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It's fitting that for my one hundredth review, WHS #100 on my list of sites visited should be the City of Quito, Ecuador, one of the original twelve sites inscribed in 1978. Quito is nestled in a valley high in the Andes, and the surrounding mountains offered amazing views of the city when I visited in June of 2017. Although Quito may be rough around the edges, and care should be taken in certain areas, I felt quite safe and comfortable walking around the center. Quito was added to the WHS list forty years ago for its effective preservation of the Baroque stylings of its historic center, which can be seen in the rich, gilded interior of la Compañía church, as well as the cathedral of Quito, located on Plaza de la Independencia, Quito's central square. While exploring, I enjoyed learning about Quito's religious heritage through the Carmen Alto Monastery and the nearby Museo de la Ciudad (Museum of the City). I didn't make it to the winged Mary statue at the top of Panecillo hill, south of the historic center, but I did visit the Basilica del Voto Nacional, on the north side; the views of the city and surrounding mountains from the towers were incredible. On my last night in Ecuador, I spent a memorable two hours watching the sunset from the central square, and had a great conversation with an elderly gentleman who had much to talk about regarding his travels and his country. It's moments like …

March 2018 - We had another night in our camper, this time in Exmoor NP. In the morning we wanted to have some Cheddar and went straight through the Name giving Gorge. Unfortunaley beside some tourist traps, there wasnt much for cheese lovers.

We arrived in Bath around 10 am. The city was already crowded with touristst and visiting school classes. We found a parking lot just at the Circus and walked for about two hous throught the Victorian city landscape. We also visited the roman bath but didnt enter. Lots of money for a reconstruction?! Interesting was also the bridge, when standing on it you dont even have the impression you are on a bridge. A little bit like Ponte Vecchio in Florence with all these shops.

The city is very intact and planned well. Nice to visit and take a step back in history. We enjoyed it very much and it was very realxing before we eventually went to Bristol.

March 2018 - Cornwall was very high on our list. Not because of the industrial heritage, but we wanted to see the beautiful gardens and rhododendrons.

Afer spending the night in Exmoor NP, we continued our journey to Cornwall. We passed the City Tavistock, which apparently is part of the WHS. But we couldnt see anything really inetresting. We also passed St. Austell and the Wendron basin. Nothing out of the ordinary but surely important in history.

After spending the next night at Lands End, we entered the St. Just Mining Area.

That is quite impressive due to its position directly on the cliffs and the mysterious ruins. We took an 1h hike around the mines. The museums were closed that day, or at least that morning.

We still had a stop at the Port of Hayle after visiting some gardens and having Cornish Cream Tea, but again, i really didnt see the OUV. 

I visited Portugal in May 2018 and Alcobaça was the first of three WHS of the monastery hotspot in the Centro region. I stayed overnight in Alcobaça and was the first and only one at the entrance to the monastery on a Sunday morning at 9 am. At the ticket counter I was recommended to visit the church first, because there would be a mass at 11 am. For about 15 minutes I had this huge nave all to myself, a wonderful atmosphere. The church emanates a simple elegance, there is only little decoration, all in line with the spiritual view of the Cistercian order. The interior is impressive by its size, I was surprised to read that it is the largest Portuguese church. Most striking are the shrines of Inês de Castro (photo) and King Pedro I in the transept. Their tragic love story is very popular in Portugal and inspired numerous works of literature and music. The reliefs on the tomb of Pedro show scenes from their lives. The tomb of Ines is carried by sculptures that are supposed to depict her three murderers.

Only a part of the monastery is open to visitors, mainly the rooms around the oldest cloister, the Claustro de Silencio. Coming from the church, you first enter the Room of the Kings decorated with white-and-blue tiles. Other highlights are the refectory, the chapter house and the monastery kitchen with its huge chimney and a large water basin, part of an elaborated system …

March 2018. Me and my wife finaly wanted to visit England with all its majesctic world heritage sites.It was snowing in London when we were arriving and the first day trip in our caravan was kind of an adventure. We arrived in Stoone Henge 9 am. The Parking lot was still closed and we were told, that Stoneheneg might not open due to severe snow. 

It took them another 2 hours to finally open the parking lot and another 30min that we could enter the bus to the actual Stonecircle. Interesting to see Stonehenge in snow, but I always thought it was way bigger and overwhelming than in reality. However we bought the National Trust vistor pass just for visiting this site, so luckily we got in and saw it in the morning. 

The 17th century fortress of Ananuri is part of the Tentative List of Georgia. It was the castle and seat of the Dukes of Aragvi, a feudal dynasty which ruled the area from the 13th century. It lies some 70km north of the capital Tbilisi, along the Military Highway that leads up to Vladikavkaz in Russia. On the first day of my trip to Georgia I visited Ananuri as part of a full day tour along that 213km long historical road.

When we left Tbilisi we got caught in a small traffic jam, all because of scores of tourists wanting to go up that same way. Tourism is really booming in Georgia since a few years: people come mainly from the neighbouring countries such as Azerbaijan and Russia, but also from India and the Gulf States (or perhaps they are Indians who work in the Gulf).

After an hour’s drive the fortress of Ananuri comes into sight. Seen from the bridge by which you approach it, it is really picture-perfect. The fortified complex consists of a typical Georgian Orthodox church with a cone-shaped dome, surrounded by crenellated walls. There are a few other towers as well, including one with a stepped pyramidal roof of Svanetian type, and a smaller church. These spires and domes are all adding to the spectacle.

To be able to enter the fortress we first have to go through the tourist market in the parking lot, where they sell stuff that we are …

We visited Aigai in April 2018 and, in common with previous reviewers, concentrated on the “Royal Tombs Museum” in the “Great Tumulus”. It is truly magnificent, both in concept and in contents. A tumulus, which was successively extended by the Macedonians to include 4 different tombs, has been “hollowed out” during and after excavation (which only commenced in 1976), and then roofed over to create a large interior space whilst maintaining its exterior size and covering of grass.

Within this space each tomb is accessible in its original location (though unfortunately not their interiors, for which one has to rely on replicas - though the original exterior paintings are visible). Their vast collections of funerary objects have been laid out in display cases adjacent to each tomb and include many items which are fully “up there” in their artistic and historical value in comparison with other famous “tomb finds” from around the World. One thing which does seem to have changed since the earlier reviews is what appears to be a far more strict enforcement of a “no photos” policy - I was verbally “warned” on entering that photos were not allowed and that there was CCTV “watching us”. There were plenty of notices around but the guards no doubt regard "old codgers" with cameras around their necks as spelling potential trouble! There was also a full complement of guards located around the tomb museum and I saw no-one surreptitiously using their mobile. Hence – …

March 2018 - We visited just two of the 4 castles. We spent the night in Caernarfon,

A bulwark of a city and the castle could be from a fairy tale, home of a brave knight. The next morning we could see the whole beauty of this town with snow covered hill in the back. We had breakfast in Bangor which I do not recommend visiting, the close by Penrhyn castle however is amazing and definitely worth a visit. We were hoping to see Beaumarais from there, but except the outlines there was nothing to see. After that, we still visited Conwy Castles. Way more tourists here, but we bought a nice wool blanket here, made a few miles south in Tweedmill.

March 2018 - Fter visiting Ironbridge we came back to Wales and came closer to Pontcysyllte. Suddenly we were in in Trevor. There was a free car park and due to grey clouds we quickly started or tour to the Aquaduct. Walking over it is quite amazing, and to see the boats on it is very obscure. we walked a little further to see the next lift and then all way back. The historic boats make it an authentic visit.

Afterwards we followed the canal by car to Llangollen and made another stop at the wharf.

March 2018 - After Bath, we arrived Bristol. Before visiting the alternative part and searching for Banksy Graffitis, we walked along the harbour. On e of the noumerous ships there is SS Britain. However it is not seen from the water. Bristol itslef has no potential WHS, this ship certainly neither.

March 2018 - Again bad luck. We arrived in the evening. Blaenevon was piled with snow, very wet snow. Somehow we managed to walk through the town and see the WHS buldings. 

Next morning we wanted to visit the Big Pit. Due to severe whether conditions it was closed. Not only that one day but probabaly the whole week. We took some pictures of the mine and went back to England to see the next Whs,

March 2018 - In the afternoon we reached Snowdonia. Amazing Nationalpark and still covered in snow.

All houses in the valleys were covered with slate and even the walls were made from slate. Certainly an important raw material in that area and we learned Wales is the biggest exporter of slate. We took a short hike along Dinorwic Workings and discovered the impact of the industry here.

Next morning we still visited Bangor University.

March 2018 - After our visit in Stonehenge and Salisbury (on 5th of March!) we finally wanted to cut the coast somewhere.

We went to Westbay and had a long walk along the cliffs. Unfortunately this was our only real encounter with the world heritage coast, but it was quite amazing. You could see the Isle of Portland and to the other side up to Torquay. Many seagulls were nesting in the cliffs and even more people walked their dogs along the coastline. The weather was perfect that day, so the view was magnificent and the whole experience well done!

We made another stop at Seaton, but not as intersting as the coastline in Westbay.

I visited the Tomioka Silk Mill as a day trip from Tokyo including a visit to the Snow Monkeys 1 hour further away towards Nagano.

I haven't seen many industrial UNESCO sites yet and I must say that I really enjoyed visiting the Tomioka Silk Mill. Maybe some would say it's not interesting and I can understand why. There is just a small exibition, one building with the (modern) reeling machines, and everything else can just be seen from the outside. My kids were with me and I could only convince them to join me if we also included the Snow Monkeys in Jigokudani on the Japan itinerary we were following.

I drove by car as it was more efficient for the day. Parking is available (paid) just 200 meters from the entrance. As with most place in Japan in found the entrance quite steep but then, they do good maintenance. One of the large storage halls was completely covered and taken apart plank by plank. They really do a good job preserving all as with the reeling machines. Coverd with plastic for the most part! Gave a bit of a sterile feeling.

I do understand why it's UNESCO and I think if they open up a bit more of the buildings. Maybe the managers house with furnuture of that time it will make it even more interesting. If you're in Tokyo and want to get out this is a site worth checking out for sure!

The Historical Monuments of Mtskheta are all about the Georgian Orthodox Church, celebrating the introduction of Christianity in Georgia in the year 317. Three medieval religious buildings in the ancient capital of Mtskheta were selected to represent different phases in Georgian ecclesiastical architecture: the Jvari Monastery, the Svetitstkhoveli Cathedral and the Samtavro Monastery.

Mtskheta is an easy half-day trip from the capital Tbilisi by marshrutka. Once you have arrived within the town limits of Mtskheta, you have to pay attention to where to exit the bus - the trick is to stay on until you are right in front of the big cathedral, ignoring all the loops it does first around town and across the river. I spent about 3 hours in Mtskheta, including a ride back and forth by taxi to the Jvari monastery on a hill outside the city.

The Svetitstkhoveli cathedral towers high above everything in the city. One enters through a large gate, with two bull heads on both sides: these are pagan fertility symbols. The courtyard is spacious, with a neat lawn that is forbidden to walk on. The outer walls of the cathedral display some interesting reliefs, made out of red stone that stands out against the grey of the rest. In general, though, I found the reliëfs here in Georgia to be quite simple. It may be a result of local taste or a sign of lack of wealth that decoration is so limited.

In comparison to the other churches …

As previous reviewers have pointed out Engelsberg doesn't feel all that industrial for an ironwork. Embedded into the typical Swedish landscape with lakes and forests, it has more the feel of a large picturesque agricultural estate. And in a way it was precisely that as the surrounding forests and lakes were key resources used in processing the iron ore. I felt reminded of Ironbridge Gorge. This is what it must have looked like before the English moved from charcoal to coke.

The site was operated well into the 20th century. It's interesting to consider how long these types of production techniques were competitive.

To me the site could well be extended into a cultural landscape. The Fagersta region to this date remains a center of iron production in Sweden. Several relevant sites are grouped into the Ekomuseum Bergslagen. These could provide some more context and background on Engelsberg.

Getting In

As is the case all over Sweden, high season is from mid-June to mid-August. In this period there are regular guided tours and the visitor center is open. Outside this period you can contact the visitor center to arrange a tour for you. My hunch is, though, that it will be mostly closed and you are left to your own devices. Note that near the train station there is also a tourist information with potentially more generous opening hours.

Exploring the site on your own is not much of a problem, though, …

France has twice succeeded in turning a "not to inscribe" recommendation by IUCN into a referral (in 2014 and 2016). Both IUCN evaluations were harsh, but clear, the main objection was that „the integrity of the property in relation to its natural values is compromised by the long standing and on-going impacts of human use, which result in a landscape that is fundamentally not 'natural'” (cited from the IUCN evaluation 2014). But now, on the third attempt in 2018, all concerns are miraculously dispelled and IUCN recommends inscription, thus a safe bet at the WHC. Two active quarries have been removed from the nominated area, but apart from that, the boundaries have not changed in comparison to 2014. Now the focus is on criterion viii (outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history), criterion vii (superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance) has been withdrawn. Apparently that was enough to convince IUCN.

I visited the site in June 2013, it was the last step of a trip to Southern France. I have to say, I was surprised that it was nominated solely on basis of natural criteria. For a natural WHS it is a quite densely populated area. The human impact on the landscape is obvious: grazing sheep, active quarries, the huge antenna on the Puy de Dôme (already mentioned by Els), even a golf course. Well, there are more than 80 volcanoes (puys) in an area of about 30 km length and 4 …

After living in Oaxaca's city center for six months, I can without a doubt recommend the food, culture, and history of this region to any traveler heading to the region. Oaxaca itself has a long history, but is once again reinventing itself as the center of Mexico's most exciting culinary foodie scene. It was already considered the birthplace of some of Mexico's most iconic dishes (seven different types of mole being among them), and now this Spanish colonial town has fascinating fusion dishes, alongside a mezcal tourism industry that makes it a hit with those who not only love history, but food tourism as well. 

Outside of the tightly packed downtown, where I loved the sheer number of boutiques and restaurants, is Monte Alban. It's incredibly convenient to the city (a mere 20 minutes by bus that leaves near the Zocolo), and offers sweeping views of the region. 

As a site of ruins, Monte Alban is nice, but not my favorite Mexican ruins. I have extensively traveled Mexico, from the Yucatan Peninsula with curious kids to the Baja Peninsula, and I've seen many ruins. These ones are not quite as impressive as others, but they are the finest example of Zapotec ruins. From the Maya ruins of the Yucatan to the Aztec ruins near Mexico City, Monte Alban represents a very different culture and history, and that alone (plus the views) makes it worth a visit. The museum on site was a pass for me, but if you …

Even in a country filled with world class sites like no other, with a large backlog of well deserving sites on the tentative list, you will find the occasional dud. A bit surprisingly these are concentrated in the Piedmont region.

Having been to Turin before I could never quite make up my mind if I had actually visited the palaces. I only recall the splendid stair case of Palazzo Reale and the rather pricey tickets that came along with it. I was a poor student at the time and may have decided against entering.

This time around I visited the Palazzo Reale, the Piazza Castello, the Palazzo Madama and the Borgo Medievale. Across the river I could also catch a view of the Villa della Regina. The highlight to me was the Royal Armory in the Palazzo Reale. But to be frank, none of them really made much of an impression on me. I also question why this had to be a serial nomination.

Meanwhile Turin is a really pleasant and nice city with visible French and Swiss influences. I loved strolling the streets and would have preferred a site focused on Turin the Capital instead.

Getting There

Turin has an international airport. By train you can connect to Milan to the East, Genova to the South and to the Aorta Valley and from there to Chamonix to the North.

The nearest WHS are the underwhelming Vineyards of Piedmont. …

When we booked a late-availability and heavily discounted expedition cruise from Scotland to Greenland in June 2010 it included a number of organised "tourist" side trips in the Faeroes and Iceland. Argo's review below, and with it the realisation that we may soon gain an extra "visit tick" from the potential inscription of Vatnajokull NP, have led me to re-evaluate our visit there. It turns out that 2 of the Icelandic trips did indeed go inside the current boundaries of Vatnajokull NP - first, a self-drive snowmobile ride up on the glacier and second, a boat trip on (Lake) Jökulsárlón (Here is a map of the 2017 NP extension which brought the southern part of Jökulsárlón and Highway 1 which goes past it, “inside” the NP and hence “inside” the nominated area).

I accept that we normally tend to be too “penny pinching” for our own good when travelling! This particularly applies for what might be termed “optional costs” such as commercially run tours. So, “HOW MUCH!!??” is our usual first response when discovering their cost - probably followed by us walking away, having decided that it just wouldn’t be worth it (we don’t normally “enjoy” the group aspect of organised tours anyway)! I have just checked the current price of a similar snowmobile trip to ours - this is c EUR 200/£178 per person for 3 hours including a drive up from Highway 1 and back, kitting/de-kitting time etc – so only 1 hour out on the ice. …