May 1st, 2013 at 11:00AM:
While on a film production in southern France (no really, for this), we were cruising along the autoroute between Toulouse and Narbonne. I was in the driver's seat, which, for the record, is not the spot you want to be in while driving through this part of France. You get the occasional glimpse at the countryside, but as the sun shines and the southern landscape passes by, you definitely want ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
WorldHeritagesites posts
Postcards From Carcassonne: Exploring A Medieval French Village
May 1st, 2013 at 11:00AM:
While on a film production in southern France (no really, for this), we were cruising along the autoroute between Toulouse and Narbonne. I was in the driver's seat, which, for the record, is not the spot you want to be in while driving through this part of France. You get the occasional glimpse at the countryside, but as the sun shines and the southern landscape passes by, you definitely want ...Gambia And UK Open Fort Bullen Museum, A Bastion Against The Slave Trade
Apr 22nd, 2013 at 4:00PM: A fort in The Gambia that was instrumental in stopping the slave trade has been given a new museum, the Daily Observer reports.
Fort Bullen was one of two forts at the mouth of the River Gambia, placed there in 1826 to stop slave ships from sailing out into the Atlantic. It stands on the north bank of the river, and along with Fort James on the south bank constitutes a UNESCO World Heritage ...China To Demolish Ancient Temple To Bolster World Heritage Site Bid
Apr 16th, 2013 at 8:00AM: Chinese officials have announced a controversial plan to demolish a number of buildings at an ancient Buddhist temple located in the city of Xi'an in the province of Shaanxi. This drastic move is intended to improve the site's possibilities for being designated a World Heritage Site, even as the inhabitants of the temple express their displeasure over the idea.
The 1300-year-old Xingjiao Temple ...Industry Destroys Part Of The Nazca Lines
Apr 11th, 2013 at 4:00PM:
A limestone quarrying company operating illegally within the bounds of the Nazca Lines has destroyed some of the enigmatic figures.
The archaeology news feed Past Horizons reports that heavy machinery removing limestone from a nearby quarry has damaged 150 meters (492 feet) of lines along with completely destroying a 60-meter (197-foot) trapezoid. So far the more famous animal figures have ...Rhino Population On The Rebound In Nepal's Chitwan National Park
Apr 10th, 2013 at 8:00AM: Most people visit Nepal for the opportunity to go climbing and trekking in the High Himalaya, but the country isn't comprised solely of snow-capped peaks. In fact, Nepal actually has a region of subtropical lowlands that feel like they are a world away from the mountains that have made the country so famous. One of the main attractions for travelers in these lowlands is the Chitwan National Park, ...Photo Of The Day: Sketching In Angkor Wat
Apr 5th, 2013 at 6:00PM:
As the largest religious monument in the world, Angkor Wat is truly massive, taking hours to get just a cursory view of the temple complex. While it is Cambodia's prime attraction, there are still plenty of corners in which to find your own personal space, which is exactly what this sketch artist is doing inside Banteay Kdei. Known as the "Citadel of Chambers," monks still lived inside up ...Photo Of The Day: Morning Landscapes Of Hampi, India
Mar 15th, 2013 at 6:00PM:
The sun rises over boulders, the Tungabhadra River and the ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire's former capital to make a gorgeous golden landscape in today's Photo Of The Day, taken by Arun Bhat. Located in southwest India, this tide of rocks and history are a part of the Hampi World Heritage Site. At its height, the ancient capital was the largest city in the world. Now, it's home to countless ...Tallinn's Medieval Old Town
Feb 18th, 2013 at 10:00AM:
Tallinn is a medieval wonderland. The capital of Estonia isn't on a lot of people's bucket list but anyone at all interested in history, architecture or art will love this place.
The central attraction is Old Town, a medieval walled city filled with old buildings and fortifications. The sheltered bay and the easily defended Toompea Hill made it a natural place to settle. Sometime about 1050 ...Creationist Audio Tour Removed From Giant's Causeway
Oct 3rd, 2012 at 4:00PM:
The National Trust has removed a controversial creationist segment in their audio presentation from the visitor center at Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, the BBC reports.
The National Trust, which manages the geological marvel and UNESCO World Heritage Site, opened a new visitors center there in July. Soon there were numerous complaints about one segment of the audio tour that stated ...Syrian Civil War Fueled By Illegal Antiquities Trade
Sep 14th, 2012 at 12:00PM:
We've reported before here on Gadling how the unrest in Syria has led to the damage of much of that nation's archaeological heritage. Now Time magazine reports that the Syrian Civil War has led to a huge trade in illegal antiquities that may be lengthening the war.
Smugglers and antiquities dealers in Lebanon told the magazine that both the Free Syrian Army and the Syrian government are ...Video: Virtual Tour Of Maeshowe, Scotland
Aug 30th, 2012 at 2:30PM:
I recently had the good fortune to visit the Orkney Islands to the north of Scotland and saw that region's amazing prehistoric archaeology. One of the most impressive monuments was the large vaulted burial chamber of Maeshowe. It was built around 2700 B.C., making it older than the pyramids at Giza, and is a masterpiece of stonework. Maeshowe is also famous for its much later (but still old) ...
Amazing 3-D Laser Scan Of Lalibela Rock-Hewn Churches In Ethiopia
Aug 23rd, 2012 at 9:00AM:
Of all the incredible monuments in Ethiopia, the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela are by far the most impressive. Starting in the 12th century A.D., Ethiopian rulers dug a series of churches out of the solid bedrock.
This architecture-in-reverse creates a bizarre and otherworldly scene. As you walk along the exposed rock, you come across giant holes in the stone filled with churches. Narrow ...
Google Street View Offers Virtual Trips Around Mexico's Ancient Monuments
Aug 22nd, 2012 at 4:00PM:
We've talked a lot about Google Street View here on Gadling. It seems that every month a new attraction is added to this amazing and somewhat sinister application.
The latest is a series of views of the great monuments of Mexico. Google has been cooperating with the National Institute of Anthropology and History to take images of important sites such as Teotihuacan, Palenque and Chichen Itza. ...The Leaning Colosseum Of Rome
Jul 31st, 2012 at 1:00PM:
Rome's iconic Colosseum is beginning to tilt, the Guardian newspaper reports.
The stadium where gladiators used to hack away at one another to cheering crowds has developed a distinct slant, with one side being 40 centimeters (15.7 inches) lower than the other. Archaeologists have been studying the tilt for a year and have confirmed that it is real and could pose a threat to the monument's ...The Heart Of Neolithic Orkney
Jul 25th, 2012 at 12:00PM:
For reasons that aren't very clear, the Orkney Islands just north of Scotland were the happening place to be 5000 years ago.
The temperature was warmer in Orkney back then, with forest and deer in addition to the abundant bird and marine life that still mark Orkney out as a natural wonderland. The Neolithic (Late Stone Age) people farmed the land and hunted game. They also built some of the ...Google World Wonders Project Lets You Explore From Your Browser
Jul 19th, 2012 at 8:00AM: Is the economy continuing to hinder your travel plans? Do you like the idea of visiting distant places but can't handle being on an airplane for more than three hours? Never fear! The Google World Wonders Project is here to satisfy your wanderlust without ever leaving home.
Using its famous Street View technology, Google has managed to deliver some of the most impressive world heritage sites to ...How Could An Ancient City Survive In The Desert?
Jun 22nd, 2012 at 1:00PM:
The drive through the Syrian desert to the ancient city of Palmyra makes you wonder how anyone lived out here 2000 years ago. For hours you speed east from Damascus along a dusty desert road, the only sights being a few dull concrete buildings, Bedouin with their herds and a thick black telephone line snaking along the ground next to the highway.
Once you get to Palmyra, you find a lush ...Destruction, Looting Of Syria's Ancient Heritage Continues, Report Says
Jun 6th, 2012 at 10:00AM:
The upheaval in Syria has been going on for more than a year now, and in that time thousands of people have been killed, including many civilians and children. Syria's many ancient sites are also getting damaged. Previously, we've talked about how the Syrian army has shelled the ancient city of Palmyra and the Crusader castle Crac des Chevaliers. Both of these are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, of ...Archaeologists Uncover Suburb Of Giant Largest Prehistoric City
Jun 3rd, 2012 at 11:00AM:
The ancient city of Cahokia in Illinois was the center of an advanced civilization from about 700 to 1400 A.D. Covering six square miles and home to up to 20,000 people, it was the largest prehistoric city north of Mexico. It ruled over a large area and had trade networks stretching across North America.
Dozens of mounds dot the site, atop which the people built temples and homes for the ...Iraq Tries To Get Babylon Onto UNESCO World Heritage List (Again)
May 29th, 2012 at 10:00AM: Babylon in Iraq is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. A Mesopotamian capital that flourished for centuries, it was home to Hammurabi (1792-1750 B.C.) who introduced the world's first known set of laws, and Nebuchadnezzar (604-562 B.C.) who built the famed Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Time has taken its toll, and so has the modern world. Saddam Hussein decided to rebuild ...
