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Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
Five incredible new World Heritage Sites everyone should visit
There are various obvious clues that summer has arrived in full: the end of the school year; the inevitable travel chaos at our main airports; traffic jams on the way to Cornwall. But one of the more high-brow indicators is the revelation of the latest list of Unesco World Heritage Sites. This generally arrives in July, as the UN's cultural arm gives its official rubber-stamp to locations 'around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity'. As of this year, this amounts to 1,248 significant places in 170 countries – ranging from palaces in France to coral harbours in Micronesia. The newest announcement, made this week, has added a further 26 'inscribed properties' to this gleaming portfolio – some of them in relatively remote corners of the planet such as Tajikistan and Malawi, others closer to hand in Italy, Greece and Germany. The following fresh inductees are all worth at least a long weekend: 1. The Palaces of Ludwig II, Germany The preposterous idea that German architecture is dour and lifeless is rebutted with the firmest flourish by the castles that were strewn across the hillsides and high places of Bavaria by its monarch, Ludwig II, between 1864 and 1886. A man of flamboyant tastes, Ludwig commissioned three separate country properties – Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Herrenchiemsee – during his 22-year reign, envisaging each of them as a refuge from the apparent mundanity of court life in Munich. All three of them (plus a villa on Schachen hill, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen) are part of the new Unesco listing – although it is Neuschwanstein, with its dreaming spires, which has become the region's postcard icon. Unesco says 'Drawing inspiration from Versailles, German fairy tales and Wagner's operas, the palaces showcase historicist styles and advanced 19th century techniques. Carefully integrated into stunning landscapes, they embody Ludwig's artistic vision.' How to do it Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the highlights of the 12-day Fairytale Bavaria & Three Rivers Cruise offered by Great Rail Journeys (01904 734 152). From £3,399 per person, including return train travel in and out of London. The Minoan sites of Crete, Greece Of all the tales to emerge from Ancient Greece, the story of Theseus stalking and slaying the bull-headed Minotaur in a labyrinth is perhaps the most fantastical. But there is solid matter behind the myth. Knossos, the supposed site of this magical maze, was very real. The city's foundations still exist outside Heraklion, the modern capital of Crete – baking in the sun as an echo of the Minoan civilisation which held court on the island from 3100 to 1100BC. Knossos is one of six Cretan archaeological sites to receive the Unesco seal of approval this year; the ruins of Zakra, Phaistos, Kydonia, Zominthos and Malia are the others. All of them offer good reason to climb off your lounger during a summer holiday. Unesco says 'The sites represent the Minoan civilisation. They served as administrative, economic and religious hubs, featuring advanced architecture, urban planning and vibrant frescoes. They reveal early writing systems, maritime networks, and cultural exchanges.' How to do it Martin Randall Travel (020 3936 0353) runs a nine-day escorted tour of the island – Minoan Crete: History & Archaeology – which peers at this era in depth. Next departure March 27 (2026). From £3,510 per person, flights extra. 3011 British heritage sites 3011 British Heritage sites Table The megaliths of Carnac, France Almost every year, one of the new Unesco locations is so special that you cannot believe it has not been part of the club for decades. The standing stones of Carnac are the 2025 example – 3,000 slabs of hand-hewn granite that were put in position, near the south-west coast of what is now the Brittany peninsula, in about 3300BC (though some may date to 4500BC). Many of the megaliths had clear purposes – laid out to create dolmens (tombs) and tumuli (burial mounds). In this, they are perhaps better understood than Stonehenge, which, built in around 3100BC, they pre-date – but they share its air of Neolithic mystery. Unesco says These monumental stone constructions – arranged in relation to one another, and to features like terrain and waterways – reflect a sophisticated understanding of their environment. Rich engravings and other assorted artefacts further illustrate the cultural complexity of the societies that inhabited this part of the European Atlantic coast. How to do it Andante Travels (01722 466 243) offers Brittany: Carnac and Beyond; a seven-day escorted tour of the region. Two departures are still in the diary for this year (September 1; September 7), from £3,790 a head (including trains). The 'Killing Fields', Cambodia Not every new Unesco site is a tribute to humanity's best instincts. The arrival on the heritage list of the key places associated with the Khmer Rouge – the brutal regime which tortured and killed around two million people during a reign of terror over Cambodia that endured from 1975 to 1979 – is stark proof. Two of these vicious hellholes – Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek – are in the capital Phnom Penh. While now devoted to remembrance, they do not hide the brutality of what they witnessed half a century ago. Visitors do not step out of them in a bright frame of mind, but the story they tell should not be ignored. Unesco says The three component parts represent the widespread violence during this period – the former M-13 prison (early repression), the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (former S-21 prison) and the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center (former execution site of S-21). These places have been preserved, and memorialised, since the regime's fall. How to do it Inside Asia Tours (0117 409 0270) sells a 12-day itinerary, Into the Heart of Cambodia, which looks at the country's darkest hours in Phnom Penh, and its most remarkable at Angkor Wat. From £2,340 a head (flights extra). Port Royal, Jamaica It is quite the achievement to be remembered as 'the wickedest city on Earth' more than three centuries after effectively ceasing to exist. But so unsavoury was the reputation of Port Royal – a former nest of pirates and rogues, built on a peninsula off the south coast of Jamaica – that its one time licentiousness rings in the present. Founded by the Spanish in 1494, but captured by Britain in 1655, the fortified settlement was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1692. What remains in 2025 (most of the ruins are below the waves) is a semi-sleepy outpost of bars and restaurants – where you may hear the odd ghostly cackle. Unesco says Today, its terrestrial and underwater remains offer rare insights into urban colonial life. Once a key hub for transatlantic trade – including the trade of enslaved Africans – Port Royal featured a deep-water port, and six defensive forts, some now submerged... serving as a distinctive marker of British colonial presence in the Caribbean. How to do it
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Incredible European castle that was the inspiration for Disney to become even more popular
THE castle in Bavaria that was the inspiration behind Cinderella's palace has just been given a brand-new status. Found on a hilltop in Germany, the sprawling castle has been awarded a title given to places that are deemed to be of 'great importance to all of humanity'. 4 Neuschwanstein Castle sits on a hilltop in south Germany Credit: Alamy 4 The castle is the inspiration behind the Disney model Credit: Alamy Inside the The highest tower reaches a height of 213 feet, but the palace appears much taller as it is on top of a hill. The castle was built in 1869 after being commissioned by King Ludwig II, who was nicknamed the 'Mad King Ludwig', and was known for his love of extravagant palaces. Read More on Going Abroad Sadly, King Ludwig II never saw the final Neuschwanstein, according to the Bavarian Castle Administration he died in 1886 and the final towers weren't completed until 1892. One man who did see the castle in all its glory was Walt Disney. He saw it on a trip to Europe while travelling with his wife, and Walt used it as inspiration for his very own Disneyland. Elements of it are used in the Most read in News Travel Now, the site has officially been added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. As of July 2025, there are 1,223 UNESCO World Heritage Sites across across 168 countries. Inside Ireland's 'magical' Disney castle with fairytale tower on sale for €7.5MILLION and it's minutes from the beach 4 In the castle grounds is a bridge that looks over a waterfall Credit: Alamy The sites are chosen as cultural or natural locations around the world that are recognised for their "Outstanding Universal Value". The decision was made to add the castle to the list in July 2025. You can visit Neuschwanstein Castle by booking tickets online. Prices for adults start at €23.50 (£23.32). Tickets for children up to 17 are just €2.50 (£2.16). On the website, it is detailed that visiting the castle is only possible as part of a guided tour. Outside of the castle walls, there's another must-see which is Marienbrücke. The bridge found in the castle grounds is suspended over a waterfall, making it a great viewpoint. If you want to visit the castle, the closest airport is Flights from London Stansted to Memmingen start at £21.99. From there, it's an hour's drive south to the castle. Walt Disney also Here are 4 The castle that was the inspiration for Disney is now an UNESCO World Heritage Site Credit: Alamy
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Incredible European castle that was the inspiration for Disney to become even more popular
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE castle in Bavaria that was the inspiration behind Cinderella's palace has just been given a brand-new status. Found on a hilltop in Germany, the sprawling castle has been awarded a title given to places that are deemed to be of 'great importance to all of humanity'. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Neuschwanstein Castle sits on a hilltop in south Germany Credit: Alamy 4 The castle is the inspiration behind the Disney model Credit: Alamy Neuschwanstein Castle, or Schloss Neuschwanstein, is a 19th-century palace at the foot of the Alps in the south of Germany, near the Austrian border. Inside the castle there are over 200 rooms, however only 14 are open to the public. The highest tower reaches a height of 213 feet, but the palace appears much taller as it is on top of a hill. The castle was built in 1869 after being commissioned by King Ludwig II, who was nicknamed the 'Mad King Ludwig', and was known for his love of extravagant palaces. Sadly, King Ludwig II never saw the final Neuschwanstein, according to the Bavarian Castle Administration he died in 1886 and the final towers weren't completed until 1892. One man who did see the castle in all its glory was Walt Disney. He saw it on a trip to Europe while travelling with his wife, and Walt used it as inspiration for his very own Disneyland. Elements of it are used in the Sleeping Beauty castle, which is the most recognisable building and logo of Disney. Now, the site has officially been added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. As of July 2025, there are 1,223 UNESCO World Heritage Sites across across 168 countries. Inside Ireland's 'magical' Disney castle with fairytale tower on sale for €7.5MILLION and it's minutes from the beach 4 In the castle grounds is a bridge that looks over a waterfall Credit: Alamy The sites are chosen as cultural or natural locations around the world that are recognised for their "Outstanding Universal Value". UNESCO sites are deemed to be of 'great importance to all of humanity'. The decision was made to add the castle to the list in July 2025. You can visit Neuschwanstein Castle by booking tickets online. Prices for adults start at €23.50 (£23.32). Tickets for children up to 17 are just €2.50 (£2.16). On the website, it is detailed that visiting the castle is only possible as part of a guided tour. Outside of the castle walls, there's another must-see which is Marienbrücke. The bridge found in the castle grounds is suspended over a waterfall, making it a great viewpoint. If you want to visit the castle, the closest airport is Memmingen. Ryanair offers direct flights which are just one hour 45 minutes long. Flights from London Stansted to Memmingen start at £21.99. From there, it's an hour's drive south to the castle. Walt Disney also visited this pretty English village which was later almost bought by America. Here are seven beautiful castles you can stay in for under £90 to feel like you're on The Traitors filming location.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Castle that inspired Walt Disney receives Unesco protection
Neuschwanstein Castle in the Bavarian Alps, with its playful towers and turrets, served as the model for Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty' castle and has now been named as a Unesco World Heritage site. King Ludwig II envisioned a 'holy and unapproachable' medieval knights' castle, employing theatrical set designers to help create the marvellous structure built in the late 19th century. The castle's interior features Wagnerian motifs, including elements from Parsifal in the Singers' Hall, and an elaborate grotto connecting living spaces. Ludwig II's extensive building projects, which also included Herrenchiemsee, Linderhof, and the Royal House at Schachen, strained the Bavarian treasury. The king was declared insane and died mysteriously before Neuschwanstein was completed, leading to the castle opening as a tourist attraction just seven weeks later and its recent recognition by Unesco.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
The original ‘Disney castle' finally named as Unesco Heritage site
The campest castle in Christendom? Without a doubt Neuschwanstein, deep in the Bavarian Alps. Amid meadows and mountains, King Ludwig II's hilltop citadel soars skyward. The playful twirls of towers and turrets will be instantly recognised by anyone who has visited a Disney theme park: Walt himself chose Neuschwanstein as the model for the Sleeping Beauty's castle. Copies of it decorate theme parks from California and Florida to Paris and Japan. The Bavarian monarch envisioned a medieval knights' castle that was 'holy and unapproachable' and where he might 'breathe the air of heaven'. Ludwig called in not architects, but theatrical set designers who shared his obsession with Wagnerian opera – and were clearly unfamiliar with the concept of Mässigung (moderation). They embellished Neuschwanstein with motifs from Wagner's greatest hits. Elements from Parsifal – which resonates with lost souls – decorate the Singers' Hall, including a mural of the sacred forest surrounding the Castle of the Holy Grail. The Schloss boss had a state to run. Ludwig ordered the living spaces and working-from-home area to be connected by an elaborate grotto. The royal bedroom, meanwhile, feels like a Byzantine chapel – complete with cherubs and starlight to lull a weary sovereign to sleep. One castle is not enough for any self-respecting king. The rest of Ludwig's portfolio comprises Herrenchiemsee, Linderhof and the Royal House at Schachen – all added to the Unesco list along with crowdpleaser Neuschwanstein. The Bavarian treasury, though, was not at all pleased. The breathtaking scale and intricacy of the king's vision took the state along the road to bankruptcy. Fifteen years after the foundation stone was laid at Neuschwanstein, but before all of Ludwig's grandiose plans were fulfilled, Bavaria 's political leaders had their king declared insane. He had lived for less than six months in the castle. Shortly afterwards, the beautiful dreamer died in mysterious circumstances - along with his doctor. Just seven weeks later, Neuschwanstein opened as a tourist attraction, despite the king's description of its location as. Since then the castle has become the icon of Bavarian tourism. And at last Unesco has recognised the cultural wealth of such glorious madness.
