18 years after my first visit, I made the most of being based in the Netherlands for the summer to try to understand this somewhat enigmatic site.
But where …
United Kingdom \ Member since December 2005
I discovered the World Heritage list whilst studying in the Czech city of Olomouc in 2003, and since then I have spent a fair bit of my time visiting the sites and boring people with information about them. World Heritage Sites provide a great way to hunt out the best bits of countries and can give you a look at some great parts of a destination that you would otherwise not see. A few of my favourite sites have been the ones that I have made a special effort to get to see because of their place on the list; Sceilg Mhichíl, Guanajuato and Preah Vihear
I mostly take short trips around Europe, making the most of budget airlines special offers, seeing some of the continent's great cities, visiting friends and dragging them to some pretty obscure places.
I try to travel outside Europe at least once a year and hope to tick off a few of the places on my wish list when money, politics and time enable this.
It's not about the shark!:
Whilst the World Heritage Sites themselves are the focus of my travels, they are more a means to an end, the real joy of travelling comes from interacting with people, waiting for trains at hitherto unknown corners of the world then eating and drinking the tasty (and not so tasty) delights on offer.
My most impressive site: Angkor
My proposal for a new site: Major Buildings of the Chicago School of Architecture
Check out my website: https://letterboxd.com/meltwaterfalls/
Dutch Water Defence Lines (Inscribed)
18 years after my first visit, I made the most of being based in the Netherlands for the summer to try to understand this somewhat enigmatic site.
But where …
Le Havre (Inscribed)
Le Havre for a rainy weekend in February probably doesn’t scream “Family Holiday” but this was perhaps our most …
Paris, Banks of the Seine (Inscribed)
Paris is great, it justifiably is one of the metropoles around which Europe seems to revolve and the Banks of the Seine show the finest parts of it. But I …
Pont sur la gorge du Salgina (On tentative list)
TLDR I really liked this bridge and Philip has already covered the relevant practical and historical details below. I was fortunate that he offered to be my guide over a …
Álvaro Siza’s Architecture (Nominated)
We decided to throw ourselves into this tentative site a little more by staying in an apartment in the Barrio da Bouca in Porto, located a short walk (or two …
Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpat… (Inscribed)
My first visit to one of the plethora of small wooden churches in this corner of Europe that provide three separate World Heritage Sites, was a rather enjoyable, if short …
Stonehenge (Inscribed)
Like many people Covid -19 has led to quite a change in my World Heritage travelling, especially when coupled with two young children, as such the last two years have …
Kladruby nad Labem (Inscribed)
As interesting as a horse farm can be, if this appeals to you, there probably aren’t many better places to visit, it is well maintained and thoroughly explained (in Czech …
Everglades (Inscribed)
Everglades National Park as a day trip from the Orlando area
This was my fourth trip to Florida, each time I have solely been focus on family activities around …
The Walk of Peace from the Al… (On tentative list)
The three locations I visited from this nomination were railway infrastructure sites in the town of Nova Gorica, right up against the Italian border. The nomination is focused on the …
Forth Bridge (Inscribed)
Having arrived on the overnight train from London, I found myself with a couple of hours before I had to be at a meeting, as such it was time to …
Victorian Gothic and Art Deco… (Inscribed)
Focused on the southern tip of the city centre around the Fort area and the waterfront along Marine Drive near Chowpatty Beach there is a surprisingly dense cluster of Art …
Cathedral of St. James in Sib… (Inscribed)
Of all the cities that I visited along the Croatian coast, I think Šibenik is the one that won me over the most. It manages to mix the big city …
Torun (Inscribed)
Whilst it is a pleasant and charming city, I was actually a little disappointed in Torun. I think this could be because I, unfairly, had high expectations for it but …
AEG Factory Berlin (Removed from tentat…)
Quickly checking the bus route out to Tegel Airport I realised I would be heading toward this building which I have been wanting to visit for years.
Designed by Peter …
Istanbul (Inscribed)
Certainly this is one of Europe's most impressive cities, with an astonishing history displayed in one of the greatest built environments on the World Heritage List. Throw in a welcoming …
Bauhaus Sites (Inscribed)
Having now visited the site in Weimar I can now understand the lukewarm reviews of what is one of my favourite German WHS.
If you are just visiting to tick …
Bauhaus Sites (Inscribed)
Eight years ago I wrote about how, for fans of modern art and architecture, a trip to the Bauhaus is less 'a visit' and more 'a pilgrimage'. In the intervening …
Primeval Beech Forests (Inscribed)
Driving out to Hainich I apologised to my wife, "I think I have gone too far with this one." The calm non-vocalised acceptance indicated I had indeed probably overstepped the …
Muskauer Park (Inscribed)
We had a somewhat unplanned, quick, cold but still pleasant trip here in January 2016.
Having driven around town trying to find the central palace and missing it a few …