Overview of Germany’s 51 UNESCO World Heritage Sites | What Are These Historical Spots?

Here, we introduce the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Germany, a major European nation.

Germany is home to many World Heritage sites, most of which are cultural landmarks such as palaces and churches. Even so, those familiar with Germany may wonder, “Why hasn’t that castle or church been added yet?” Given the country’s wealth of historical structures, there’s still a strong chance more sites will be listed in the future.

This article explores various UNESCO sites in Germany, making it a helpful guide for planning your next trip to the country.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 1] Aachen Cathedral

Aachen Cathedral, a city in northwest Germany near the borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, is the first World Heritage Site to be registered in 1978. It has a unique structure in that the cathedral was added later to a palace church built by Charlemagne of the Frankish Kingdom at the end of the 8th century.

Charlemagne was a devout Christian, and had an octagonal dome built because the number "8" was an important number representing resurrection in Christianity at the time.

Charlemagne's body was buried in the cathedral, and for the next 600 years, Aachen Cathedral became a sacred place where the coronation ceremonies of the Holy Roman Emperors were held. The highlight is the chapel called the "Glass House," which was built to commemorate 600 years since Charlemagne's accession to the throne, and is fitted with beautiful stained glass that is 25 meters long.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 2] Lorsch Abbey and Altenmünster

Lorsch Abbey, whose ruins remain in the small town of Lorsch in Hesse, directly south of Frankfurt Airport, Germany's air gateway. It was built around 764 by Frankish nobleman and lord Cancol and his mother Williswinda.

Altenmünster means "old cathedral". Most of it was destroyed during the Thirty Years' War, and now only the tower gate called the King's Gate and parts of the church remain, but it is rare to find a building from the Carolingian dynasty that has remained, and it was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1991.

Lorsch can be easily accessed by train from Frankfurt as well as from nearby tourist cities such as Heidelberg and Worms. The monastery ruins themselves are in an ordinary residential area, and there are few tourists, so it has a quiet atmosphere, but that makes it a great place to enjoy a leisurely historical walk.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 3] Bauhaus and related sites in Weimar, Dessau and Bernau

This World Heritage site consists of the Bauhaus school, which was established in Weimar in eastern Germany for the purpose of comprehensive education in art and architecture, and related buildings. It was registered as a World Heritage site in 1996, about 70 years after the school was founded.

The Bauhaus, which had a significant influence on German modernist architecture, moved from Weimar to Dessau and then to Berlin, but the last one in Berlin was only there for a short period at the end of its life, so it is not registered as a World Heritage site.

The Dessau school building is said to be one of the most influential designs in 20th century architecture. Built between 1925 and 1926, the building was infused with the latest technology of the time, and its design, which makes extensive use of concrete and glass, is so modern that it is hard to believe it is nearly 100 years old!

Glass is used like a curtain on both exterior walls. Weimar also has several buildings registered as World Heritage sites, including the Bauhaus University headquarters building.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 4] Bergpark Wilhelmshoehe

Kassel, a popular tourist city in central Germany, is one of the climaxes of the Fairy Tale Road, and it has a beautiful park straight out of a fairy tale. Bergpark means "mountain park" and is lined with gorgeous facilities such as Wilhelmshöhe Castle, Löwenburg Castle, and Kassel's symbolic Hercules statue, and is known as a masterpiece of landscape art that harmonizes culture and nature.

The park has a long history, and construction began in 1696 by Landgrave Karl of Hesse-Kassel.

The huge fountain, designed by Italian architect Giovanni Francesco Guerniero, is designed to shoot more than 750,000 liters of water up to a height of 52 meters using natural pressure from the foot of the Hercules statue, and is still highly regarded as "water art."

The fountain is operated twice a week in the summer, and the sight of the water flowing down the artificial stepped waterfall and then gushing up with force at the end is worth seeing!

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 5] Modernist Housing Estates in Berlin

Located in the German capital of Berlin, these six apartment buildings were built between 1910 and 1933 and are considered representative of modernist architecture. They were registered as a World Heritage Site in 2008. They are modern public housing complexes built during the Weimar Republic era in the early 20th century.

Berlin developed rapidly from the end of the 19th century, and the population increased accordingly. Due to a shortage of housing for factory workers, the city planned to build housing for low-income earners. These were the Berlin Modernist Apartments. These Berlin apartment complexes had a major impact on the style of apartment buildings not only in Europe, but all over the world.

Leading architects of the time, including Walter Gropius, the first principal of the Bauhaus (registered as a World Heritage Site in 1996 as the "Bauhaus-related Sites in Weimar and Dessau"), were involved in the architectural planning of the apartment complexes. Moreover, these apartment complexes are still in use today! It feels so European to have people living in World Heritage Sites.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 6] Carolingian Westwerk and Civitas in Corvey

Corvey Abbey, located near the border between North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, was built between 822 and 855 during the Carolingian period of the Frankish Kingdom. The monastery buildings were almost completely destroyed during the Thirty Years' War and were later rebuilt as a Baroque palace. However, the western building of the monastery church with its tower remains as it was when it was built, and is called the "Westwerk".

Until very recently, Corvey was the private property of Duke Ratibor (and Marquis of Corvey). Even today, the ducal family manages it together with the city and the county.

The Westwerk and the former monastery contain luxurious rooms and remains from the 18th and 19th centuries, and the manor's library contains nearly 75,000 volumes. In 2014, it was registered as Germany's 39th World Heritage Site.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 7] Augustusburg Castle and Falkenlust in Brühl

Augustusburg Castle, located in front of Brühl Station on the outskirts of Cologne, famous for its cathedral, was built in the early 18th century by Clemens August von Bavaria, Archbishop of Cologne and Elector. He later built his villa Falkenlust about 2km away from the castle, and the vast Schlossgarten between the two. These three were registered as World Heritage Sites in 1984.

Clemens was a controversial figure as Elector and Archbishop, but these luxurious buildings, which he commissioned the genius architect Balthasar Neumann to design, are considered to be among his few achievements.

The interior can only be viewed on a guided tour, but it is convenient to rent an audio guide in Japanese. Although the palace is not well known in Japan, it is a beautiful World Heritage Site, which explains why it was used as Germany's guest house until recently.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 8] Bremen's Town Hall and Roland Statue at the Market Square

Bremen, the endpoint of the Fairy Tale Road, is a city in northern Germany known for the fairy tale "The Bremen Town Musicians." The Bremen City Hall hailed as one of the most beautiful city halls in Germany, was built in the early 15th century in the brick Gothic style and remodeled in the 17th century in the North German Weser Renaissance style.

The Roland statue in front of the city hall pays tribute to the knight Roland, who appears in the medieval epic poem "The Song of Roland." It represents Bremen's freedom and civil rights, expressing its status as a free city not controlled by the church.

During World War II, 60% of the city of Bremen was reduced to ashes, but the citizens are said to have surrounded and protected the city hall from the flames of war. It was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2004.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 9] Weimar, the city of classicism

Weimar, a city in Thuringia familiar to Japanese people as the Weimar Republic, was counted as one of the centers of German spiritual life for hundreds of years. In the early 19th century, which is considered to be the heyday of Weimar, three great writers who shined brilliantly in the history of European thought: Goethe, Schiller, and Herder, lived here.

11 buildings and parks, including "Goethe House", "Schiller House", and the "Widow Palace" associated with Duchess Anna Amalie of Eisenach, were registered as World Heritage Sites in 1998.

German classicism, which flourished from the late 18th century to the early 19th century, is said to have been established here in Weimar by Goethe and Schiller, who considered the classical era of Greece and Rome to be their ideal. For this reason, German classicism itself is sometimes called "Weimar Classic". If you are interested in German literature, this is a World Heritage Site you should visit at least once.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 10] Quedlinburg's Collegiate Church, Castle and Old Town

Quedlinburg, a small town with a population of about 25,000 in Saxony-Anhalt, is one of the oldest cities in Germany, dating back to the early 9th century.

Quedlinburg was once the residence of the first Holy Roman Emperor, Otto I, and more than 1,200 half-timbered buildings remain today. As a precious ancient city with its medieval streetscape intact, it was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1994 along with the Episcopal Church, Schlossberg (Castle Mountain), and the old town.

Although the name is not very familiar to Japanese people, it is a fun town packed with many tourist attractions, such as the Crypt of the Viperti Church, the Monastery of Mary of Münzenberg, the Lionel Feininger Museum, the Half-Timbered House Museum, the Stained Glass and Crafts Museum, the Central German Railway, a narrow-gauge railway that also operates steam locomotives, and the Toy Museum.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 11] Cologne Cathedral

Cologne Cathedral, one of Germany's most famous tourist attractions, is an hour's train ride from Frankfurt Airport and attracts 6 million tourists a year. This huge stone structure is 114m deep, 86m wide, and 157m high, equivalent to a 40-story building, and you have to stand quite a distance to see it all on camera.

It is also known as one of the three great cathedrals in Germany, along with Trier Cathedral and Mainz Cathedral. It was built on the site of a small cathedral that had existed since the 4th century, but it was burned down and construction was halted due to lack of funds, and it finally took on its current form in 1880.

There are many things to see inside, but the stained glass in the south aisle, which was restored by modern artist Gerhard Richter in 2007, has been attracting attention for its innovative design. The stained glass in this window was destroyed during World War II, but it is made of 72 blown glass pieces arranged randomly by computer.

Another tourist attraction is that it is located right in front of Cologne Central Station. Be sure to climb the 533 steps and experience just how high it is.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 12] Fagus Factory in Alfeld

The Fagus Factory, located in Alfeld, a small city in north-central Germany, is a shoe last manufacturing factory built in the early 20th century. At the time of its construction, brick and stone factories were the norm in Germany, and the workers found themselves in dimly lit and poor working conditions. The owner of the factory, Karl Benscheidt, asked Walter Gropius and Adolf Meyer to design it, and they built the world's first glass-walled factory. As a bright, comfortable and advanced factory, it was even called the "workers' palace."

Gropius is the founder of the Bauhaus, which we have already introduced. The Fagus Factory, which is still in operation today, was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2011 as an important living witness to early modernism. In addition to the visitor's center and guided tours, part of the building has been turned into a cafe that is open to the public.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 13] The borders of the Roman Empire

Ancient Rome had defensive walls built for similar purposes to the Great Wall of China. Hadrian's Wall in the UK was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1987, but in 2005 the Limes, which had been studied in Germany, was expanded and registered, becoming the current borders of the Roman Empire.

The Limes stretches for about 550 km, stretching from the Danube River in the east to the Rhine River in the west. It is believed that large and small forts were placed at regular intervals, and more than 60 large fort ruins have been confirmed. Large forts were defended by garrisons of about 100 to 1,000 people, and are thought to have played the role of defense, garrison, and checkpoint.

Small watchtowers, each with a capacity of 20 to 30 people, were also built at intervals of about 300 to 800 m. Nearly 900 watchtower ruins have been confirmed, and of these, about 260 ruins remain today.

There are also trekking trails along the Great Wall, but if you want to do some sightseeing easily, we recommend Saarburg Fortress on the outskirts of Frankfurt! Based on excavation surveys, the former Limes Fortress was restored in 1897, and it is an open-air museum where you can feel the atmosphere of the time.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 14] The Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz

It is the first English garden in Europe, built in the late 18th century by Prince Leopold III Friedrich Franz of Anhalt-Dessau. Located in the lake area on the Elbe River, it is also known as the "English Garden of Wörlitz." It covers a total area of over 140 square kilometers and contains over 100 buildings of various sizes in addition to the palace.

There are bicycle paths and walking paths within the garden, making it a place of relaxation for local residents. Gondola and boat rides around the lakes and canals within the garden are also popular, making you feel like you are visiting a small town in the forest rather than a garden.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 15] Hanseatic City of Lübeck

Founded in 1143, Lübeck became the leader of the Hanseatic alliance of merchant cities in the 13th century and enjoyed prosperity. The Hanseatic League was virtually dissolved in the Thirty Years' War in the 17th century, but the city's spirit of freedom continued to be passed down, and the city's official name is still "Hanseatic City Lübeck (Hansestadt Lübeck)".

The old town is home to many beautiful buildings that have earned it the nickname "Queen of the Hanse," and was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1987. These include Burg Abbey, the section from Petri Church to the Cathedral, and the Holsten Gate, the symbol of Lübeck. It is also known as the hometown of novelist Thomas Mann, whose masterpiece "The Buddenbrooks" is set in a merchant's house in Lübeck. His birthplace in the old town is now a museum called "Buddenbrook House."

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 16] Historic Centers of Stralsund and Wismar

The two cities of Stralsund and Wismar, facing the Baltic Sea, are said to have both been founded in the 13th century by immigrants from Lübeck, as mentioned above. Like Lübeck, they flourished as Hanseatic cities, but after the Thirty Years' War, these two cities were part of Sweden until the beginning of the 19th century. For this reason, they were newly registered as World Heritage sites as towns that share a different cultural and historical background from Lübeck.

The glory and wealth of the 14th century, the heyday of the Hanseatic League, can be clearly seen in the old towns of both cities. Representative buildings include the town hall in Stralsund and the 14th century stepped gable houses surrounding the market square in Wismar. The six brick parish churches in total provide a good overall picture of Gothic church architecture in the late Middle Ages.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 17] Luther Memorials in Eisleben and Wittenberg

Martin Luther, famous for the Protestant Reformation, was born and died in Eisleben, a small town in the state of Saxony-Anhalt in central Germany. The town, now officially known as Lutherstadt Eisleben, has many attractions, including Luther's birthplace, which was rebuilt at the end of the 17th century, the house where he spent about a month before his death, St. Peter and St. Pauli Church, where he was baptized, and St. Andrew's Church, where Luther's pulpit remains.

On the other hand, Wittenberg (also a Luther town), located northeast of Eisleben, is the town where the "95 Theses," which are said to be the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, were presented and was the center of Luther's activities. The Luther Hall, which Luther used as his residence during his lifetime, and the "town church" where he preached, are among the buildings related to Luther's life that were registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 18] Margraviate Opera House in Bayreuth

Bayreuth is famous for its summer music festival, which attracts Wagner fans from all over the world. Nearly 130 years before Wagner premiered the entire Ring Cycle at the first Bayreuth Festival in 1876, the Bayreuth Margrave Opera House was built by Margrave Friedrich III of Brandenburg-Bayreuth.

It is considered "one of the most beautiful Baroque theaters in Europe," and was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2012 as a rare court theater with both the exterior and interior remaining almost exactly as they were at the time.

Wagner was looking for a perfect venue for performing his own opera, The Ring Cycle, and after hearing about the Bayreuth Margrave Opera House, he visited the theater. However, the shape and size of the auditorium were different from what he wanted, so he decided to build his own theater the following year. This is the Festspielhaus, the stage for the Bayreuth Festival. Both theaters played important roles in German cultural history.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 19] Maulbronn Abbey Monuments

The Maulbronn Abbey complex, located on a hillside between Heidelberg and Stuttgart, is one of the best-preserved medieval Cistercian monasteries in existence. The monastery has a long history, having been founded in 1147. After the Reformation, it was used as a Protestant seminary, and even today students aged 14 to 16 receive their education at this boarding school.

Hermann Hesse, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, also attended the seminary in Maulbronn for a time. The popular novel "Under the Wheel", which is especially popular in Japan, is set at the seminary attached to the Maulbronn Abbey. In 1993, the former Cistercian monastery was registered as a World Heritage Site, as it was recognized as a representative example of medieval architectural art, having been perfectly preserved as a former Cistercian monastery.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 20] Fossil excavation site at Messel pit

Messel, a small village located south of Frankfurt and east of Darmstadt, is one of the world's leading fossil excavation sites, where more than 40,000 fossils from the Eocene period, about 50 million years ago, have been excavated. At the time, there was a lake here, and it is believed that the gases produced by active volcanic activity killed a wide range of nearby organisms, causing them to accumulate on the lake bottom in an oxygen-free state, which is why such a wide variety of fossils has been produced here.

Almost all types of biological fossils have been excavated, including fish, aquatic insects, and amphibians, as well as primates, birds, mammals, and reptiles. In addition, plant trunks, vines, fruits, and pollen have been found, providing important clues to understanding the biota of this period.

The public is not allowed to enter the excavation site except on specially organized tours, but you can always observe the excavation scene from the observation deck and view the excavated items in the museum.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 21] Rammelsberg mines, the historic city of Goslar and the Upper Harz water management system

It's a long title, but the point is that it is a comprehensive group of historical remains in an area that developed long ago through mining. To the south of the town of Goslar in north-central Germany, there is the Rammelsberg mine, which has been in operation for over 1,000 years since around the 10th century. The mine produced a wealth of various metals, mainly silver, but also copper, tin, gold, and lead, and its existence led to the prosperity of Goslar at the foot of the mountain.

As a town with the right to mint coins, it supported the economy of the Roman Empire. The mine closed in 1988, but the remains have been turned into a museum, and you can visit the underground tunnels inside the mine.

Further south of the mine, in the Upper Harz, there is a water system that was used for about 800 years to supply energy for mining, and it was expanded in 2010. Relics from various eras, both old and new, remain, including artificial ponds, dams, waterways, tunnels, and drainage facilities.

Goslar, a town at the foot of the mines that developed in this way, is home to historical buildings such as the Kaiserpfalz, the largest Romanesque imperial palace in Germany, the Gothic town hall, the guild hall which is now a hotel, and half-timbered houses for the miners.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 22] Monastic Island of Reichenau

Reichenau is the largest island on Lake Constance, which forms the border between Germany and Switzerland. Since the 9th century, it has developed as the center of the Benedictine Order, the oldest Catholic monastic order. It has three Romanesque churches, St. George's Church, St. Maria Marx Church, and St. Peter and Paul Church, and is considered an important heritage of monastic architecture in the early Middle Ages. In particular, the 10th century mural of "The Miracles of Christ" remains in the St. Peter and St. Paul Church, founded in 799.

Reichenau Island, isolated from the mainland, has maintained its unique society and culture by creating a self-sufficient agricultural system and adopting a militia system. It is still known for its thriving vegetable and wine production. At the island's museum, you can see exhibits on agriculture such as grape cultivation, traditional costumes, and the history of monasteries and the militia system.

Currently, it is easily accessible from the mainland as it is connected by road. In 2000, the entire island was registered as a World Heritage Site under the name "Reichenau Abbey Island."

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 23] Museum Island in Berlin

The island in the Spree River that runs through the German capital of Berlin is commonly known as Museum Island (Museum Island) because it is home to five museums: the Pergamon Museum, the Neues Museum, the Bode Museum, the Alte Nationalgalerie, and the Altes Museum. These museums together form the broader "National Berlin Museum" and are one of Berlin's most famous tourist spots.

Its history dates back to 1830, but the buildings were damaged during World War II and many of the collections were forced to be evacuated to avoid the fires of war. After the war, just like the division of Berlin into East and West, the museum collections were also split into East and West for preservation. After Germany was reunited, Museum Island was finally rebuilt. The most famous museum is the Pergamon Museum, but it boasts such a large collection that it is said that one day alone is not enough, so you may need at least two days to visit all the museums on the island.

There are also discounted joint tickets. As a cultural complex of historical and cultural importance, it was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1990.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 24] Muskauerpark

It may seem strange to Japanese people, but Muskau Park is a garden that straddles both Germany and Poland. It is one of the largest English gardens in Central Europe, and was created in the 19th century by Hermann von Pückler-Muskau. The nobleman, who was also a landscape gardener and writer, designed the English garden after a trip to England. It took about 30 years to complete.

Muskau Park stretches across the Neisse River, but after World War II, when the river was decided to be the new border between Germany and Poland, the garden was also divided between the two countries. As a result, one third is German and the other third is Polish. Not only is it an excellent landscape design, but it was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2004 as a symbol of World War II, the Cold War, and the subsequent German-Polish reconciliation.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 25] Regensburg's Old Town and Stadtamhof

Regensburg, a city in southeastern Germany located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, has developed as a key transportation hub since ancient Roman times, and flourished as a major trading center in the Middle Ages. Sights in the old town include the Gothic cathedral, Germany's oldest stone bridge, and the brick-built Imperial Diet Museum. In addition, 984 buildings in the old town were registered as World Heritage Sites in 2006.

Stadtamhof is an island in the Danube River just across the stone bridge from Regensburg's old town, and is a district where mainly 13th century buildings remain. The only World Heritage Site here is the former St. Catherine's Charity Hospital. However, this area also retains a strong atmosphere of old townscapes, so please take a leisurely historical stroll through the quaint town.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 26] Palaces and Parks in Potsdam and Berlin

Potsdam, the capital of Brandenburg, located about 20km from central Berlin, is known as a tourist destination with many palaces. The oldest and most famous is Sanssouci Palace (Palace of Peace), built in 1745 by Prussian King Frederick the Great as a summer residence. Reflecting the tastes of Frederick the Great, known as the Philosopher King, it is not large for a royal palace of the time, but this gives visitors a sense of calm that allows them to forget the sorrows of this world.

For Japanese people, Potsdam also brings to mind the Potsdam Declaration during World War II. The Potsdam Conference, where the declaration was issued, was held at Cecilienhof Palace, another palace in Potsdam. A beautiful building with British country-style timber frame, this too is somewhat different from the general image of a "palace" on the European continent.

Potsdam is also home to many World Heritage-listed cityscapes, such as the Russian settlement of Alexandrovka, the Church of Our Saviour in the Zakrow district, and the Babelsberg district across the Havel River from downtown Potsdam. We recommend taking a day to explore these areas at your leisure.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 27] Pilgrimage Church of Wies

In the Wies district of Steingaden, a small village at the foot of the Alps in southern Germany, a white church stands alone. The church dates back to 1738. A farmer's wife received a wooden carving of "Christ Being Flounced" from a monk in Steingaden, and a rumor spread that the statue shed tears, attracting many pilgrims and building the church.

As you would expect from a rural church, the exterior is simple and two-tone, but once inside, you'll be amazed by its magnificent decorations. The ceiling is frescoed, and the sanctuary is covered with Rococo-style decorations, and it is highly regarded as one of the best Rococo interiors in Europe. The Pilgrimage Church of Wies, which still attracts one million pilgrims and tourists a year, was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1983.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 28] Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps

This World Heritage Site was registered in 2011 as a mixed heritage site covering 93 sites in six countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, and Slovenia. Pile dwellings are houses built by erecting piles in the shallow waters of marshes or lakes and laying boards on top of them. They are estimated to have been built in the Alps between 5000 and 500 BC, but the people in these settlements did not make a living from fishing, and are thought to have been a way to secure land suitable for farming and livestock farming in the mountains. Nearly

70% of the registered dwelling remains are completely or partially submerged. There are nine pile dwelling ruins in Germany on the shores of Lake Constance in Baden-Württemberg, and nine on Lake Starnberg southwest of Munich and in the southern part of Augsburg to the west of it. In particular, the Pile Dwelling Museum in Unteruhldingen on the northern shore of Lake Constance has restored and opened to the public these precious ruins. Today it is said to be the largest open-air archaeological museum in Europe.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 29] Primeval beech forests in Europe, including the Carpathian Mountains

The Carpathian Mountains stretch from the border between the Czech Republic and Poland to Romania, but the primeval beech forests that belong to the Eastern Carpathian Mountains and straddle Ukraine and Slovakia were registered as a World Heritage Site in 2007. In 2011, 15 beech forests in central and northwestern Germany were added to the list. In 2017, the natural heritage site spans 12 countries, from Ukraine in the east to Spain in the west, and the name was changed to "Virgin Beech Forests of the Carpathian Mountains and Other Parts of Europe."

Of these, Germany is the only place where natural beech forests still exist in the lowlands! They are extremely valuable as forests that nurture a rich biota that has remained unchanged since ancient times.

Natural beech forests in Germany are mainly scattered in the northeast and central parts of the country, and 15 sites are registered, such as Jasmund National Park on the island of Rügen, Müritz National Park in the center of the Mecklenburg Lakes region, Grumsin Forest in the Schorfheide-Chorin Bioenvironmental Reserve northeast of Berlin, Hainich National Park in Thuringia, and Kellerwald-Edersee National Park in Hesse. Each has its own distinctive features and recommended seasons to visit.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 30] Roman Ruins in Trier, St. Peter's Cathedral, and the Basilica of Our Lady

Trier, a city on the Moselle River near the border with Luxembourg, originated as a Roman colony and is said to be one of the oldest cities in present-day Germany. Roman ruins are still scattered throughout the city, eight of which are registered as World Heritage Sites. In particular, the Porta Nigra, which means "Black Gate," the amphitheater and the Imperial Baths are popular with tourists.

St. Peter's Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in Germany, and the Church of the Virgin Mary, built in the 13th century, are also part of the city's composition. If you go a little further, the 23-meter-tall column in Igel, a suburb of Trier, is also registered as a World Heritage Site, along with eight other ruins in the city. Enjoy ancient sightseeing at your leisure while sipping the city's specialty Moselle wine.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 31] Hamburg's warehouse district and trading district including the Chile House

The red brick high-rise warehouse district in the port city of Hamburg was one of the largest warehouses in the world when it was built at the end of the 19th century. On the exterior walls, you can see pulleys for lifting and lowering luggage directly from the outside without using stairs, and some are still in use today. It has now become one of Hamburg's most popular tourist spots, and cruise tours of various sizes of boats between the warehouses depart and arrive from the port pier continuously.

Today's trading district (Speicherstadt) is not only used as a warehouse, but also as entertainment facilities such as Miniatur Wunderland, which has a diorama of model trains, and the haunted house Hamburg Dungeon, as well as stylish restaurants and cafes. Although it is not a World Heritage Site, the concert hall "Elbphilharmonie", which opened at the tip of the warehouse district in 2017, has become a new tourist attraction in Hamburg with its innovative design.

Merchants needed not only warehouses but also offices, so the first trading house in Europe, that is, an office building, was built in Hamburg. The most famous of these buildings is the Chilehaus. It was built by a merchant who made his fortune from saltpeter imported from Chile, and the buildings with sharp corners reminiscent of the bow of a ship were very unusual at the time and attracted a lot of attention. This warehouse district and trading district were registered as a World Heritage Site in 2015.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 32] Speyer Cathedral

It is one of the largest cathedrals in Germany, and was built over a period of 30 years from 1030 by Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II as his own tomb. Its official name is the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Stephen. With its beautiful arched ceiling and four symmetrically arranged towers, it has had a great influence on subsequent church architecture as a textbook of pure Romanesque style.

The plan is in the shape of a Latin cross, with a total length of 134m and a nave width of 37.62m. The highlight is the almost completely preserved crypt (crypt), where the remains of the Holy Roman emperors and their wives up to the early 14th century are buried. It was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1981.

Another highlight is the huge stone fountain-like cup called the "Cathedral Basin" in front of the main entrance on the west side. It is said that in the past, newly appointed bishops would fill this basin with wine and serve it to the citizens, who would drink it all up in hopes of the bishop's health. The Cathedral Wine Festival is still held in the spring, so it would be interesting to visit at this time.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 33] St. Mary's Cathedral and St. Michael's Cathedral in Hildesheim

Located in the southern suburbs of Hannover, Hildesheim is home to St. Mary's Cathedral and St. Michael's Cathedral, both built in 1020. Both are considered important works of the early Romanesque style, but St. Michael's Cathedral in particular is a back-to-back structure that may seem a little strange to those used to German churches and cathedrals. The highlight of St. Mary's

Cathedral is the beautiful collection of gold and silver jewelry. And the highlight of St. Michael's Cathedral is the huge ceiling painting, which was painted in the 13th century. It is such a valuable piece that the ceiling panels were removed and stored in a safe place during World War II.

The rose tree in the courtyard is also a famous tourist spot. It is a legendary tree that is said to be 1,000 years old, which survived the bombings during World War II and still blooms every year, and is also the symbol of the city of Hildesheim. Hildesheim's old town still has a charming streetscape, and it is only 30 minutes by train from Hannover, making it a hidden gem that is highly recommended as a tourist destination.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 34] Le Corbusier's Architectural Works - Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Architectural Movement

Among the works of Le Corbusier, who had a great influence on the modern architecture movement of the 20th century, particularly masterpieces such as houses, factories, and religious buildings were registered as World Heritage Sites in 2016. Since the National Museum of Western Art in Ueno, Tokyo is included, Le Corbusier's name has suddenly become known in Japan as well. Most of the constituent assets are in France, but the Weissenhof Siedlung in Stuttgart in Germany is also registered.

Weissenhof Siedlung is a group of experimental houses built on the hill of Weissenhof on the outskirts of Stuttgart. The works were exhibited at a housing exhibition held by the Deutsche Werkbund in 1927, and 17 architects, mainly from Germany, participated, becoming a place to put modernist architecture into practice. Le Corbusier's work among them is a white building that embodies his idea of a "cuboid in the air," and unfortunately it was criticized at the time for not being suitable for the purpose of Siedlung (a housing complex to solve the problem of rapid population growth in cities).

Part of the building now serves as a museum, and can be reached on foot from Killesberg station, the last stop on Stuttgart's U5 subway line.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 35] Bamberg City

Bamberg's old town, also known as the "Pearl of Bavaria" or the "Rome of Franconia" because it is built on seven hills, was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1993 as a rare German city that has retained its medieval streetscape, as it was hardly damaged during World War II.

Bamberg's history dates back to the 10th century, and in the early 11th century, Holy Roman Emperor Henry II built a cathedral, after which many religious facilities were built. Many of these are concentrated in the Bergstadt (mountain town) centered around the cathedral, and Bamberg is also roughly divided into districts such as Inselstadt (island town) and Gärtnerstadt (garden town), where citizens live. Each district has a 1,000-year history of people's activities, which makes the charm of this town unparalleled.

Bamberg is also famous as a beer town. Rauchbeer (meaning "smoked beer"), with its unique taste and aroma, is one of Bamberg's specialties.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 36] Upper Middle Rhine Valley

The Rhine is one of Europe's leading international rivers. Of its total length of about 1,200 km, about 65 km from Bingen west of Mainz to Koblenz, where it joins the Moselle, is registered as a World Heritage Site as the "Upper Middle Rhine Valley". The Rhine has played an important role as a trade route since prehistoric times, and the area around it, with mountains on both sides, was a difficult place for ships to pass, but at the same time, it was a very convenient area for feudal lords to set up river barriers. For this reason, many castles were built along the river to collect tolls, and they are now an important tourist resource.

Tourists from all over the world visit the river to enjoy the beauty of the valley with its old castles and vineyards, mainly in the summer, on Rhine cruises. Another highlight is the Lorelei, known for various legends. When the cruise ship approaches the Lorelei rock, the song of Lorelei, which is also familiar in Japan, will play. Many of the old castles are now operating as hotels, so we recommend stopping by and experiencing the feeling of being a medieval knight.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 37] Völklingen Ironworks

The Völklingen Steelworks, located on the outskirts of Saarbrücken, the capital of Saarland, is known as the world's first industrial heritage site. Built at the end of the 19th century, the factory was expanded as steelmaking technology improved. It developed into a steelworks with the latest and largest facilities in Europe.

During World War II, approximately 70,000 prisoners of war and workers brought from neighboring countries were forced to work in the factory under harsh conditions. On the other hand, the Völklingen Steelworks miraculously escaped the fires and was able to resume production immediately after the war, contributing greatly to the reconstruction of the German region. It was designated a protected monument as soon as it was closed in 1986.

Today, it has been developed as an experience park for steelworks tours, and more than 200,000 tourists visit it every year. You can experience the precious and huge industrial remains, such as the blower hall equipped with large machinery, the pig iron making area with six blast furnaces, the rare inclined elevator and the furnace mouth that is nearly 30 meters high.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 38] Wadden Sea

The Wadden Sea is the world's largest tidal flat, stretching from the Netherlands to Germany and Denmark. A series of islands line the coast, and the area between the continent and the Wadden Sea changes between land and sea depending on the tides. The fact that tens of millions of migratory birds visit this area every year for stopovers and wintering shows how rich the biota is in this area.

In 1997, the Tripartite Wadden Sea Plan was adopted, and the area was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2009. Guided tours are available, and you can experience going deep into the tidal flats or even walking to the islands. If you're lucky, you might even encounter a spotted seal sunbathing on the sand.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 39] Wartburg Castle

Wartburg Castle, overlooking Eisenach, a city in the center of Germany today, is a famous tourist spot that is well known in Japan for its involvement in two well-known works. One is Wagner's opera "Tannhäuser." Its official title is "Tannhäuser and the Wartburg Singing Contest," and incorporates the legend of a singing contest that actually took place at Wartburg Castle.

The other is "The Bible." Martin Luther, the pioneer of the Protestant Reformation, lived in hiding in Wartburg Castle under the protection of Elector Frederick III of Saxony, and worked on translating the Bible into German here. In one room, there is a stain that is said to have been made when Luther threw an ink bottle at the devil.

In addition to the fact that the castle has been well preserved, the castle was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1999 in recognition of its historical turning points and its role as a literary and stage setting. Although it is a little far from the city of Eisenach, it also has an old castle hotel, so it is a good idea to spend a night in this mecca of history and opera.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 40] The Würzburg Bishop's Palace, its Gardens and Square

The Romantic Road is the most popular tourist route in Germany. Wurzburg, the starting point of the route, is a city about an hour away by ICE high-speed train from Frankfurt, Germany's air gateway. In this city, two huge buildings stand across the Main River: the Marienberg Fortress on a hill and the Residenz (Bishop's Palace) on the flat ground. Surprisingly, both were commissioned to be built by the Archbishop of Wurzburg, who was supposed to be a priest.

Only the latter Residenz is a World Heritage Site because it is considered the masterpiece of Balthasar Neumann, a master of Baroque and Rococo architecture. There are many spectacular rooms, such as the Green Hall and the Emperor's Hall, but the one you should pay the most attention to is the Staircase Hall, located just inside the building. This is a spacious, pillar-free atrium, where you can look up unobstructed at the world's largest fresco ceiling painting. The architectural industry at the time harshly criticized the building, saying it would "definitely collapse," but about 200 years after its completion, during the air raids of World War II, only this staircase remained intact while the rest of the city was reduced to ruins.

Before setting off on your trip along the Romantic Road, be sure to enjoy the Bishop's Palace, Marienberg Fortress, and Franken wine.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 41] Zollverein Coal Mine Heritage Site in Essen

Essen is one of the central cities of the Ruhr industrial region, which once drove Germany's economy with its abundant coal and heavy industry. Numerous coal mines were opened along the Ruhr and Wupper rivers, but one of the largest was the Zollverein coal mine on the outskirts of Essen. Over the 135 years until it ceased operations in 1986, a total of 13 mining shafts were established. When the Zollverein Foundation was established after the mine closed, it immediately decided to reuse the facilities and preserve the industrial monument.

Among the many coal mines in the Ruhr region, Zollverein is attracting attention due in large part to the existence of the shaft tower of the 12th mine, which was hailed as the "most beautiful in the world." Designed in the style of the Bauhaus, which was at the forefront of modern architecture at the time, the steel tower, with its geometric and practical appearance, can now be said to be a symbol of the entire Ruhr industrial region.

It is now a living museum where you can experience the coal refining process from the time of operation. As a monument of modern industrial architecture, it continues to influence contemporary design.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 42] Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura

Next, let's introduce the "Caves and Ice Age Art of the Swabian Jura", a World Heritage Site registered in 2017.

The site is located in the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany, and contains six caves. The site contains art believed to have been created by humans about 33,000 to 40,000 years ago, and is said to be some of the oldest art in the world.

The history of human civilization is at least several thousand years old. 33,000 to 40,000 years ago corresponds to a period known as the Ice Age on Earth. These are artistic relics left behind by humans when they were living a primitive lifestyle. It is a rarity worthy of being a World Heritage Site.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 43] Archaeological Border Sites of Hedeby and Danevirke

Next, we will introduce the "Archaeological Border Sites at Hedeby and Danevirke."

The Archaeological Border Sites at Hedeby and Danevirke are, as the name suggests, World Heritage sites located near the border. The northern half of the Jutland Peninsula, located north of Germany, is on the border with Denmark, and the southern side is Germany.

The Vikings (Kingdom of Denmark) once settled in the north of the area called Hedeby, and to the south was the Kingdom of the Franks. "Danevirke" is an earthwork built to separate the two, and it serves as the border itself.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 44] Naumburg Cathedral

Registered in 2018, Naumburg Cathedral is a cathedral located in Naumburg, a city in the eastern part of central Germany. The town is located along the Saale River.

Its history is said to date back approximately 1,000 years. The interior is also ancient, dating back to the 12th century, and is characterized by the fact that masterpieces of art from that time have been preserved intact. Not only is the interior beautiful, but it is also attractive because you can experience creative art.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 45] Augsburg's Water Management System

Next up is the Augsburg Water Management System, which, as its name suggests, is a water management system that has remained in the city for a long time and has been designated a World Heritage Site.

Augsburg, where the World Heritage Site is located, is a city located in the southern part of Germany. It is home to silver mines and thrives as a mining and industrial city. However, it also has another side to it as a city that developed through hydropower.

There are many examples of urban water management and flood control throughout history, and all of these are important projects, sometimes involving lives. This water management system, which has been registered as a World Heritage Site, is still active today as a pioneer in hydraulic engineering. A system that delivers clean water to the entire city, and energy obtained from hydropower. You can get a glimpse of the technological capabilities related to water.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 46] Elz/Krusnohori Mining District

The Erzgebirge/Krusnohory mining region is a mountainous area on the border between Germany and the Czech Republic. It flourished as a mining region in the Middle Ages and was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2019 due to its contribution to the improvement of technological capabilities.

Although it has an image of a mountainous area rich in nature, it was also a very important mining region in medieval Europe.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 47] The Limes of Germania Inferior

The next World Heritage Site we will introduce is "The Borders of the Roman Empire - The Limes of Germania Inferior". It spans Germany and the Netherlands.

The ancient Roman Empire covered most of Europe, and also influenced the Iberian Peninsula, parts of Africa and Eastern Europe, and what is now Turkey. However, the region of Germania, which is now Germany, maintained its independence and continued to repel invasions from Rome.

The border between Rome and Germania at that time was "The Borders of the Roman Empire - The Limes of Germania Inferior". Many military facilities were built in preparation for invasions, but they were gradually forgotten with the collapse of the Roman Empire.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 48] The Danube Limes (western part)

Like the above, this World Heritage Site is also a World Heritage Site of the ancient Roman border area (Limes).

This refers to the former military fortresses located on the southern border between the Roman Empire and Germania, around present-day Australia and Slovakia. Both Limes will be registered in 2021.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 49] Great Spa Cities of Europe

Europe has a long history as a land where hot spring and mineral spring culture has developed since ancient times. Spa culture developed significantly especially from the 18th to 20th centuries, with "spa towns" appearing all over the country. These have been registered as World Heritage sites as "Great European Spa Towns".

Registered cities are in the Czech Republic, Austria, France and elsewhere, but Germany's cities include Bad Ems, home to the "Imperial Spa" beloved by German and Russian emperors, and Baden-Baden, which has had mineral springs since Roman times. The spa town of Bad Kissingen, a salt producing region, has also been registered.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 50] Matilda Hill in Darmstadt

Darmstadt's Matilda Hill is a hill just under 200 meters above sea level located in Darmstadt, a city in central-western Germany. In the 19th century, the nobles who ruled the area, such as the Grand Duke of Hesse, built landscaping and palaces here. After that, they invited many artists to create an artists' village. In the early 20th century, international exhibitions were also held here.

The scenic beauty of the hill, including 20th century modernist architecture and urban landscape design, is outstanding. It can be said to be a World Heritage Site worthy of experiencing the cutting-edge art of the time.

[World Heritage Sites in Germany 51] Ruins of the Jewish Communities of Speyer-Worms-Mainz

The Ruins of the Jewish Communities of Speyer, Worms and Mainz are Jewish ruins that were registered as a World Heritage Site in 2021.

The Jews are not Christians as was widely known in Europe, but have their own religion and worldview. For this reason, they had to form and live in their own towns, and remnants of this still remain today.

Summary

We have introduced all 51 World Heritage sites in Germany. Germany's World Heritage sites are not only historically interesting, but most are open to the public, making it well worth visiting. There are many medieval castles and palaces, but there are also cities whose entire old towns are World Heritage sites, and it would be great if you could spend a day in each place and take a leisurely stroll while touring the sites. Germany is also characterized by its many unusual industrial heritage sites, such as steelworks, coal mines, and factories.

Germans are said to have a lot in common with Filipino people, and many of the historical buildings built by Germans are sure to suit Filipino sensibilities. We encourage you to take on the challenge of conquering Germany's World Heritage sites.

Overview of Germany’s 51 UNESCO World Heritage Sites | What Are These Historical Spots?