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Page 376 of 539
First published: 23/11/11.

Anonymous

Mwela Rock Paintings

Mwela Rock Paintings (On tentative list)

Mwela Rock Paintings by Roman Bruehwiler

I have visited this interesting place on July 2011. With the sorrow I must write, that there was no guide and any schedule to the paintings. We have found only two paintings and that is really not so many for high entry fee 15 USD p.p. and 5 USD for the car.

The place is fine for seeing rocky groups with the bush and for good top wiewing. But services is necessery to grow up.

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First published: 23/11/11.

Anonymous

Oke Idanre (Idanre Hill)

Oke Idanre (Idanre Hill) (On tentative list)

Oke Idanre (Idanre Hill) by Roman Bruehwiler

Idanre Hill is a historical hill in Nigeria. When you are approaching the hill you will see some stones petch as if it will fall off the mail hill but from history it has been like that for years. Anytime i go to the city i imagine the wonders God has done and it marvels me a lot.

I was born in Idanre though i did not attend any of my education in there but i am always excited going home for holidays and my main interest when travelling is to visit Idanre Hill. It is one of the exciting tourist center in Nigeria

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First published: 22/11/11.

Assif

Cultural Landscape of Innsbruck Nordkette Karwende

Cultural Landscape of Innsbruck Nordkette Karwende (Removed from tentative list)

Cultural Landscape of Innsbruck Nordkette Karwende by Hubert

I did not quite understand what this cultural landscape is all about. Innsbruck has a nice historic city centre, but nothing exceptional, not even for Austria. The Alps make a beautiful setting, but again, not unlike any other Alpine sites already on the list.

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First published: 16/11/11.

Anonymous

Budapest

Budapest (Inscribed)

Budapest by Solivagant

I visited Budapest in May 2011, and was mesmerised by the city and its beautiful architecture .Both the Buda and Pest have their very own distinctive style of architecture.We could see the Palace ,the Chain bridge and the Danube lit up,stunningly beautiful at night ,from our hotel room. The walk on the banks of Danube is delightful ,with old women sitting on benches selling Hand embroidered tablecloth and runners.Walked up to the shoes on the banks of Danube ,then up to chin bridge ,crossed over to Buda side and had a view of the Funicular or the single compartment train which takes one up to Buda castle .Did not take it though but walked up to the palace. The castle is splendid ,and saw preparations for the horse show being arranged there. Walked onwards on the cobblestone streets to Trinity square , Mathias Church with its lovely Rococco roof which can be seen from our hotel too,then on to Fisherman's Bastion and stood there to get an absolutely magnificent view of the River and The Pest side of the city.

The next evening we walked in the opposite direction passing the statue of the little boy ,(or is princess?) crossed the Danube at the Elizebeth Bridge(named for the most popular Queen Sisi ) to reach Gellert hill ,trekked up to the Libertion Monument and The Citadel a fortress from which we got another panoramic view of the city .

But before the walk to Gellert hill,we had had a tour …

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First published: 15/11/11.

Anonymous

Great Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe (Inscribed)

Great Zimbabwe by Els Slots

Visited Great Zimbabwe in November 2011 and found the place fascinating. Obviously a lot of work has gone into restoring the site and now a great deal of it is exposed to view. It's well worth the trip.

I would recommend using one of the guides for any tour, as they know a great deal about the place. Our guide, Champion, was a fountain of knowledge and pointed out several things we would have overlooked had he not been there. He was with us for about three hours, took us all over the complex and made the whole experience much better.

I consider the site well up to the standard I expected of a World Heritage Area, and those who work there obviously have a pride in their heritage and knowledge. Those who haven't seen it for some years may well be surprised by the work done since their last visit. I thoroughly enjoyed my day at Great Zimbabwe and would say to anyone who is considering going: "Make the time to go there."

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First published: 15/11/11.

Ian Cade

Hwaseong Fortress

Hwaseong Fortress (Inscribed)

Hwaseong Fortress by Ian Cade

Sometimes things just come together to make a visit a little more enjoyable. That was the case with my visit to Suwon to see this fortification.

I had already had an interesting morning trip to crazy world of the DMZ, so used the hour long metro ride south to recharge my batteries and admire the stunning clear crisp autumn day shining on the endless suburbs of Seoul. The train station at Suwon has a nice model of the fortress so I knew what to expect. I jumped on a bus and disembarked at the south gate which is now a traffic island and being restored. From here it was a surprisingly steep climb up for a few minutes, but by the time I had made my way to the top I was back in the bright sunshine and could really start to appreciate the impressive fortifications winding along the top of the hill. I really enjoyed this stretch of the walls. At one of the many pavilions on the walk I bumped into a group of school children who were learning English. They taught me about the history of the fort which was really nice and I found out their teacher was from just down the road from me when I lived in Dublin.

I carried on walking around the whole loop of the ramparts, enjoying the magnificent weather and taking an inordinate amount of pictures. The northern end of town offered some lovely pavilions and gates, so was very …

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First published: 14/11/11.

Ian Cade

Great Wall

Great Wall (Inscribed)

Great Wall by Ian Cade

Well it didn't disappoint. This is one of the World Heritage Sites that I always reel off when people ask me what places are included on this list I am so obsessed with. Now after my first visit I can fully understand why this is one of the most famous places in the world. I really enjoyed the 3 or 4 hours I had getting my first stroll along the Great Wall and would love to come back and visit some more stretches of it, especially the remoter parts out west. It is pretty amazing seeing how the wall winds over the top of hills for mile after mile. The topography of the landscape really highlights what an astounding undertaking it was to build such a significant structure, it is impressive just seeing this short stretch and become almost baffling when you take into account just how long it is.

I visited as part of a day trip from Beijing, and despite the numerous factory stops and the distinctly underwhelming Ming Tombs I have a really good memory of this visit. I visited the stretch at Mutianyu, which is restored and a little touristy at the base, however the number of people on the Wall proper was very manageable and I even got a few stretches between towers where we were the only visitors. (NB it seems that Mutianyu is not actually listed in the UNESCO documents as part of the inscription, however there are several WHS symbols around the …

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First published: 14/11/11.

Ian Cade

Jongmyo Shrine

Jongmyo Shrine (Inscribed)

Jongmyo Shrine by Ian Cade

From reading the other reviews it seems there is a bit of a split in people’s views of this shrine. I will say I am in the baffled camp. It is a pretty austere site to get a grip on.

Essentially it is a walled park with two large rectangular courtyards lined with bulky wooden buildings fronted with closed doors on one side. It isn’t really an easily accessible site, which is why I was glad to see that access to this site is now by guided tour only (about every 2 hours in English). I think this is actually good as the guide was able to try and make some sense of the Confucian concepts behind the function of the shrine. That being said; I don’t think I have ever seen people look as bored as many did on my tour. It wasn’t the fault of the guide who did a sterling job considering how alien the concepts can be to many westerners.

I was sort of looking forward to seeing the architecture of the site. I am a big fan of the modern architect Mies van der Rohe who is famous for stating “Less is more”; as such I have a fairly high tolerance for buildings that others may see as monotonous, but however hard I tried I still didn’t get much from the structures, and perhaps that would be missing the point anyway.

The site does tie in well with Seoul’s other World Heritage Sites as they …

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First published: 14/11/11.

Anonymous

Stonehenge and Avebury

Stonehenge and Avebury (Inscribed)

Stonehenge by Argo

I visited Wiltshire in 2004 and in 2007. In 2004 I was staying in Aylesbury, Northwest of London. I drove down to Stonehenge skirting past Oxford and into Marlborough, a very nice little village on the way to both Avebury Henge and Stonehenge. Also near Marlborough are Silbury Hill, the oldest and largest "burial mound" in all of the UK and Europe, and West Kennett Longbarrow. The latter requires a walk up a modest sized hill however once you arrive the views of the surrounding countryside are just magnigicant. Continue your drive down the A345 and continue on the A303 to Stonehenge, you won't be disapointed. Its truly a magnificant site and the walking tour around the henge is fantastic, be sure to use the portable telephone system as part of the tour. It explains the history of the area. Wiltshire is one of the very best places I have ever been to.

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First published: 13/11/11.

Anonymous

Villages with Fortified Churches

Villages with Fortified Churches (Inscribed)

Villages with Fortified Churches by Els Slots

I saw three on a recent visit, and the best one was in Viscri. Although the road to the town is now paved, it is still a bit of a pain to get there. Once there, especially during the low season, one has to look for the old lady who keeps the keys to the church. Inside is fantastic: a modest church, a neat fortress layout, and a creaky tower/lookout. The hunt for the old lady was the best part as we were able to interact with locals, and she also showed a few things here and there we would have missed.

It is true that the area is littered with fortified churches. The ones listed bu UNESCO are fine, but I suggest really hiring a car and going out to explore. Copsa Mare, for example, is only 2km from Biertan, and has a creaky old church in a nice compact little town right in a middle of a small valley.

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First published: 12/11/11.

Anonymous

Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings

Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings (Inscribed)

Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings by Els Slots

Frank Lloyd Wright was a pioneer of not just "American" architecture, but architecture in general. I have visited Fallingwater (my favorite piece of architecture) and it does not disappoint. I'm not going to waste my time trying to describe it to you... so i suggest you schedule a tour and JUST GO. You'll be glad you did.

One thing that really sets Wright apart from the rest is that he was willing to create more than just a building (a mere shell) to live/work in. Rather, he created a living space that catered to whomever inhabited it. In fact, it seems as though his buildings "nurtured" their inhabitants. His organic architecture compliments our lives AND nature. He was a very, very forward-thinking man and was way beyond his time.

All there is left for me to do is to own a FLW home... (wish me luck)

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First published: 11/11/11.

Anonymous

Old Town Lunenburg

Old Town Lunenburg (Inscribed)

Old Town Lunenburg by Els Slots

We visited Lunenburg in June 2010. Beautiful weather, beautiful town. We stayed in a bed and breakfast overlooking the harbor. Lots of lovely old buildings and atmosphere, with lots of little shops. The town is very accessible to walking, although it is built on a bit of a hill. For the inside scoop on the town, with lots of details about the history of the buildings and houses, take the horse-drawn carriage ride from the wharf. We also visited the fisheries museum and learned a lot about whales and fishing there!

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First published: 11/11/11.

Ian Cade

Royal Joseon Tombs

Royal Joseon Tombs (Inscribed)

Royal Joseon Tombs by Ian Cade

I didn’t really do this site justice; my experience was limited to one group of tombs at Seollung in the south of Seoul. These are by far the most accessible being just a short walk from the Metro station with the same name.

It was an enjoyable park to wander around for a little while and you were able to climb up and get a close up view of two of the three tombs within the site. I was surprised to see how large the statues guarding the burial mounds were, and I must admit to being quite impressed. The park now also contains a small museum with information about the tombs which are spread out across Seoul and its environs. A slight frustration came from not being able to get a closer look at King Jungjong’s tomb, from the base of the mound there isn’t really a huge amount you can see. It seems that this is a bit of a frustration at many of the tombs, and I am sure there are legitimate reasons for it but it does make the visiting experience a little limited.

If I had been in Seoul for a little longer then I am pretty sure I would have visited more of these sites, but the draw of the city’s other delights kept me busy.

[Site 4: Experience 4]

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First published: 11/11/11.

Anonymous

Joggins Fossil Cliffs

Joggins Fossil Cliffs (Inscribed)

Joggins Fossil Cliffs by Els Slots

We visited the Joggins Fossil Cliffs in June 2010. We got there while the tide was still high, so we spent some time in the museum, had lunch, and were amazed how quickly the tide went out! Within an hour of our arrival we were able to go down the beach and explore. The cliffs are amazing--layer upon layer of rock and sediment deposited over millions of years. Fossils are easily found on the beach, and new material is brought in by the tide twice a day. Truly amazing.

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First published: 11/11/11.

Anonymous

Tallinn

Tallinn (Inscribed)

Tallinn by Argo

We visited Tallinn in May 2008. Beautiful old town, amazingly preserved despite war and the ravages of time. Lots of things to see--the churches, the cobblestone streets, the main plaza, the old pharmacy, not to mention the fortress itself. This was probably one of our favorite stops in Europe.

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First published: 07/11/11.

Corinne Vail

Divrigi

Divrigi (Inscribed)

Divrigi

Divrigi is about 600 kilometers from Ankara, so it takes a little while to get there by car. I'm sure you can get there by bus, but it would be quite a long haul. The town of Divrigi is a small village perched on a hillside and the fall was the perfect time to go. I will say the signage to teh Mosque and hospital complex was a little lacking, but it is a small town, so we did find it. Using the word "complex", I expected a larger area then the one building that housed both of the facilities. The outside of the building is pretty non-descript until you get up close to the doors. There were so many carvings and it was so intricately done. They were gorgeous! The first part is the mental hospital, and going inside there are carved columns and a few tombs. Next door was the mosque and it is very much in use today, so it's best to stay away during prayer times. There was no cost to enter this site, but there was a small tea kiosk inside the walls. We felt obligated to buy a cup of tea and watch the visitors that came. There was only one other foreigner there, a European. I wouldn't say this was one of the most interesting World Heritage Sites in Turkey, but I probably would not have made the effort to go otherwise, and honestly that would have been dissappointing, because I had not …

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First published: 07/11/11.

Walter

White City of Tel-Aviv

White City of Tel-Aviv (Inscribed)

White City of Tel-Aviv by Walter

I travel to Tel Aviv more than 10 years ago, before it was inscribed to the WHL. I went back in June 2011 and wanted to have a closer look at the « white city ». I went first to the Bauhaus museum, and bought a detailed map showing all the protected buildings and the site limit with the buffer zone. From there I went on walks around, trying to discover the buildings listed on the map. Some are in bad need of repair.

Some are well known and figure in all travel guides (Dizengoff Square, Thermomether House). But most just lie waiting to be discovered along walks. I really enjoy this king of heritage site where you can wander around.

By the way, you can even stay in some Bauhaus-hotels (protected and part of the site), for example the Hotel Cinema, part of the Atlas chain.

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First published: 07/11/11.

Walter

Quseir Amra

Quseir Amra (Inscribed)

Quseir Amra by Walter

I visited Qsar Amra on a half-day trip from Madaba with a rental car. It is located about an hour east of Amman, and well sign-posted from the main road.

At first, this desert castle seems a bit disapointing. The outside walls were been restored and surrounded by scafoldings.

The real treasure lies within. The walls are painted (some of them are also being renovated). It shows very fine figurative murals depicting humans in pleasure activities (hunting, bathing) princes and angels, animals of all kinds, even a bear playing a music instrument.

One would not expect this kind of painting from the 8th century Umayyads dinasty.

They is a small museum near the car park, giving explanation on the paintings and the buildings (in fact a hunting and pleasure palace rather than a real desert castle).

There was not entrance fee. And we were the only tourists on the site.

I would strongly recommend a visit to this site.

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First published: 07/11/11.

Walter

Um er-Rasas

Um er-Rasas (Inscribed)

Um er-Rasas by Walter

I visited Un er-Rasas on a short trip from Madaba, with a rental car. The road is more or less signe-posted from either the King's Road or the Desert Highway (small road on the right shortly after the airport).

We arrived in the late afternoon. They is quite a big vistors' center, but only the tourist police station was open. The ticket office was closed, so we entered for free. We were the only persons on the site.

The site consists of a large ruined city in various stage of restoration. The interesting part is the churches mosaic floors. The St Stephen church floor is visited from a stairway, an is covered by a kind of hangar. The floors are spectacular representing animals, flowers as well as towns of the region.

We then moved to the church of Lions. It seemed rather tame, covered with sand, until we discovered that under the sand lies the mosaics. Part of them only are visible, but getting on your knee's to push the sand aside to reveal the mosaic gives the impression to be the first person to uncovered a treasure.

We then climbed walls to get to the churches of the River and of the Palm Tree with more mosaics to uncovered.

About 2 km north of the site, we finished visiting the stylites tower, which is now completely restored.

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First published: 07/11/11.

Walter

Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum (Inscribed)

Wadi Rum by Walter

We visited Wadi-Rum on the way between Aqaba and Petra. We planned a short visit and were not about to go a 4x4 tour. The visitors’ center and the village were full of Beduins trying to sell us one of these tours. It would probably have been worth going on one of them, but time was lacking, and we ressented been preyed upon.

The road from the visitors’ center to the village can be done by regular car, but is rather uninteresting. The village is ugly.

We left the place quickly. As we were to leave very disappointed by that visit, we decided to climb a small hill visible near the road (about 1 km before entering the visitor’s center, on the east side of the road). I was easy to climb and gave splendid views of the Pillars of Wisdom and the Wadi Rum valley. (And it is within the WHS limit, just to be able to tick one more site).

It really saved the day. By the way, for those on budget trip, this walk is before the visitors’ center and therefore free of charge. (Otherwise 10 JOD, about 13 $ pp)

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Page 376 of 539