The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region has rich cultural and natural heritage on Unesco’s World Heritage List: incredible legacies of the past, from prehistory to modern times.
An exceptional contribution to modern architecture: 17 sites around the world attest to the invention of a new architectural language breaking with the past. There are two of these sites in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: the Maison de la Culture in Firminy and the Sainte-Marie de La Tourette priory in Eveux.
Added to the Unesco World Heritage List in 1998, it includes the neighbourhoods of Old Lyon, Fourvière hill, Croix-Rousse and the Presqu’île peninsula. Two rivers, two hills, four river banks: a perfect description of Lyon's historical heart. 2,000 years of history to observe from the panorama at Fourvière.
Discovered in 1994, the Chauvet Cave is home to humanity's oldest masterpiece: hundreds of sketches of animals that date back more than 36,000 years. To preserve and share this exceptional historical Unesco World Heritage Site, the world's largest replica of a cave is now open for visitors: the Chauvet Cave 2.
Throughout the Middle Ages, Santiago de Compostela was the most important destination for countless pilgrims. To reach Spain, they crossed through France along 4 routes, dotted with notable historical monuments that are today inscribed on the World Heritage List. The sites in our region: Notre-Dame-du-Port Basilica in Clermont-Ferrand and Notre-Dame Cathedral and Hôtel-Dieu in Le Puy-en-Velay.
Beaujolais (awarded in April 2018), the Ardèche Mountains (2014), Chablais (2012) and the Bauges Mountains (2011) are areas in the region with international geological significance.
The Chaîne des Puys - Limagne Fault tectonic arena
The Chaîne des Puys - Limagne Fault and its 80 volcanoes were awarded Unesco World Heritage status in July 2018, including the iconic Puy de Dôme, a "Grand Site de France®", peaking at 1465 m.
