Czech UNESCO Treasures

UNESCO stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, which was founded in 1945. The Czech Republic actively participates in the activities of this international organisation. After all, Czechoslovakia belonged among the founding countries.

With regard to its area and number of inhabitants, the Czech Republic can boast of the fact that it ranks among the countries with the greatest concentration of world heritage sites. An inscription in the UNESCO World Heritage List confirms the exceptionality of the site and the need to protect and maintain its cultural and natural heritage for future generations.

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A quarter of a century has passed since the first sites and places of the Czech Republic were inscribed in the World Heritage List maintained by UNESCO. The first Czech places inscribed were the historic centres of Prague, Český Krumlov and Telč. In the course of time, other places were added, such as the Baroque Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc, the Renaissance castle of Litomyšl or the functionalistic Villa Tugendhat in Brno. Nearly all artistic styles are represented in the Czech properties.

Praha - historical city

Český Krumlov - historical city

Telč - historical city
Zelená Hora - pilgrimage church

Kutná Hora - historical city

Lednice and Valtice - cultural landscape, castles and parks

Holašovice - traditional village
Kroměříž - castle and park
Litomyšl - castle
Olomouc - statue of the Holy Trinity
Brno - villa Tugendhat
Třebíč - Jewish quarter

Moreover, Czech heritage under the patronage of UNESCO is literally within reach. The most remote UNESCO sites are approximately 300 kilometres apart. Most of them can be purposefully linked during a Czech cultural heritage sightseeing trip.

It would be wrong to believe that the United Nations only protect what people can touch. UNESCO also promotes recognition and protection of so-called immaterial (intangible) heritage, which includes traditions, knowledge and skills. Among the phenomena within the territory of the Czech Republic inscribed in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage is Slovácko Verbuňk, a male solo dance from the Slovácko Region, shrovetide door-todoor processions and masks in the villages of the Hlinecko area, the traditional Ride of the Kings in the Slovácko Region, falconry, and the tradition of puppetry in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

UNESCO also provides its protective auspices to nature. Six areas in the Czech Republic – the Giant Mountains (Czech: Krkonoše), the Třeboňsko area, the Křivoklátsko area, the Bohemian Forest (Czech: Šumava), the White Carpathians (Czech: Bílé Karpaty) and Lower Morava (Czech: Dolní Morava) – received the status of a biosphere reserve within the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere programme. Besides valuable natural ecosystems, these places show a harmonious relationship between the environment and the people living there. Global UNESCO geopark Bohemian Paradise (Czech: Český ráj) focuses on getting to know as well as the protection of the geological, natural, and cultural heritage of the Earth.

We hope that this guide to the UNESCO treasures in the Czech Republic becomes a source of inspiration for your trips. The world appreciates Czech wonders. Discover them, too.

INFO: UNESCO  and UNESCO Czech Heritage