Today we're featuring what we think are Europe's best World Heritage sites - 10 amazing places! UNESCO has designated over a thousand World Heritage Sites around the world, of which around 400 are in Europe.
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ShareAccording to the World Heritage Committee, all of these sites should be preserved because they are considered to be of 'great importance to humanity'. A site can be listed either because of its cultural characteristics or because of its nature. Either way, they are usually places well worth visiting!
Table of contents
10 amazing places - Europe's best world heritage sites according to us
So which of these World Heritage sites is 'best' or most worth visiting? There are of course many different opinions on this. Here are our favourites! Which of these have you visited? Which other World Heritage sites in Europe have you visited, and what did you think of them?
1. Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
Plitvice Lakes, or Plitvice National Park, is probably one of the most beautiful natural areas we have ever experienced. Imagine green nature, wild waterfalls and long wooden bridges over green-blue water.
2. Valletta, Malta
In one of Europe's smallest countries lies one of Europe's most fascinating cities. With its fortresses, churches and domes, Valletta is a beautiful city with a breathtaking history.
3. Old Town of Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic
When you enter the walls of the small Czech town of Cesky Krumlov, you have to pinch yourself - is this real or is it a fairy tale? We can tell you it's real!
4. Mont Saint Michel, France
Mont Saint Michel, with its monastery, is located in the sea on the west coast of France. Today a bridge has been built out here, but in the past there was only a connection to the monastery at low tide. At high tide, the road was drowned by water ...
5. The salt mine in Wieliczka, Poland
After 380 steps straight down, you reach a depth of 135 metres. You can only see about two per cent of the entire mine, including an entire chapel carved out of salt. This is truly one of the most amazing places in Europe!
6. region of Kotor, Montenegro
Kotor in Monenegro is a fascinating small town and the Bay of Kotor, which leads into the town, offers magnificent scenery. In the historic town of Kotor, you can climb up to get a breathtaking view of the bay.
7. Gaudi's works in Barcelona, Spain
It doesn't matter if you are interested in architecture - Antoni Gaudi's masterpieces are fascinating! Both the Casa Batllo residential building and La Sagrada Familia church are creations that almost feel future, despite being historical.
8. The city centre of Trogir, Croatia
The idyllic medieval town of Trogir is located on a small island off the mainland of Croatia. It has a 14th-century castle, and inside the city walls you can stroll through narrow, cosy neighbourhoods without car traffic.
9. Villa Tugendhat, Czech Republic
Villa Tugendhat in Brno is an extraordinary sight. One does not know whether to be most fascinated by the design that is way ahead of its time, by the dramatic history of the first owners, or by the contract that was once written at a table in this house....
10. Bialowieza Forest, Poland
The Bialowieza Forest in eastern Poland is the last true primeval forest, untouched since the arrival of humans on the continent. Here roam deer, moose, lynx, wolves ... and bison! And yes, we actually saw a wild mink when we were here!
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Anna says:
There were many new places I had no idea about. Thanks for the tips and inspiration for new destinations
24 March 2018 - 6:48
Helena says:
Glad you liked the tips Anna!
24 March 2018 - 12:51
Linda, resamedvetet.se says:
Great inspirational post. There are many reasons to keep this earth and people's creations intact.
24 March 2018 - 7:51
Helena says:
Glad you liked it Lina! There are certainly reasons to preserve our planet!
24 March 2018 - 12:53
Emily says:
What wonderful places. Have been to Kotor and it was really super nice. Wish to take me to Plitvice sometime too. 🙂
24 March 2018 - 8:08
Helena says:
Plitvice is definitely worth a visit!
24 March 2018 - 14:15
4000mil says:
Oh we have one that is the same. Fun! 🙂
24 March 2018 - 10:14
Helena says:
Yes, exactly 🙂 .
24 March 2018 - 14:52
Imelda says:
4 out of 8 we have visited, not bad ? have Poland and Czech Republic left (have only been to Prague). Thanks for the inspiration!
24 March 2018 - 10:20
Helena says:
It was not bad! 🙂
24 March 2018 - 14:53
Ama de casa says:
We have visited 4 and 7, but I hope to visit more in the future if my longing can be overcome... 😉 At least one of them is in the pipeline, actually 🙂 ).
Have a great day!
24 March 2018 - 10:28
Helena says:
Interesting! Wonder which one is in the pipeline...?
24 March 2018 - 14:55
Mr Bo Pettersson says:
5 felled - new ones coming every year. Currently in Cullera and Hurricane Hugo - not a sight to behold but impressive winds!
24 March 2018 - 10:58
Helena says:
Wow, a hurricane sounds a bit harsh!?
24 March 2018 - 14:56
Christine - 29°. says:
Wow what places! 🙂
24 March 2018 - 11:24
Travel Linda says:
We hope to visit the salt mine this summer, but there were many other interesting things here too!
Last summer we visited 3 of Norway's Unesco sites; Røros, Geiranger and Rjukan, and we have ticked off a few more around Europe. Nothing we chase like that, but there are often places that are worth a visit!
24 March 2018 - 12:25
Helena says:
How nice that you are planning to visit the salt mine! Nice that you have seen several world heritage sites in Norway! We have a lot left there ... We don't hunt either, but the world heritage sites are often places worth visiting!
24 March 2018 - 18:51
Ditte says:
What fun these World Heritage Sites are! We have visited five of these plus a number of others in Europe and beyond. Even Sweden has beautiful world heritage sites that many tourists visit every year. That's fun too. Thanks for the great tips, but it will be a year if any of these are visited. Much is on the wish list.
24 March 2018 - 13:27
Helena says:
There are of course many world heritage sites in addition to our list, both some we have visited, but also many we have not!
24 March 2018 - 18:51
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
What a great list and the most positive thing is that we will soon visit Kotor and the World Heritage sites in Croatia. Longing....
From your list, we've only visited Mont Saint Michel and Gaudi's Barcelona so there's a lot left to discover.
24 March 2018 - 15:14
Helena says:
That's great! You have nice places to look forward to! 🙂
24 March 2018 - 18:52
Johnny Friskilä says:
Yes, I have seen some of those, at least. But world heritage, have never been particularly fascinated by world heritage.
24 March 2018 - 15:43
Helena says:
We don't hunt places just because they are world heritage sites, but we think that many world heritage sites are really amazing places! 🙂
24 March 2018 - 18:53
Lena in Wales says:
2 out of 10 I have visited, so only 8 left!
Interesting post!
24 March 2018 - 16:07
Helena says:
Glad you liked the post! 🙂
24 March 2018 - 18:53
Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:
There was only one place I had been. I knew a few others. It is a perfect destination to drive on World Heritage. Available here at home too
24 March 2018 - 16:10
Helena says:
Many world heritage sites are special to visit, and we have world heritage sites in Sweden too! We have visited some of them, but also have a bunch of them left ...
24 March 2018 - 18:55
BP says:
What a fantastic inspirational post illustrated with great pictures. Oh you have indeed visited many world heritage sites. I have been to Valletta and Mont St Michel. So I have a few more to go;-)
24 March 2018 - 17:12
Helena says:
Glad you liked our post! 🙂
24 March 2018 - 18:55
Ruth in Virginia says:
So many incredibly beautiful and interesting places
to visit. It will be in my next life. 🙂 Enjoying every photo!
I have seen the Geirangerfjord (my first trip abroad, 1951).
24 March 2018 - 21:38
Ann-Louise says:
Would really like to visit many of these places. So far I can only tick Gaudi/Barcelona but in a few weeks I can tick Valletta too. 🙂
24 March 2018 - 22:46
Travelsis says:
We have experienced some, but we have so much more to experience? . I almost think that for every new city or country there are two new ones?..../ Pernilla
24 March 2018 - 23:14
Marianne - Glimpses of the world says:
Of these, I have only visited Valletta and the salt mine. But I've visited 33 other European World Heritage Sites, so maybe I should make my own post with favourites 🙂.
24 March 2018 - 23:38
Lena - good for the soul says:
There are so many exciting places to visit. Embarrassingly, I have never visited any of the places you present. But many of them seem very appealing. That monastery in France, for instance. So beautiful! Admittedly, the light in the picture might be a factor.
Hug Lena
26 March 2018 - 19:34
Anna, New York - My Bite of the Big Apple says:
Have visited 2, 3, 6 and 7! Wonderful places.
Hope you have a great Easter!
31 March 2018 - 20:02