoba has undergone over the centuries. It is now used as a cathedral.
Built in the 11th century and faithfully rebuilt after World War II, this is the finest example of Ottonian Romanesque architecture anywhere. Its painted wooden ceiling dates from 1230.
The Mnajdra Temples are three conjoined Neolithic temples on the southern coast of Malta, ranging in dates from 3600 to 2000 BC. The southern temple is aligned with the solstices and equinoxes.
These Buddhist cave temples were a center of culture on the Silk Road from the 4th to the 14th centuries and contain well-preserved religious murals and carvings spanning that entire period.
Completed in 1100 AD, the cloister of Moissac Abbey in southwest France is one of the finest galleries of Romanesque art in the world. It is the oldest and largest cloister with narrative capitals.
This small rocky island just off the north coast of France is topped with a magnificent fortified Benedictine abbey, built in the 11th century.
The Baptistery of the Orthodox dates from the 5th century and has even more beautiful mosaics than its Arian counterpart.
This great tomb-temple dates from 3200 BC, a thousand years before Stonehenge was built. It is astronomically aligned and includes some fascinating ancient rock art.
One of the most famous cathedrals in the world, this Gothic beauty is a must-see for its historical importance and magnificent artworks.
Built in the early 12th century, this beautiful Romanesque church has an apse decorated with multicolored stone, carved portals and capitals covered in sculptures.
This historical park in north-central Thailand is the ruined capital of the Sukhothai kingdom, founded in 1238. The moated central zone contains 21 temples in a beautiful setting of lawns, lakes and trees.
Widely considered the most atmospheric and magical of the Mayan sites, Palenque was at its peak from 600 to 700 AD. It is famed for its unique and impressive architecture and royal history.
Palmyra was once a great and powerful Roman city, as its impressive ruins attest. Substantial ruins of temples to Bel and Baal can be seen here.
This magnificent ancient temple was built by Emperor Hadrian in 125 AD and converted into a church in 609. It is the oldest intact ancient building in Rome.
Begun in 1153 in a Romanesque style and completed in the 1300s in the Gothic style, the Battistero di San Giovanni is the largest in Italy. Among its notable furnishings are a large central font and a Pisano pulpit.
Begun in 1093, Pisa Cathedral is a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture. Its marble exterior is covered in rhythmic arcades and the interior boasts important works of art by Pisano and others.
The impressive "Black Gate" sight is a 2nd-century Roman city gate. It owes its survival to its use by a revered hermit monk and subsequent transformation into a two-story church.
This castle-monastery was long the primary residence of the Dalai Lama, who now lives in exile in India. Today it is a state museum and World Heritage Site.
Built in the 1300s on the site of earlier cathedrals, this is the finest Gothic building in Bavaria. Its harmonious exterior is alive with medieval sculptures and inside is medieval stained glass.
The kings of France were once crowned in this 13th-century High Gothic cathedral, which is full of sculptures inside and out.
An active nunnery in the Meteora with a pleasant courtyard, accessible by a new bridge.
A unique archaeological site in the mountains of central Bolivia, El Fuerte de Samaipata is a stone hill carved with a wide variety of animal and geometric figures.
This church and convent outside the city walls is where the crucifix spoke to St. Francis, prompting him to repair it and begin his ministry. Later, St. Clare lived and died here.
Although much restored, this is one of the oldest monuments in Ravenna, dating from c.426-30 AD. Its chief attractions are its 5th-century architecture and 13th-century mosaics of the Crusades.
This spectacular major basilica shelters the bones of the Apostle Paul. It also boasts beautiful cloisters, a huge collection of artifacts discovered nearby, and a museum.
Built in 548 over the site of the martyrdom of St. Vitalis, this octagonal church contains some of the most celebrated mosaics in the West.
Home to the famous Oracle of Delphi, this mountain sanctuary was the holiest site in Ancient Greece. It was believed to be the center of the world, marked by the sacred Omphalos stone.
Located about a mile east of the Sanctuary of Apollo, this sacred precinct was dedicated to the goddess Athena. It contains the mysterious and beautiful Tholos, a 4th-century-BC rotunda.
Located a few miles out in the little suburb of Classe, Sant'Apollinare dates from the 6th century and contains fine Byzantine mosaics, especially in the apse.
Dedicated to St. Apollinarus (Ravenna's first bishop), this 6th-century basilica is known for its two rows of ancient biblical mosaics that stretch the length of the nave.
This ancient church in the Imperial Forum contains ruins of a Roman temple (overlooked through a glass wall in the back) and some wonderful early Christian mosaics in the apse.
Medieval pilgrims walked for months to arrive at Santiago Cathedral, home of the relics of St. James. Architecturally, the highlight is the 12th-century Portico de la Gloria, overflowing with carvings.
Founded by Irish missionaries, this Romanesque church is famed for its fascinating sculptured portal.
An 8th-century Buddhist cave temple in the hills above Bulguksa, this is the only structure surviving fully intact from the Silla era.
Located near Avebury, this is the largest prehistoric man-made mound in Europe. It was created around 2660 BC and stands 130 feet high. Its purpose remains mysterious.
This world-famous chapel painted by Michelangelo is still used for papal elections. Explore a complete photo gallery of its art as part of our article on the Sistine Chapel.
The ruins of St. Augustine's Abbey on the outskirts of Canterbury include the grave of the saint and a substantial crypt. The visitor center displays Early Christian artifacts found at the site.
Built in the 11th century, the pilgrimage church of St-Hilaire has a fine apse surrounded by chapels, wall paintings in the choir and several carved capitals.
A former cathedral, St-Trophime is notable for its elaborately carved Romanesque portal depicting the Last Judgment and its two-story cloisters.
The traditional site where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God, Mount Sinai is home to St. Catherine's Monastery, the oldest Christian monastery still in use.
A Byzantine wonder that looks more like Istanbul than Italy, the 11th-century Basilica di San Marco is covered in golden mosaics and filled with art treasures.
For Roman Catholics, St. Peter's is the most sacred site after the Holy Land. It centers around the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle and is one of the largest churches in the world.
Dating from between 3000 and 2000 BC, Stonehenge is a circle of massive megaliths weigh many tons, fit together perfectly, and are astronomically aligned.
Approached by a steep staircase, the atmospheric "Monkey Temple" is the oldest and most important Buddhist shrine in Kathmandu.
One of the most atmospheric sites at Angkor, this 12th-century Buddhist temple is fighting a losing battle with the mighty roots of the thriving jungle.
Mount Tai is the most important of five sacred Taoist mountains in China and an important historic site. Rising to a height of 5,000 feet, it is home to 22 temples plus many ruins and inscriptions.
The Tarxien temples are four megalithic temples constructed in southern Malta between 3600 and 2500 BC. They are notable for their complexity, fine construction and variety of figural carvings.
Dedicated to "Apollo the Helper," this is one of the largest and best-preserved temples in Greece. It was completed in 400 BC using an unusual combination of Doric, Ionic and Corinthian styles.
Dedicated to Victorious Athena, this elegant and beautifully proportioned Ionic temple was built in 427 BC. It is currently undergoing a major reconstruction.
This three-tiered mortuary temple is dedicated to Hatshepsut, a female pharaoh who reigned 1503-1482 BC. Built against a cliff face, the great complex contains ancient statues and carvings.
Completed in 1420, this magnificent temple was considered the meeting point of Earth and Heaven. For 500 years it hosted the emperors' sacrifices and prayers for a good harvest at the winter solstice.
The focus of the Saturnalia festival, the Temple of Saturn in the Forum was erected in 497 BC and rebuilt in 380 AD.
Constructed around 300 AD, this astonishing collection of pyramids was believed to be the center of creation. The massive stone pyramids are laid out according to astronomical alignments.
Misleadingly named based on crosses scratched on the wall, this is a huge, rock-carved Nabatean temple built around the 1st century BC.
Believed by the Bedouin to contain a pharaoh's treasure, the Treasury is a beautiful Nabatean temple carved entirely out of the living rock.
Dating from 866 AD, this mosque is famed for its magnificent carved facade with Kufic inscriptions and floral designs.
A Mayan city that flourished around 700 AD in modern-day Guatemala, Tikal is best known for its towering Temple of the Two-Headed Snake.
This ancient city was the capital of a powerful pre-Inca civilization that dominated the Andean region between 500 and 900 AD. Its monumental remains include several temples, a pyramid, symbolic gates, monoliths and carvings.
A Shingon Buddhist temple in the center of the city, Toji includes a five-story pagoda that is the tallest wooden tower in Japan.
Begun in 1141, the Cathedral of Our Lady in Tournai is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most striking examples of Romanesque architecture in Europe.
Originally built by Constantine, this is the oldest church in Germany. It houses an array of artworks and a holy relic that still receives many pilgrims: the Holy Robe of Christ.
Uluru is a massive sandstone rock in central Australia that is sacred to the native Anangu people. In recent years, Uluru has also become important for New Age practitioners.
This important archaeological site was declared a World Heritage Site in 2004. Its structures date from the 3rd to 9th centuries and most have not yet been excavated, but magnificent Byzantine mosaics have been uncovered in two churches.
The oldest and most richly decorated of Norway's 29 stave churches, Urnes also boasts a picturesque fjordside location.
The late-Classic Maya site of Uxmal was built before the 10th century AD and is one of the most complex and harmonious expressions of Puuc architecture.
Famed for its Romanesque sculpture, this 12th-century basilica is the largest Romanesque church in France. It attracted many pilgrims due to its relics of Mary Magdalene.
This popular Meteora monastery features a pleasant garden and a friendly monk who often chats with visitors there.
The Vatican Museums are among the best in the world, with treasures including classical sculptures, early Christian artifacts, Egyptian mummies and Renaissance masterpieces.
This imposing castle, a symbol of German identity and a World Heritage Site, is where Luther lived in hiding as Knight George. Here he threw an inkpot at the devil and translated the Bible into German.
