Heritage with Related Tags
Archaeological Site of Mystras
Mystras, or "Miracle of the Morea", was built in 1249 as an amphitheatre around a fortress constructed by William de Verhardouin, Prince of Achaea. Reconquered by the Byzantines and subsequently occupied by the Turks and Venetians, the city was abandoned in 1832, leaving only the stunning medieval ruins standing in a scenic setting.
Stari Ras and Sopoćani
On the outskirts of Stari Ras, the first capital of Serbia, there is an impressive group of medieval monuments, including fortresses, churches and monasteries. Sopoćani Monastery is a witness to the contact of Western civilization with the Byzantine world.
Historic Centre of Macao
Macau is a lucrative port with strategic importance in the development of international trade. Since the mid-16th century, Macau has been under Portuguese rule until 1999 when it was returned to China. The historic center of Macau, with its historic streets, residential, religious and public Portuguese and Chinese buildings, is a unique testimony to the intersection of Eastern and Western aesthetic, cultural, architectural and technological influences. The site also houses a fortress and a lighthouse, the oldest in China. It bears witness to one of the earliest and most lasting contacts between China and the West, based on the dynamism of international trade.
Medieval City of Rhodes
The Knights of St. John of Jerusalem occupied Rhodes from 1309 to 1523 and set about transforming the city into a fortress. It was subsequently ruled by Turkey and Italy. The Upper Town, with the Grand Patriarch's Palace, the Great Hospital and the Street of Knights, is one of the most beautiful urban complexes of the Gothic period. In the Lower Town, Gothic buildings coexist with mosques, public baths and other buildings dating back to the Ottoman period.
Tower of London
The magnificent White Tower is a prime example of Norman military architecture, whose influence spread throughout the kingdom. It was built by William the Conqueror on the Thames to protect London and maintain his power. The Tower of London is an imposing fortress with a rich history that has become one of the symbols of royalty, and it is built around the White Tower.
Fortifications of Vauban
The Vauban fortifications include 12 groups of fortifications and ruins located on the western, northern and eastern borders of France. They are examples of the work of Sébastien Lepreste de Vauban (1633-1707), a military engineer to Louis XIV. The complex includes the town, the castle, the city fortress walls and the fortress towers built from scratch by Vauban. There are also mountain forts, sea forts, mountain batteries and two mountain communication facilities. The site is listed as a pinnacle of classic fortifications and a typical example of Western military architecture. Vauban also played an important role in the history of fortifications in Europe and other continents until the mid-19th century.
Gordion
The archaeological site of Gordion is an ancient settlement with multiple cultural deposits in an open rural environment, including the remains of the ancient capital of the independent Iron Age kingdom of Phrygia. The core elements are the fortress mound, the lower city, the outer city, the defensive facilities, as well as several burial mounds and their surrounding landscape. Archaeological excavations and research have unearthed a large number of remains that show the construction technology, spatial layout, defensive structures and funerary customs, which help people understand the culture and economy of Phrygia.
Defence Line of Amsterdam
This line of defence (built between 1883 and 1920) stretches 135 kilometres around the city of Amsterdam and is the only fortification system based on the principle of controlling water. The Dutch people have used their expertise in hydraulic engineering for defence since the 16th century. The centre of the country is protected by a network of 45 armed forts, which work in conjunction with temporary flooding of the polders and an intricate system of canals and locks.