“Visit World Heritage”: UNESCO and the Estate of Versailles

The Estate of Versailles was one of the first sites to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, in 1979, for its influence on the development of architecture and landscape design, its unique historical testimony and the fact it is a masterpiece of human creative genius and representative of a specific period of history and art history. Today, Versailles participates in UNESCO’s “Visit World Heritage” programme.

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The "Visit World Heritage" project offers a travel platform to help visitors discover European history and culture by exploring some of the UNESCO world heritage sites in the European Union and recommending experiences and attractions suggested by local communities.

The website proposes a new way of travelling that is slower and more in-depth in order to discovering local knowledge. It also helps visitors prepare their trip and itinerary by saving places they want to explore.

It is website is available in French, English and Chinese and and presents four themes that each include eight to nine European sites:

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The platform also offers a map for visitors to explore the different sites.

Royal Europe

This route features some of the castles and palaces of the Network of European Royal Residences, including the Estate of Versailles. These royal residences sought to build their influence through the architectural and decorative wealth of their palaces, gardens and parks. They now represent unique cultural heritage.

The Gardens of Versailles were the envy of kings and queens across Europe during the Baroque period and were used as a model for royal gardens all over the continent. In 1661, Louis XIV entrusted André Le Nôtre with the task of creating and planting the complex gardens, a project that would span forty years. This tour reveals how his transcendent vision became a model of excellence around the world.

The website also suggests itineraries and provides other information, notably presenting the innovative work carried out on the sites with interviews highlighting their unique history and explaining the challenges they now face.

This project has been made possible thanks to a Preparatory action grant awarded to UNESCO by the European Commission and was carried out with the support National Geographic. The travel experiences have been recommended by local experts and chosen by National Geographic.