List of World Heritage Sites in Laos

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Location of World Heritage Sites in Laos

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designates World Heritage Sites of outstanding universal value to cultural or natural heritage which have been nominated by countries which are signatories to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972. [1] Cultural heritage consists of monuments (such as architectural works, monumental sculptures, or inscriptions), groups of buildings, and sites (including archaeological sites). Natural features (consisting of physical and biological formations), geological and physiographical formations (including habitats of threatened species of animals and plants), and natural sites which are important from the point of view of science, conservation or natural beauty, are defined as natural heritage. [2] Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, ratified the convention on 20 March 1987. [3]

Contents

As of 2022, Laos has three sites on the list. The town of Luang Prabang was listed in 1995, Vat Phou in 2001, and the Plain of Jars in 2019. [3] All three sites are cultural. In addition, Laos has two sites on its tentative list. [3]

World Heritage Sites

UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, and vii through x are natural. [4]

World Heritage Sites
SiteImageLocation (province)Year listedUNESCO dataDescription
Town of Luang Prabang 500px photo (188688681).jpeg Luang Prabang 1995479bis; ii, iv, v (cultural)Luang Prabang, the capital of the Lan Xang kingdom between the 14th and 16th centuries, was the royal and religious seat of the French protectorate of Laos between 1893 and 1946. The architecture of the city represents fusion of two styles: the traditional Lao and that of colonial Europe from the late 19th and early 20th century. Buildings include Buddhist temples, administrative and residential buildings. The town is well preserved. A minor boundary modification took place in 2013. [5]
Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape Ruined northern palace in the Khmer Hindu temple complex of Wat Phou at sunset, Champasak, Laos.jpg Champasak 2001481; iii, iv, vi (cultural)Vat Phou (ruins pictured) is a Hindu temple constructed under the Khmer Empire which controlled the region from the 10th to 14th centuries. The cultural landscape also includes the remains of temples, towns, and water management structures, dating from the 5th to 15th centuries. The layout of the temple reflects the Hindu concept of an axis connecting mount Phou Khao with the Mekong river. [6]
Megalithic Jar Sites in Xiengkhuang – Plain of Jars Plainofjars 2.jpg Xiangkhouang 20191587; iii (cultural)This site comprises 15 individual locations with remains of an Iron Age megalithic culture that existed roughly from 500 BCE to 500 CE. The "jars" refer to more than 2000 tubular stone jars that were used for funerary practices. There are also stone disks that were perhaps used as lids for the jars, other burial sites, and quarries, present at the locations. [7]

Tentative list

In addition to sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage List are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list. [8] As of 2022, Laos lists two properties on its tentative list. [3]

Tentative sites
SiteImageLocation (province)Year listedUNESCO criteriaDescription
That Luang of Vientiane
Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos.jpg
Vientiane 1992ii, iv (cultural)Pha That Luang is a large gold-covered Buddhist stupa. It was constructed under king Setthathirath in 1566 after he moved the capital of the Lan Xang kingdom to Vientiane. The stupa is believed to house a relic of Buddha. The spire of the stupa reaches 45 m (148 ft) while the main structure is surrounded by reliquaries and sculptures. [9]
Hin Nam No National Protected Area
Portrait of a Douc.jpg
Khammouane 2019viii, ix, x (natural)The site covers a limestone plateau that exhibits a series of tropical karst features, such as cliffs, conical hills, and cave systems. The area is home to several endangered primate species, including the southern white-cheeked gibbon, red-shanked douc (a zoo specimen pictured), and Indochinese black langur. There are at least four species of hornbills, including the threatened wreathed hornbill. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luang Prabang</span> District and municipality in Laos

Luang Phabang, or Louangphabang, commonly transliterated into Western languages from the pre-1975 Lao spelling ຫຼວງພຣະບາງ as Luang Prabang, literally meaning "Royal Buddha Image", is a city in north central Laos, consisting of 58 adjacent villages, of which 33 comprise the UNESCO Town of Luang Prabang World Heritage Site. It was listed in 1995 for unique and "remarkably" well preserved architectural, religious and cultural heritage, a blend of the rural and urban developments over several centuries, including the French colonial influences during the 19th and 20th centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wat Xieng Thong</span> Buddhist temple in Luang Phrabang, Laos

Wat Xieng Thong is a Buddhist temple on the northern tip of the peninsula of Luang Phrabang, Laos. Built between 1559 and 1560 by King Setthathirath, Wat Xieng Thong is one of the most important of Lao monasteries and remains a significant monument to the spirit of religion, royalty and traditional art.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phonsavan</span> District & municipality in Xiangkhouang Province, Laos

Phonsavan, population 37,507, is the capital of Xiangkhouang Province. Phonsavan was built in the late-1970s and replaced the old Xiangkhouang which was destroyed during the Second Indochina War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xiangkhouang</span> Province of Laos

Xiangkhouang is a province of Laos on the Xiangkhoang Plateau, in the nation's northeast. The province has the distinction of being the most heavily bombed place on Earth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luang Prabang province</span> Province of Laos

Luang Prabang is a province in northern Laos. Its capital of the same name, Luang Prabang, was the capital of the Lan Xang Kingdom during the 13th to 16th centuries. It is listed since 1995 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for unique architectural, religious and cultural heritage, a blend of the rural and urban developments over several centuries, including the French colonial influences during the 19th and 20th centuries. The province has 12 districts. The Royal Palace, the national museum in the capital city, and the Phou Loei Protected Reserve are important sites. Notable temples in the province are the Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Wisunarat, Wat Sen, Wat Xieng Muan, and Wat Manorom. The Lao New Year is celebrated in April as The Bun Pi Mai.

Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao is resort on a hilltop on the edge of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang in Laos. Luang Prabang sits at the junction of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. The resort has large gardens with a spa and swimming pool which directly faces Phou si hill. It was acquired by Orient-Express Hotels in 2006. In 2014, the company changed its name to Belmond Ltd. and the hotel was renamed Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao.

References

  1. ↑ "The World Heritage Convention". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  2. ↑ "Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Laos". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  4. ↑ "UNESCO World Heritage Centre – The Criteria for Selection". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 12 June 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  5. ↑ "Town of Luang Prabang". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  6. ↑ "Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  7. ↑ "Megalithic Jar Sites in Xiengkhuang – Plain of Jars". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  8. ↑ "Tentative Lists". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  9. ↑ "That Luang de Vientiane" (in French). UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  10. ↑ "Hin Nam No National Protected Area". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
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