Heritage with Related Tags
Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces
The Lavaux vineyard terraces stretch for about 30 kilometres, running southwards along the northern shore of Lake Geneva, from the Château de Chillon to the eastern outskirts of Lausanne in canton Vaud, covering the lower slopes between the village and the lake. While there is evidence of vine cultivation in the area during Roman times, the current vineyard terraces date back to the 11th century, when Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries controlled the area. It is an outstanding example of centuries-old interaction between humans and the environment, aimed at optimising local resources and producing high-value wines that have always been vital to the economy.
Benedictine Convent of St John at Müstair
Müstair Abbey, located in a valley in the canton of Graubünden, is an excellent example of a Christian monastery converted during the Carolingian period. The abbey contains Switzerland's greatest series of figurative frescoes, painted around 800 AD, as well as Romanesque murals and stuccoes.
Durham Castle and Cathedral
Durham Cathedral was built in the late 11th and early 12th centuries to house the relics of St Cuthbert (a Northumbrian preacher) and the Venerable Bede. It bears witness to the importance of the early Benedictine monastic community and is the largest and finest example of Norman architecture in England. The innovative boldness of its vaulting foreshadows Gothic architecture. Behind the cathedral stands the Castle, an ancient Norman fortress that was once the residence of the Prince-Bishops of Durham.
Monastic Island of Reichenau
The island of Reichenau on Lake Constance preserves the remains of a Benedictine monastery founded in 724, which had a huge influence on the local spiritual, intellectual and artistic life. The churches of St. Mary and Markus, St. Peter and St. Paul and St. George were mainly built between the 9th and 11th centuries and offer a panoramic view of monastic architecture in the early Middle Ages in Central Europe. The frescoes in these churches bear witness to the impressive artistic activity of the time.
Vézelay, Church and Hill
The Benedictine Abbey of Vézelay was founded in the 9th century and soon after it received the relics of St. Mary Magdalene, it has been an important place of pilgrimage. St. Bernard preached the Second Crusade here in 1146, Richard the Lionheart and Philip II Augustus met here, and they set out for the Third Crusade in 1190. The Madeleine Church of Vézelay, a 12th-century abbey church with carved capitals and porches, is a masterpiece of Burgundian Romanesque art and architecture.
Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and its Natural Environment
The first Benedictine monks settled here in 996. They went on to convert Hungarians to Christianity, founded the country's first school, and wrote the first Hungarian-language document in 1055. Since its founding, this monastic community has been instrumental in promoting culture throughout Central Europe. The monasteries, built in various styles (the oldest building dates from 1224), still house schools and monastic communities, reflecting their 1,000 years of history.
Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and its Natural Environment
The first Benedictine monks settled here in 996. They went on to convert Hungarians to Christianity, founded the country's first school, and wrote the first Hungarian-language document in 1055. Since its founding, this monastic community has been instrumental in promoting culture throughout Central Europe. The monasteries, built in various styles (the oldest building dates from 1224), still house schools and monastic communities, reflecting their 1,000 years of history.