The inscription of new UNESCO World Heritage Sites is always a momentous occasion—especially for travelers who plan trips to experience the rich culture and natural beauty of these special places first hand.
The running list spotlights more than a thousand significant sites around the globe, ranging from natural wonders to ancient ruins and stunningly preserved historical buildings. Once a year, The World Heritage Committee—a panel of 21 elected representatives from different member nations—meets to assess new proposals for inscription on the World Heritage List. On July 12, the committee inscribed 26 new sites across Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Notably, Sierra Leone has gained its first-ever World Heritage Site.
All of the new places added to the list this year have “outstanding universal value” and meet at least one out of 10 additional selection criteria, such as being a “masterpiece of human creative genius” or being an area of “exceptional natural beauty.” Here’s a closer look at four of the newest World Heritage Sites.
Neuschwanstein, pictured above, is one of four Bavarian castles built by King Ludwig II that were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2025.
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Palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria
Four storybook-worthy castles in the German region of Bavaria were just enshrined on the World Heritage list for 2025. The castles, Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Schachen, and Herrenchiemsee, were built by King Ludwig II between 1864 and 1886 and served as his personal homes and retreats. The palaces’ ornate designs were inspired by German fairytales, as well as Versailles and Wagner’s operas, and each one reflects “the romantic and eclectic spirit of the era,” according to the UNESCO committee. The palaces were each designed to harmoniously blend into the region’s stunning landscapes, the most famous example being Neuschwanstein, which is majestically elevated among the rugged foothills of the Alps.
Get there: The palaces have been opened to the public since King Ludwig died in 1886, and today visitors can still tour all four palaces and marvel at their lavish interiors.