UNESCO World Heritage sites in Romantic Germany

Seven World Heritage Sites and one UNESCO Global Geopark


Rhineland-Palatinate is extraordinary, but also unique, with its seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the Vulkaneifel Nature Park and Geopark, which is recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark. These sites all enjoy international renown and special conservation measures. With the Vulkaneifel UNESCO Global Geopark, the ShUM cities, the historic spa district in Bad Ems, the Lower German Limes, the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, the Roman buildings in Trier, the Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes and Speyer Cathedral, Rhineland-Palatinate can count a total of eight UNESCO awards.

 


Bad Ems Historic Spa District — UNESCO World Heritage Site

 

Thanks to its magnificent baroque buildings, masterpieces of spa architecture and classicism, and 15 mineral springs, the Rhineland-Palatinate spa town of Bad Ems has been recognized as a World Heritage Site following a UNESCO decision on 24 July 2021. Together with ten leading spas throughout Europe that collectively form the ‘Great Spa Towns of Europe’, the holiday resort on the Lahn has been granted the highest international accolade that can be awarded to a cultural site. UNESCO’s decision acknowledges the outstanding cultural heritage of the town on the Lahn, heritage that is very much in evidence in the historic spa district.


ShUM Sites of Speyer, Worms and Mainz — UNESCO World Heritage Site

 

In the Middle Ages, the Jewish communities in the cities of Speyer, Worms and Mainz along the Middle Rhine formed an alliance that still shapes the architecture, culture, religion and legislation of the Jewish diaspora throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Monuments, synagogues, women’s schools, houses of learning and the unique Jewish cemeteries in Worms and Mainz are all testament to the immense significance and innovation of the ShUM cities.


The Lower German Limes – UNESCO World Heritage Site

 

Two thousand years ago, a 385 kilometre stretch of the outer frontier of the Roman Empire ran through the Netherlands, North Rhine Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate. The UNESCO award comes as good news to the towns of Remagen and Bad Breisig, the Rhineland-Palatinate partners for the Lower German Limes from the Roman era. The far frontier of the Roman Empires covered what was then the course of the Rhine, which explains the alternative name of ‘Nasser Limes’ or ‘wet Limes’. As many as 30,000 soldiers were stationed along the Rhine to defend the Roman Empire.


Speyer Cathedral

 

One of the most impressive churches in the Western world is Speyer Cathedral, built as the burial place for the Salian Emperors. It is considered to be a major work of Roman architecture on German soil and never ceases to amaze visitors with its almost thousand-year-old, impressive grandeur. The crypt has remained unaltered to this day. It is the burial place of eight German emperors and kings, four queens and a number of bishops.


Roman buildings in Trier, Germany's oldest city

 

In Trier, the former Roman city of  "Augusta Treverorum" – also known as "the second Rome" – many buildings and monuments still provide evidence today of the former importance of the city on the Moselle. The Porta Nigra, the amphitheatre and the Imperial Baths are unique relics of the Roman Empire and form part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which also includes the cathedral and the Liebfrauenkirche or Church of Our Lady.


Upper Middle Rhine Valley

 

The entire Upper Middle Rhine Valley is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a captivating combination of beautiful natural countryside and important cultural landscape. The landscape with its cliffs, the River Rhine, steep vineyards, castles and historic towns and villages has a distinctly dramatic feel to it. The romantic Middle Rhine Valley between Bingen and Koblenz is steeped in myths and is a fabulously beautiful part of Rhineland-Palatinate!


Limes, Frontiers of the Roman Empire

 

The Upper Germanic-Raetian Limes is regarded as an exceptional monument, testimony to the Roman era and its culture. Built some 2000 years ago, the Limes separated the Roman Empire from the rest of the world along a length of 550 kilometres, between Regensburg and Koblenz. Today the German Limes Road runs where the Roman border wall once crossed the countryside, passing reconstructed towers and forts, museums and Roman monuments.


Global Geopark Vulkaneifel

 

In November 2015, UNESCO recognised Vulkaneifel nature park and geopark (Natur- und Geopark Vulkaneifel) as a UNESCO Global Geopark. UNESCO Geoparks place a special emphasis on the geological, natural and cultural heritage of a region. They offer opportunities for environmental education and contribute to sustainable regional development with the active involvement of many stakeholders. Vulkaneifel nature park and geopark offers active discovery tours, including guided tours, all year round.

  • Bad Ems Historic Spa District — UNESCO World Heritage Site

    Bad Ems is considered the perfect example of a historic spa resort. As of 2021, the town has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status together with 10 further spa resorts.

  • ShUM Cities in Rhineland-Palatinate — UNESCO World Heritage Site

    Discover incredible monuments to Jewish heritage in the ShUM cities of Speyer, Worms and Mainz.

  • UNESCO Global Geopark Vulkaneifel

    The Vulkaneifel Nature Reserve and Geopark covers an area of about 1,230 square km. Volcanic cinder cones and maars are typical of this region, and have given rise to the diverse cultural landscape.

  • Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site

    The whole region here is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a charming combination of stunning nature and important cultural heritage.

  • Amphitheater (UNESCO World Heritage)

    Trier, Stadt Trier Once a place of mass entertainment, the Roman site is now part of Trier's UNESCO World Heritage. Gladiators haven't completely disappeared though...

  • Barbara Baths (UNESCO World Heritage)

    Trier, Stadt Trier This was once a Roman spa, nearly six football pitches in size. One of the top addresses in the Roman Empire - and today part of the UNESCO World…

  • Speyer Cathedral - UNESCO World Heritage Site

    Speyer The cathedral of the diocese of Speyer, a Romanesque basilica founded prior to 1030 by Conrad II and consecrated in 1061 is one of Germany's most…

  • Igel Column, Igel near Trier (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

    Igel UNESCO World Heritage Site Igeler Säule. The column was built in the first half of the 3rd century AD by a wealthy cloth merchant family. In November…

  • Judenhof with SchPIRA Museum and mikwe

    Speyer Between 1084 and 1349, a strong Jewish community developed in Speyer. The ruins of the synagogue and the ritual bath are testament to this. Immerse…

  • Jüdischer Friedhof "Heiliger Sand" Worms

    Worms Oldest Jewish cemetery in Europe with about 2500 graves. The oldest gravestone dates from 1058/1059 and documents the first great heyday of the Jewish…

  • Jüdisches Museum im Raschi-Haus

    Worms Today's "Raschi House" is probably the site of the Jewish teaching house where the eminent Jewish scholar Raschi studied in the period around 1060.…

  • Imperial Baths (UNESCO World Heritage)

    Trier, Stadt Trier One look at the monumental beauty of the window arcades of the Kaiserthermen is enough and you already know: whoever lay in the pools of the hot water…

  • Roman Imperial Throne Room (Konstantin-Basilika) (UNESCO World Heritage)

    Trier, Stadt Trier This monumental building is the largest surviving pillarless room from the ancient world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You just have to see it!

  • Church of Our Lady (Liebfrauenkirche) (UNESCO World Heritage)

    Trier, Stadt Trier The Church of Our Lady is the oldest Gothic church in Germany, built in the 13th century. A special feature is the cruciform floor plan.

  • Porta Nigra (UNESCO World Heritage)

    Trier, Stadt Trier This is the best-preserved Roman city gate north of the Alps and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A truly impressive structure!

  • Roman Bridge (UNESCO World Heritage)

    Trier, Stadt Trier Would you like to walk across an original Roman bridge over the Mosel? In Trier you can. And this bridge is even a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

  • St Peter's Cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

    Trier, Stadt Trier This is one of the cultural treasures of mankind that you should definitely have seen. Its timelessly topical message: unity in diversity.