Echwel Profile

In 2010 I visited the Plitvice lakes and was stunned by its sheer beauty. It was like walking through a fairy tale landscape and it really felt like something special. Since this is a WHS and I agreed with my partner we should do this more often (instead of laying on the beach drinking beer) I started to study the list for more sites to visit. After all they claim to be of "outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common heritage of humanity".

Over the years this "WHS-thing" grew upon me. It got so important it evolved into the quest most people here are suffering from. Unfortunately I can't say the same thing about my partner. She prefers the beach again. I often have to use lame excuses to drag her of it and join me at yet another WHS-visit.

I recently started to blog about my adventures. If anyone is interested: https://unesco-queesties.nl/

Visited Sites Echwel

Load map Toggle Missing/Visited

Legend

  • Cultural
  • Natural
  • Mixed

Recent Reviews Echwel


Alto Douro

Echwel NL - 14-Oct-17

Alto Douro

It’s not always easy to convice my wife we need to go to yet another world heritage site but I had no problems when I announced Alto Douro to her. We both love the Porto wines they produce overthere and even she thougt a day of tasting and drinking is not something you skip while being in the area.

The prettiest part of the site lies between the small towns of Pinhao and Peso da Regua, an area full of quinta’s ( the name the Potugese gave their winehouses) and known tot he locals as Cima Corgo

Read On

San Gimignano

Echwel NL - 16-Mar-17

San Gimignano

If you’re serious about WHS-hunting make sure you pay a visit to Tuscany, Italy. In a relative small area you can find 7 top notch sites of which San Gimignano is one. Although most of you probably have seen your fair share of medieval towns this one really stands out, literally that is.

The unique thing about San Gimignano is its centuries old skyline. Back in medieval times there was a bit of trouble between the pope and the emperor who both wanted absolute power. They each had their own gang of supporters called Guelfi (popefans) and Ghibellini (emperorsupporters). The two rival sections were at eachother's throat and this let to the building of, in total, 72 defensive towers. Fourteen still stand.

Read On

Beemster Polder

Echwel NL - 13-Jan-17

Beemster Polder

“When will we be there?”, asked my wife when we were driving in the middle of the WHS Beemster. A question, I quess, which kind of sums up the outstanding universal value of the site; if you don’t know about it you will have a hard time seeing and appreciating it.

Because the Beemster just looks like any other “polder”, a green flat meadow, I couldn’t really blame her. However, when it was created in the 17th century the Dutch made an effort to create the most ideal landscape ever made. It was the time of the Renaissance and old ideals about order, symmetry and harmony were pumped in the new land as to give it a feeling of harmony and proportion. Everything what you see nowadays is actually the result of quite some thinking.

Read On

Aachen Cathedral

Echwel NL - 18-Nov-16

Aachen Cathedral

Everyone knows how popular cathedrals are in Unesco´s list. I know how some kind of a fatique can emerge ticking off yet another one. But do please forget about these kind of prejudice when visiting Aachen. This one is truly worthy of its worldheritage qualification.

Already when entering the church you’ll know this one is special. You will probably be impressed by its coulourful mosaics, not a sight very common with (gothic) cathedrals, and its overall appearance. But it gets way better than that. What I think makes it more interesting is the stroy behind the building, its hidden symbolism. This stuff fascinates me and Charlemagne didn’t disappoint me.

Read On

Vizcaya Bridge

Echwel NL - 29-Oct-16

Vizcaya Bridge

My wife does not share the same passion about Unesco´s list as I do. To me every site is worth a visit, to her only a few. I have visited some sites on my own but soon found out that sharing is a big part of the fun. So I had to think of something to get her accompanying me. She´s okay with visiting charming old cities but is less enthusiastic about industrial heritage and stuff like that.

I, for one, like the steel monsters such as Vizcaya bridge. My wife however couldn´t care less. What she does like is laying on the beach getting a tan. So when I told her that we `had` to see this hanging transporter bridge I made sure to tell her that sea and sand were around the corner

Read On

Profile Data

Name
Echwel
Country
NL
Most Impressive
Plitvice/Granada
Website
website

Recently Visited WHS

Update 07.12.23
Rating Stats
Angkor 4.5
Arles 3.5
Atapuerca 1.5
    Expression #1 of ORDER BY clause is not in SELECT list, references column 'whsphp.t.name' which is not in SELECT list; this is incompatible with DISTINCT