Brazil - Historic Town of Ouro Preto

Founded at the end of the 17th century, Ouro Preto (Black Gold) was the focal point of the gold rush and Brazil’s golden age in the 18th century. With the exhaustion of the gold mines in the 19th century, the city’s influence declined but many churches, bridges and fountains remain as a testimony to its past prosperity and the exceptional talent of the Baroque sculptor Aleijadinho.

year of Inscription: 1980
further Informations: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/124

Brazil - Historic Centre of Salvador de Bahia

As the first capital of Brazil, from 1549 to 1763, Salvador de Bahia witnessed the blending of European, African and Amerindian cultures. It was also, from 1558, the first slave market in the New World, with slaves arriving to work on the sugar plantations. The city has managed to preserve many outstanding Renaissance buildings. A special feature of the old town are the brightly coloured houses, often decorated with fine stucco-work.

Date of Inscription: 1985
further Informations: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/309

Brazil - Brasilia

Brasilia, a capital created ex nihilo in the centre of the country in 1956, was a landmark in the history of town planning. Urban planner Lucio Costa and architect Oscar Niemeyer intended that every element – from the layout of the residential and administrative districts (often compared to the shape of a bird in flight) to the symmetry of the buildings themselves – should be in harmony with the city’s overall design. The official buildings, in particular, are innovative and imaginative.

Date of Inscription: 1987
further Informations: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/445

Brazil - Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves

Look at this beautiful Aerial View over the Natural Heritage in Brazil. I would do so much to live in such a beautiful Environment. If you like mountains - i'm gladly exchanging our homes for some months ;)

The Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves, in the states of Paraná and São Paulo, contain some of the best and most extensive examples of Atlantic forest in Brazil. The 25 protected areas that make up the site (some 470,000 ha in total) display the biological wealth and evolutionary history of the last remaining Atlantic forests. From mountains covered by dense forests, down to wetlands, coastal islands with isolated mountains and dunes, the area comprises a rich natural environment of great scenic beauty.

Date of Inscription: 1999
further Informations: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/893

Bahrain - Qal’at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbour and Capital of Dilmun

Qal’at al-Bahrain is a typical tell – an artificial mound created by many successive layers of human occupation. The strata of the 300 × 600 m tell testify to continuous human presence from about 2300 BC to the 16th century AD. About 25% of the site has been excavated, revealing structures of different types: residential, public, commercial, religious and military. They testify to the importance of the site, a trading port, over the centuries. On the top of the 12 m mound there is the impressive Portuguese fort, which gave the whole site its name, qal’a (fort). The site was the capital of the Dilmun, one of the most important ancient civilizations of the region. It contains the richest remains inventoried of this civilization, which was hitherto only known from written Sumerian references.

Date of inscription: 2005
further Informations: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1192

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar

The historic town of Mostar, spanning a deep valley of the Neretva River, developed in the 15th and 16th centuries as an Ottoman frontier town and during the Austro-Hungarian period in the 19th and 20th centuries. Mostar has long been known for its old Turkish houses and Old Bridge, Stari Most, after which it is named. In the 1990s conflict, however, most of the historic town and the Old Bridge, designed by the renowned architect Sinan, was destroyed. The Old Bridge was recently rebuilt and many of the edifices in the Old Town have been restored or rebuilt with the contribution of an international scientific committee established by UNESCO. The Old Bridge area, with its pre-Ottoman, eastern Ottoman, Mediterranean and western European architectural features, is an outstanding example of a multicultural urban settlement. The reconstructed Old Bridge and Old City of Mostar is a symbol of reconciliation, international co-operation and of the coexistence of diverse cultural, ethnic and religious communities.

Date of Inscription: 2005
further Information: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/946

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge of Višegrad

The Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge of Višegrad across the Drina River in the east of Bosnia and Herzegovina was built at the end of the 16th century by the court architect Mimar Koca Sinan on the orders of Grand Vizier Mehmed Paša Sokolović. Characteristic of the apogee of Ottoman monumental architecture and civil engineering, the bridge has 11 masonry arches with spans of 11 m to 15 m, and an access ramp at right angles with four arches on the left bank of the river. The 179.5 m long bridge is a representative masterpiece of Sinan, one of the greatest architects and engineers of the classical Ottoman period and a contemporary of the Italian Renaissance, with which his work may be compared. The unique elegance of proportion and monumental nobility of the whole site bear witness to the greatness of this style of architecture.

Date of Inscription: 2007
further Informations: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1260

Belgium - La Grand-Place, Brussels

Did you know that i've met my boyfriend for the very first time at this place?

La Grand-Place in Brussels is a remarkably homogeneous body of public and private buildings, dating mainly from the late 17th century. The architecture provides a vivid illustration of the level of social and cultural life of the period in this important political and commercial centre.

Date of Inscription: 1998
further Informations: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/857

RAS from Hilarie

BIG Unesco RR #9 from ferro

RAS from Hilarie

Belgium - Historic Centre of Brugge

Brugge is an outstanding example of a medieval historic settlement, which has maintained its historic fabric as this has evolved over the centuries, and where original Gothic constructions form part of the town's identity. As one of the commercial and cultural capitals of Europe, Brugge developed cultural links to different parts of the world. It is closely associated with the school of Flemish Primitive painting.

Date of Inscription: 2000
further Informations: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/996

Belgium / France - Belfries of Belgium and France

I'm looking for all other Belfries too!

Twenty-three belfries in the north of France and the belfry of Gembloux in Belgium were inscribed as a group, an extension to the 32 Belgian belfries inscribed in 1999 as Belfries of Flanders and Wallonia. Built between the 11th and 17th centuries, they showcase the Roman, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles of architecture. They are highly significant tokens of the winning of civil liberties. While Italian, German and English towns mainly opted to build town halls, in part of north-western Europe, greater emphasis was placed on building belfries. Compared with the keep (symbol of the seigneurs) and the bell-tower (symbol of the Church), the belfry, the third tower in the urban landscape, symbolizes the power of the aldermen. Over the centuries, they came to represent the influence and wealth of the towns.

943-002 Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal - Antwerpen, Handschoenmarkt, Antwerpen, Flanders, Belgium (received Jan 2012)

943-003 Stadhuis in Antwerp juneRR - 71 - ferro

943-001 - Belfort en Schepenhuis / Beffroi et maison échevinale
Aalst, Grote Markt 3, Oost-Vlaanderen, Flanders, Belgium

943-004 - Belfort en Hallen
Brugge, West-Vlaanderen, Flanders, Belgium

943-005 - Stadhuis met Belfort
Dendermonde, Grote Markt 1, Oost-Vlaanderen, Flanders, Belgium

943-006 - Stadhuis met Belfort

Diksmuide, Grote Markt 6, West-Vlaanderen, Flanders, Belgium

943-007Stadhuis met Belfort

Eeklo, Grote Markt 34, Oost-Vlaanderen, Flanders, Belgium

943-008Belfort, Lakenhal en Mammelokker (ancienne prison)

Gent, Botermarkt 17, Oost-Vlaanderen, Flanders, Belgium

943-009Voormalig Stadhuis / Lakenhal

Herentals, Grote Markt, Antwerpen, Flanders, Belgium

943-010Belfort met Lakenhal (Beffroi / Halle-aux-Draps)

Ieper, Grote Markt 34, West-Vlaanderen, Flanders, Belgium

943-011Het Belfort of Halletoren

Kortrijk, Grote Markt, West-Vlaanderen, Flanders, Belgium

943-012Sint-Pieterskerk / Belfort

Leuven, Vlaams Bramant, Flanders, Belgium

943-013Stadhuis en Belforttoren

Lier, Grote Markt 58, Antwerpen, Flanders, Belgium

943-014Voormalig Stadhuis met Belfort

Lo-Reninge, Markt 1, West-Vlaanderen, Flanders, Belgium

943-015Ancienne Halle avec Beffroi

Mechelen, Grote Markt 21, Antwerpen, Flanders, Belgium

943-016Tour de Saint-Rombaut

Mechelen, Sint-Romboutskerkhof, Antwerpen, Flanders, Belgium

943-017Belfort en Stadhuis

Menen, Grote Markt 1, West-Vlaanderen, Flanders, Belgium

943-018Stadshal met Belfort

Nieuwpoort, Grote Markt, West-Vlaanderen, Flanders, Belgium

943-019Stadhuis met Belfort

Oudenaarde, Grote Markt 1, Oost-Vlaanderen, Flanders, Belgium

943-020 - Stadhuis, Stadshal en Belfort

Roeselare, Grote Markt/Zuidstraat, West-Vlaanderen, Flanders, Belgium

943-021 - Stadhuis met Toren

Sint-Truiden, Grote Markt, Limbourg, Flanders,

943-022 - "Halletoren" ou Belfort, Hal en Schepenkamer

Tielt, Markt 1, West-Vlaanderen, Flanders,

943-023Sint-Germanuskerk met Stadstoren

Tienen, Veemarkt 36, Vlaams Brabant, Flanders,

943-024Onze-Lieve-Lievevrouwebasiliek met Stadstoren

Tongeren, Grote Markt, Limbourg, Flanders,

943-025Landhuis met Belfort

Veurne, Grote Markt 29, West-Vlaanderen, Flanders,

943-026 - Zoutleeuw, Grote Markt, Vlaams Brabant, Flanders,

943-027Beffroi de l'Hôtel de Ville de Binche

Binche, Hainaut, Wallonia, Belgium

943-028Beffroi de l'Hôtel de Ville de Charleroi

Charleroi, Hainaut, Wallonia,

943-029Beffroi de Mons

Mons, Hainaut, Wallonia, Belgium

943-030Beffroi de Namur

Namur, Namur, Wallonia, Belgium

943-031Beffroi de Thuin

Thuin, Hainaut, Wallonia, Belgium

943-032Beffroi de Tournai

Tournai, Hainaut, Wallonia, Belgium

943-033Beffroi de l’Hôtel de Ville d’Armentières

Armentières, Nord, Nord Pas de Calais, France

943-034Beffroi de l’Hôtel de Ville de Bailleul

Bailleul, Nord, Nord Pas de Calais, France

943-035Beffroi de Bergues

Bergues, Nord, Nord Pas de Calais, France

943-036Beffroi de l’église St-Martin de Cambrai

Cambrai, Nord, Nord Pas de Calais, France

943-037Beffroi de l’Hôtel de Ville de Comines

Comines, Nord, Nord Pas de Calais, France

943-038Beffroi de l’Hôtel de Ville de Douai

Douai, Nord, Nord Pas de Calais, France

943-039Beffroi de l’église St-Eloi de Dunkerque

Dunkerque, Nord, Nord Pas de Calais, France

943-040Beffroi de l’Hôtel de Ville de Dunkerque

Dunkerque, Nord, Nord Pas de Calais, France

943-041Beffroi de Gravelines

Gravelines, Nord, Nord Pas de Calais, France

943-042Beffroi de l’Hôtel de Ville de Lille

Lille, Nord, Nord Pas de Calais, France

943-043Beffroi de l’Hôtel de Ville de Loos

Loos, Nord, Nord Pas de Calais, France

943-044Beffroi de l’Hôtel de Ville d’Aire-sur-la-Lys

Aire-sur-la-Lys, Pas de Calais, Nord Pas de Calais, France

943-045Beffroi de l’Hôtel de Ville d’Arras

Arras, Pas de Calais, Nord Pas de Calais, France

943-046Beffroi de Béthune

Béthune, Pas de Calais, Nord Pas de Calais, France

943-047Beffroi de l’Hôtel de Ville de Boulogne

Boulogne-sur-Mer, Pas de Calais, Nord Pas de Calais, France

943-048Beffroi de l’Hôtel de Ville de Calais

Calais, Pas de Calais, Nord Pas de Calais, France

943-049Beffroi de l’Hôtel de Ville d’Hesdin

Hesdin, Pas de Calais, Nord Pas de Calais, France

943-050Beffroi d’Abbeville

Abbeville, Somme, Picardie, France

943-051Beffroi d’Amiens

Amiens, Somme, Picardie, France

943-052Beffroi de l’ancienne maison communale de Doullens

Doullens, Somme, Picardie, France

943-053Beffroi de porte de Lucheux

Lucheux, Somme, Picardie, France

943-054Beffroi de Rue

Rue, Somme, Picardie, France

943-055Beffroi de Saint-Riquier

Saint-Riquier, Somme, Picardie, France

943-056Beffroi de Gembloux

Gembloux, Namur, Wallonne, Belgium

Belarus - Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh

The Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh is located in central Belarus. The Radziwill dynasty, who built and kept the ensemble from the 16th century until 1939, gave birth to some of the most important personalities in European history and culture. Due to their efforts, the town of Nesvizh came to exercise great influence in the sciences, arts, crafts and architecture. The complex consists of the residential castle and the mausoleum Church of Corpus Christi with their setting. The castle has ten interconnected buildings, which developed as an architectural whole around a six-sided courtyard. The palaces and church became important prototypes marking the development of architecture throughout Central Europe and Russia.

Date of Inscription: 2005
further Informations: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1196