Latest news with #historicalmonuments
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
26 new UNESCO World Heritage Sites for 2025
From the Great Wall of China to the Taj Mahal, UNESCO 's list of World Heritage Sites protects some of humanity's most treasured historical monuments. Now, 26 new sites have been added to this prestigious list. This year's additions include the original Disney Castle, a Diamond Mountain in North Korea, and the Killing Fields of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge. UNESCO has also included Port Royal - a mysterious sunken 'Pirate City' in Jamaica. Of the 32 candidates nominated this year, those accepted include 21 cultural sites, four natural wonders, and one mixed location. Pictured: Linderhof Castle near Oberammergau, southern Germany. The Palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, Germany When Walt Disney needed inspiration for the castle in Sleeping Beauty, he turned to the stunning palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Built between 1864 and 1886, the spires of Neuschwanstein Castle tower over the Bavarian Alps. King Ludwig II, who would be declared mad shortly after the castle's completion, drew inspiration for the castle's design from fairy tales and the operas of Wagner. The castle features grand murals of forests and cherubs alongside a hidden grotto built to connect the King's living space and offices. Between 1975 and 1979, Cambodia's Khmer Rouge party killed between two and three million people. Inspired by radical Maoist ideology, the party led by Pol Pot killed ethnic, educated, urban, or professionally trained individuals. Perceived opponents of the regime were taken to sites which became known as the killing fields, where they were murdered and dumped in mass graves. These graves were so shallow that bones of the dead can still be seen sticking out of the ground to this day. One of these sites, formally an orchard located 6 miles (10km) south of the capital Phnom Penh, was made into a memorial site for the atrocity named the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center. The centre includes a large Buddhist stupa, or tower, made out of hundreds of unidentified skulls from those killed at the site. The Killing Fields and the notorious S-21 and M-13 prison, where thousands were tortured, have all been made part of the UNESCO world heritage list. Mount Kumgang, North Korea Known as the Diamond Mountain from the Sea, Mount Kumang is now one of three UNESCO World Heritage sites in North Korea. UNESCO has added the area as a mixed site, meaning it has outstanding natural and cultural value. This area is renowned for its valleys, waterfalls, incredible biodiversity, and peaks rising to nearly 5,250 ft (1,600m). Due to the local climate, these mountains are constantly shrouded by a changing pattern of mists, rain, and clouds. Additionally, the area has been considered sacred by Korean Buddhists for hundreds of years. The site is home to ancient stone carvings and temples dating back as far as the 5th century, including three which are still active today. Until January last year, the site was also one of the very few locations open to South Korean tourists as part of the so-called 'Sunshine Policy'. Gola-Tiwai Complex, Sierra Leone The Gola-Tiwai Complex is the first UNESCO World Heritage site in Sierra Leone and has been added following decades of conservation work in the region. The complex will include the 700 square kilometre Gola-Tiwai National Park as well as the nearby Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary. Once considered at threat by logging and civil war, this rainforest is home to a bewildering array of rare and endangered species. The area hosts more than 1,000 plant species, 55 mammals, up to 448 birds, and 600 species of butterfly. It is also the last remaining home of the forest elephant and pygmy hippopotamus in Sierra Leone. Pygmy hippos, made famous by Khao Kheow Open Zoo's Moo Deng , are now found in only a handful of waterways in West Africa and are considered endangered. The forest is also key to the survival of some species we would recognise here in the UK, such as migratory swifts which stop to rest in Gola-Tiwai on their way to Europe. Port Royal, Jamaica In the 17th century, the town of Port Royal was a major hub of English trade in the Caribbean and a notorious pirate haven nicknamed 'the wickedest city of Earth'. The city was home to English and Dutch 'Privateers', gangs of marauding pirates encouraged to attack the Spanish fleets. On shore, these wealthy criminals would spend their ill-gotten cash in the city's many taverns and gambling dens. However, a major earthquake in 1692 and an accompanying tsunami sank most of the port into the ocean. What remained of the town was then destroyed by a fire and a hurricane in the following years, all but wiping Port Royal off the map. Today, the remains of the pirate town are still found beneath the waves where they have been converted into a major archaeological site. This area, known as the Archaeological Ensemble of 17th Century Port Royal, has now been officially recognised as an UNESCO World Heritage site. The 26 New UNESCO World Heritage Sites 1. Cambodian Memorial Sites: From centres of repression to places of peace and reflection (Cambodia) 2. Coastal and Marine Ecosystems of the Bijagós Archipelago, Omatí Minhô (Guinea-Bissau) 3. Cultural Heritage Sites of Ancient Khuttal (Tajikistan) 4. Diy-Gid-Biy Cultural Landscape of the Mandara Mountains (Cameroon) 5. Faya Palaeolandscape (United Arab Emirates) 6. Forest Research Institute Malaysia Forest Park Selangor (Malaysia) 7. Funerary Tradition in the Prehistory of Sardinia, The domus de janas (Italy) 8. Gola-Tiwai Complex (Sierra Leone) 9. Maratha Military Landscapes of India (India) 10. Megaliths of Carnac and of the shores of Morbihan (France) 11. Minoan Palatial Centres (Greece) 12. Mount Kumgang, Diamond Mountain from the Sea (North Korea) 13. Mount Mulanje Cultural Landscape (Malawi). 14. Møns Klint (Denmark) 15. Murujuga Cultural Landscape (Australia) 16. Peruaçu River Canyon (Brazil) 17. Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream (South Korea) 18. Prehistoric Sites of the Khorramabad Valley (Iran) 19. Rock Paintings of Shulgan-Tash Cave (Russia) 20. Sardis and the Lydian Tumuli of Bin Tepe (Turkey) 21. The Archaeological Ensemble of 17th Century Port Royal (Jamaica) 22. The Colonial Transisthmian Route of Panamá (Panama) 23. The Palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Schachen and Herrenchiemsee (Germany) 24. Wixárika Route through Sacred Sites to Wirikuta (Tatehuarí Huajuyé, Mexico) 25. Xixia Imperial Tombs (China) 26. Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Landscapes (Vietnam).
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The 26 new UNESCO World Heritage Sites for 2025 – from a sunken 'Pirate City' to the original Disney Castle
From the Great Wall of China to the Taj Mahal, UNESCO 's list of World Heritage Sites protects some of humanity's most treasured historical monuments. Now, 26 new sites have been added to this prestigious list. This year's additions include the original Disney Castle, a Diamond Mountain in North Korea, and the Killing Fields of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge. UNESCO has also included Port Royal - a mysterious sunken 'Pirate City' in Jamaica. Of the 32 candidates nominated this year, those accepted include 21 cultural sites, four natural wonders, and one mixed location. Following 10 days of deliberations in Paris, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has expanded its list to 1,248 sites across 170 countries. That includes two countries, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone, which have now claimed their first UNESCO world heritage sites. Countries with sites added to the list must commit to preserving them and could receive funding from the UN to help with that conservation. The Palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, Germany When Walt Disney needed inspiration for the castle in Sleeping Beauty, he turned to the stunning palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Built between 1864 and 1886, the spires of Neuschwanstein Castle tower over the Bavarian Alps. King Ludwig II, who would be declared mad shortly after the castle's completion, drew inspiration for the castle's design from fairy tales and the operas of Wagner. The castle features grand murals of forests and cherubs alongside a hidden grotto built to connect the King's living space and offices. Despite its medieval appearance, Neuschwanstein was actually constructed with the height of 19th-century technology. There is running water and automatically flushing toilets, hot air central heating, and even a system of electric bells used to summon servants. Alongside Neuschwanstein, the King's other homes -Herrenchiemsee, Linderhof, and the Royal House at Schachen - are now all UNESCO World Heritage sites. Cambodian Memorial Sites, Cambodia Between 1975 and 1979, Cambodia's Khmer Rouge party killed between two and three million people. Inspired by radical Maoist ideology, the party led by Pol Pot killed ethnic, educated, urban, or professionally trained individuals. Perceived opponents of the regime were taken to sites which became known as the killing fields, where they were murdered and dumped in mass graves. These graves were so shallow that bones of the dead can still be seen sticking out of the ground to this day. One of these sites, formally an orchard located 6 miles (10km) south of the capital Phnom Penh, was made into a memorial site for the atrocity named the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center. The centre includes a large Buddhist stupa, or tower, made out of hundreds of unidentified skulls from those killed at the site. The Killing Fields and the notorious S-21 and M-13 prison, where thousands were tortured, have all been made part of the UNESCO world heritage list. Mount Kumgang, North Korea Known as the Diamond Mountain from the Sea, Mount Kumang is now one of three UNESCO World Heritage sites in North Korea. UNESCO has added the area as a mixed site, meaning it has outstanding natural and cultural value. This area is renowned for its valleys, waterfalls, incredible biodiversity, and peaks rising to nearly 5,250 ft (1,600m). Due to the local climate, these mountains are constantly shrouded by a changing pattern of mists, rain, and clouds. Additionally, the area has been considered sacred by Korean Buddhists for hundreds of years. The site is home to ancient stone carvings and temples dating back as far as the 5th century, including three which are still active today. Until January last year, the site was also one of the very few locations open to South Korean tourists as part of the so-called 'Sunshine Policy'. Gola-Tiwai Complex, Sierra Leone The Gola-Tiwai Complex is the first UNESCO World Heritage site in Sierra Leone and has been added following decades of conservation work in the region. The complex will include the 700 square kilometre Gola-Tiwai National Park as well as the nearby Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary. Once considered at threat by logging and civil war, this rainforest is home to a bewildering array of rare and endangered species. The area hosts more than 1,000 plant species, 55 mammals, up to 448 birds, and 600 species of butterfly. It is also the last remaining home of the forest elephant and pygmy hippopotamus in Sierra Leone. Pygmy hippos, made famous by Khao Kheow Open Zoo's Moo Deng, are now found in only a handful of waterways in West Africa and are considered endangered. The forest is also key to the survival of some species we would recognise here in the UK, such as migratory swifts which stop to rest in Gola-Tiwai on their way to Europe. Port Royal, Jamaica In the 17th century, the town of Port Royal was a major hub of English trade in the Caribbean and a notorious pirate haven nicknamed 'the wickedest city of Earth'. The city was home to English and Dutch 'Privateers', gangs of marauding pirates encouraged to attack the Spanish fleets. On shore, these wealthy criminals would spend their ill-gotten cash in the city's many taverns, gambling dens, and brothels. However, a major earthquake in 1692 and an accompanying tsunami sank most of the port into the ocean. What remained of the town was then destroyed by a fire and a hurricane in the following years, all but wiping Port Royal off the map. Today, the remains of the pirate town are still found beneath the waves where they have been converted into a major archaeological site. This area, known as the Archaeological Ensemble of 17th Century Port Royal, has now been officially recognised as an UNESCO World Heritage site. The 26 New UNESCO World Heritage Sites Cambodian Memorial Sites: From centres of repression to places of peace and reflection (Cambodia) Coastal and Marine Ecosystems of the Bijagós Archipelago, Omatí Minhô (Guinea-Bissau) Cultural Heritage Sites of Ancient Khuttal (Tajikistan) Diy-Gid-Biy Cultural Landscape of the Mandara Mountains (Cameroon) Faya Palaeolandscape (United Arab Emirates) Forest Research Institute Malaysia Forest Park Selangor (Malaysia) Funerary Tradition in the Prehistory of Sardinia, The domus de janas (Italy) Gola-Tiwai Complex (Sierra Leone) Maratha Military Landscapes of India (India) Megaliths of Carnac and of the shores of Morbihan (France) Minoan Palatial Centres (Greece) Mount Kumgang, Diamond Mountain from the Sea (North Korea) Mount Mulanje Cultural Landscape (Malawi) Møns Klint (Denmark) Murujuga Cultural Landscape (Australia) Peruaçu River Canyon (Brazil) Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream (South Korea) Prehistoric Sites of the Khorramabad Valley (Iran) Rock Paintings of Shulgan-Tash Cave (Russia) Sardis and the Lydian Tumuli of Bin Tepe (Turkey) The Archaeological Ensemble of 17th Century Port Royal (Jamaica) The Colonial Transisthmian Route of Panamá (Panama) The Palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Schachen and Herrenchiemsee (Germany) Wixárika Route through Sacred Sites to Wirikuta (Tatehuarí Huajuyé) (Mexico) Xixia Imperial Tombs (China)
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump bans 'negative' signage at national parks, asks visitors to snitch on unpatriotic text
In his ongoing war on "woke,' President Trump has instructed the National Park Service to scrub any language he would deem negative, unpatriotic or smacking of 'improper partisan ideology' from signs and presentations visitors encounter at national parks and historic sites. Instead, his administration has ordered the national parks and hundreds of other monuments and museums supervised by the Department of the Interior to ensure that all of their signage reminds Americans of our 'extraordinary heritage, consistent progress toward becoming a more perfect Union, and unmatched record of advancing liberty, prosperity and human flourishing.' Those marching orders, which went into effect late last week, have left Trump opponents and free speech advocates gasping in disbelief, wondering how park employees are supposed to put a sunny spin on monuments acknowledging slavery and Jim Crow laws. And how they'll square the story of Japanese Americans shipped off to incarceration camps during World War II with an 'unmatched record of advancing liberty.' At Manzanar National Historic Site, a dusty encampment in the high desert of eastern California, one of 10 camps where more than 120,000 Japanese American civilians were imprisoned during the early 1940s, employees put up a required notice describing the changes last week. Like all such notices across the country, it includes a QR code visitors can use to report any signs they see that are 'negative about either past or living Americans or that fail to emphasize the beauty, grandeur, and abundance of landscapes." An identical sign is up at the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument in Kern County, a tribute to the struggle to ensure better wages and safer working conditions for immigrant farm laborers. Such signs are going up across the sprawling system, which includes Fort Sumter National Monument, where Confederates fired the first shots of the Civil War; Ford's Theater National Historic Site in Washington, D.C., where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated; and the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park. So, nothing negative about John Wilkes Booth or James Earl Ray? In response to an email requesting comment, a National Park Service spokesperson did not address questions about specific parks or monuments, saying only that changes would be made "where appropriate." The whole thing is "flabbergasting,' said Dennis Arguelles, Southern California director for the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Assn. 'These stories may not be flattering to American heritage, but they're an integral part of our history. 'If we lose these stories, then we're in danger of repeating some of these mistakes,' Arguelles said. Trump titled his March 27 executive order requiring federal sign writers to look on the bright side 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.' He specifically instructed the Interior Department to scrutinize any signs put up since January 2020 — the beginning of the Biden administration — for language that perpetuates 'a false reconstruction' of American history. Trump called out signs that 'undermine the remarkable achievements of the United States by casting its founding principles and historical milestones in a negative light.' He specifically cited the National Historical Park in Philadelphia and the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C., as bowing to what he described as the previous administration's zeal to cast 'our Nation's unparalleled legacy of advancing liberty, individual rights, and human happiness' as 'inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed.' His solution? Order federal employees and historians to rewrite the "revisionist" history with language that exudes "patriotism." 'It all seems pretty Orwellian,' said Kimbrough Moore, a rock climber and Yosemite National Park guide book author. After news of the impending changes began circulating in park circles, he posted on Instagram a sign he saw in the toilet at the Porcupine Flat campground in the middle of the park. Across from the ubiquitous sign in all park bathrooms that says, 'Please DO NOT put trash in toilets, it is extremely difficult to remove,' someone added a placard that reads, 'Please DO NOT put trash in the White House. It is extremely difficult to remove.' Predictably, the post went viral, proving what would-be censors have known for centuries: Policing language is a messy business and can be hard to control in a free society. 'Even the pooper can be a venue for resistance,' Moore wrote. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Independent
16-05-2025
- The Independent
Exploring France's Golden Triangle: The historic castle-studded valley with scenic drives and quaint villages
It is a sunny mid-spring Monday morning as I look out from the crenellated battlements of Château de Castelnaud. Beneath me, the Dordogne river, still full of the downpours of the last few weeks, languidly divides the valley. As the morning mist dissipates, I see Château de Beynac appear; its ochre limestone walls and turrets bathed in the golden glow of the early morning sun. Almost a reflection of each other – one English and one French – it's hard to imagine these two chateaux as bitter rivals, and yet that is exactly what they became during the 100 Years' War. I'm in the Dordogne and Périgord region, specifically the Périgord Noir (the Périgord is further split into Vert, Pourpre and Blanc) to explore what's known as the 'Golden Triangle', an area shaped by the River Vézere in the north, the Dordogne to the south, and the border with the Lot region in the east. It is unparalleled in France for its concentration of historical monuments, with four of its seven communes classified as 'Les Beaux Villages de France' (most beautiful villages in France). My first stop is Castelnaud La Chappelle, classified as one of the most beautiful villages of France. The town sits in the shadow of the grand Château de Castelnaud, which stands sentinel on a valley's edge overlooking the Dordogne. This is a château with a fervently violent history. Changing hands several times in its history, it was eventually burned to the ground. The few remaining scorched stones provide the foundations for its reconstruction, which led to its involvement in the 100 Years' War. Its English supporting Lord, Magne de Castelnaud, faced off across the valley with the French crown, supporting Barons of Beynac, and the Château Beynac. Throughout the 100 Years' War (a misnomer, having only lasted from 1337 to 1453,116 years), Château de Castelnaud was fought over, lost and reconquered until it finally fell to the French crown in 1442. Unsurprisingly, this bastion of medieval warfare has an engaging focus on weaponry. Trebuchet, mangonels, and ballista still mount the battlements and, inside, an impressive collection of crossbows, medieval armour and weaponry showcases humanity's dark obsession with slaughter. With the background of the 100 Years' War and the Religious Wars, it's easy to understand how such a fertile part of France became host to the varied chateaux that define it. It is said that there are more than 1,001 castles across the region, each with its own history and family crest. Château du Commarque, located in the Beune Valley, has been inhabited since before records began. Today, it's little more than a ruin, salvaged by Count Hubert De Commarque. The count's eyes sparkle with life and mischievousness as he recounts all he's done to restore it since 1962. The results of his and other local restoration efforts are little short of miraculous. Built on top of Neolithic caves (with cave paintings still in situ), there is a Tower House, nobles' homes, a chapel and a great hall. It's easy to imagine soldiers guarding the ancient route from Montignac to the Abbey of Sarlat. Château De Fayolle is from another era. Although built on the site of a medieval keep, it is quintessentially 18th century. It's a little chilly when I arrive and am greeted by its faded elegance. The two central portals are overlooked by cartouches and are surrounded by internally shuttered tall windows, several of which are boarded up, giving us a clue to our next experience. The owner, Gregory Mangeret, explains that although the restorations are ongoing, the unrestored parts of the building have been left as they are for an 'urbex' experience. We explore untouched rooms with scattered papers, abandoned toys and still-made-up beds as our guide illuminates the way by torchlight. With shadows dancing on the walls around us, I feel like a true adventurer. Next stop is Château de Losse, where I find a mix of styles from the more crenellated 11th-century stronghold to the influence of a more refined Renaissance. The clean lines and symmetry of Château de Losse are pleasing to the eye. It became home to the daughter of the deported Emperor Ham Nghi of Annam, Vietnam. Princess Nhu May studied agriculture and is credited with importing the first tractor to France. Chateaux de Puymartin and Milandes seem more feminine and elegant with a certain Disney magic about them. Château Puymartin, again rebuilt following assaults in the 100 Years' War, is a place of mystery and legend. It is filled with frescoes and art inspired by Greek mythology and is also home supposedly to the ghost of the White Lady, whose tale relates to a dark period in the family's long history. Château des Milandes has a more modern legend attached to it. It was home to the self-exiled American singer and dancer Josephine Baker. My trip through the Château is also a trip through Baker's life as an entertainer, wife, member of the French Resistance and aristocracy, and the founder of the Rainbow Tribe of adopted children. While exploring the Château, the story guides me through Art Nouveau design alongside the medieval architecture of the building. The Châteaux of the region provide the outline of the Périgord culture, but it is the land, the villages and the cuisine that fill it in. As we move between chateaux, we drive through forested valleys, past verdant acres of vineyards, alongside farmland yellowed with fields of rapeseed. Stepping into villages and towns such as Saint-Leon-Sur-Vézere and Sarlat, I feel like I have walked into another era. Sarlat has a cleansed medieval charm with its maze of winding cobbled streets, tall buildings of honey coloured stone and its soaring Gothic cathedral. It boasts a record 65 protected sites. It is also the capital of Foie Gras. No matter how you feel about Foie Gras, you'll find it everywhere, though the region's menus are filled with incredible duck dishes too, along with the humble noix (walnut), found in everything from cakes to oil and even in liquor. As we sit with the Marchioness de Puymartin and her daughter Marie Sophie, we're treated to a duck tapas menu, which includes a duck breast starter with hazelnuts and fennel and, for dessert, a seasonal 'strawberry party', the ice cream of which is finished with a sprinkle of crispy duck skin. For a region so steeped in history, the Golden Triangle presents plenty of innovative ways to attract visitors, and I, for one, won't hesitate to return. Travel essentials How to get there To fully explore the region and enjoy the freedom of traversing the countryside, rent a car from Bergerac airport. Flights to Bergerac from many UK airports start from £52 return. Out of season, you can also fly to Bordeaux, an hour-and-a-half drive away. One night stay at an airport hotel at Stansted plus four nights parking is available for £159, based on arrival on May 29 with Holiday Extras. Where to stay Located in the heart of the Dordogne in Annesses-Et-Beaulieu, Château De Lalande has a pool and a well-regarded restaurant. Hôtel De Bouilhac is a 17th-century property that's listed in the Michelin guide, located in Montignac-Lascaux. Hôtel l'Abbaye is a honey-hued château to lay your head for the night in Saint-Cyprien-en-Périgord. When to visit The best times to visit are late spring/early summer and in autumn. During this period, the rainfall dips off and the temperature is perfect for sitting outside on those warm evenings, sipping a glass of Bergerac White. Accessibility Most chateaux have areas that are accessible, but undoubtedly, some areas won't be. Innovatively, Château du Castelnaud has a VR experience for those visitors who cannot make the full route around the castle, offering a fully immersive option. If in doubt, it's always best to check ahead.
