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Since 1975, France has participated in the World Heritage Convention. With 56 inscribed properties, it is among the leading countries worldwide in terms of World Heritage Sites. France ranks 3rd worldwide and 2nd in Europe by number of World Heritage Sites. The majority of its sites are cultural properties, reflecting a strong emphasis on historical and architectural heritage. Some of these properties are shared with neighboring countries, demonstrating cooperation across borders in heritage conservation.

France as a State Party to the World Heritage Convention

State Party since: June 27, 1975

Status: Acceptance

Mandates to the World Heritage Committee: 1976-1978, 1978-1985, 1987-1993, 1993-1999, 2009-2013

Total of Mandate Years: 25

Total of Mandates: 5

WHC Electoral Group: I (Western Europe/North America)

World Heritage Sites in France (56)

Cultural: 47 | Natural: 7 | Mixed: 2

Map of World Heritage Sites

This interactive map shows the location of all UNESCO World Heritage Sites in France.

World Heritage Inscription Timeline

1979
Chartres Cathedral
1979
Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay
1979
Palace and Park of Versailles
1979
Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley
1979
Vézelay, Church and Hill
1981
Amiens Cathedral
1981
Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments
1981
Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay
1981
Palace and Park of Fontainebleau
1981
Roman Theatre and its Surroundings and the "Triumphal Arch" of Orange
1982
From the Great Saltworks of Salins-les-Bains to the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, the Production of Open-pan Salt
1983
Abbey Church of Saint-Savin sur Gartempe
1983
Gulf of Porto: Calanche of Piana, Gulf of Girolata, Scandola Reserve
1983
Place Stanislas, Place de la Carrière and Place d'Alliance in Nancy
1985
Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct)
1988
Strasbourg, Grande-Île and Neustadt
1991
Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Former Abbey of Saint-Rémi and Palace of Tau, Reims
1991
Paris, Banks of the Seine
1992
Bourges Cathedral
1995
Historic Centre of Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge
1996
Canal du Midi
1997
Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne
1997
Pyrénées - Mont Perdu
1998
Historic Site of Lyon
1998
Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France
1999
Belfries of Belgium and France
1999
Jurisdiction of Saint-Emilion
2000
The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes
2001
Provins, Town of Medieval Fairs
2005
Le Havre, the City Rebuilt by Auguste Perret
2007
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
2007
Bordeaux, Port of the Moon
2008
Fortifications of Vauban
2008
Lagoons of New Caledonia: Reef Diversity and Associated Ecosystems
2010
Episcopal City of Albi
2010
Pitons, cirques and remparts of Reunion Island
2011
Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps
2011
The Causses and the Cévennes, Mediterranean agro-pastoral Cultural Landscape
2012
Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin
2014
Decorated Cave of Pont d’Arc, known as Grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc, Ardèche
2015
Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars
2015
The Climats, terroirs of Burgundy
2016
The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement
2017
Taputapuātea
2018
Chaîne des Puys - Limagne fault tectonic arena
2019
French Austral Lands and Seas
2021
Cordouan Lighthouse
2021
Nice, Winter Resort Town of the Riviera
2021
The Great Spa Towns of Europe
2023
Funerary and memory sites of the First World War (Western Front)
2023
The Maison Carrée of Nîmes
2023
Volcanoes and Forests of Mount Pelée and the Pitons of Northern Martinique
2024
Te Henua Enata – The Marquesas Islands
2025
Megaliths of Carnac and of the shores of Morbihan
2026
Beaches of the D-Day Landings, Normandy, 1944
2026
Royal Capetian Fortresses of Languedoc

Tentative World Heritage Sites (33)

  • Enclos paroissiaux du Finistère · submitted: April 3, 2024
  • Extension to the existing World Heritage Property “Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe” · submitted: January 31, 2024
  • L’observatoire du pic du Midi de Bigorre, pionnier en haute montagne · submitted: October 27, 2022
  • Saint-Honorat, Île monastique de l’archipel de Lérins à Cannes · submitted: July 21, 2022
  • Les témoignages matériels de la construction de l’État des Pyrénées : la Co-principauté d’Andorre · submitted: January 25, 2021
  • Domaine de Fontainebleau : château, jardins, parc et forêt · submitted: November 25, 2020
  • Le Charolais-Brionnais, paysage culturel de l'élevage bovin · submitted: March 12, 2018
  • Cité de Carcassonne et ses châteaux sentinelles de montagne · submitted: April 21, 2017
  • Les Alpes de la Méditerranée · submitted: January 31, 2017
  • Metz Royale et Impériale, enjeux de pouvoir, confrontations stylistiques et identité urbaine · submitted: April 7, 2014
  • Les Plages du Débarquement, Normandie, 1944 · submitted: April 7, 2014
  • La Camargue · submitted: February 1, 2002
  • Bouches de Bonifacio · submitted: February 1, 2002
  • Parc national des Écrins · submitted: February 1, 2002
  • Parc national de Port-Cros · submitted: February 1, 2002
  • Marais salants de Guérande · submitted: February 1, 2002
  • Le rivage méditerranéen des Pyrénées · submitted: February 1, 2002
  • Rade de Marseille · submitted: February 1, 2002
  • Les villes antiques de la Narbonnaise et leur territoire : Nîmes, Arles, Glanum, aqueducs, via Domitia · submitted: February 1, 2002
  • Le chemin de fer de Cerdagne · submitted: February 1, 2002
  • Office National d'Etudes et de Recherches Aérospatiales, Meudon · submitted: February 1, 2002
  • Hangar Y · submitted: February 1, 2002
  • Ancienne chocolaterie Menier à Noisiel · submitted: February 1, 2002
  • Centre ancien de Sarlat · submitted: February 1, 2002
  • Arsenal de Rochefort et fortifications de l'estuaire de la Charente · submitted: February 1, 2002
  • Ensemble de grottes à concrétions du Sud de la France · submitted: June 8, 2000
  • Parc national de la Vanoise · submitted: June 8, 2000
  • Massif du Mont Blanc · submitted: June 8, 2000
  • Cathédrale de Saint-Denis · submitted: September 20, 1996
  • Rouen : ensemble urbain à pans de bois, cathédrale, église Saint-Ouen, église Saint Maclou · submitted: September 20, 1996
  • Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte · submitted: September 20, 1996
  • Les villes bastionnées des Pays-Bas du nord-ouest de l'Europe · submitted: September 20, 1996
  • Montagne Sainte-Victoire et sites cézaniens · submitted: September 20, 1996

Source: UNESCO Tentative Lists

Country Profile France

Official Name: French Republic

Continent: Europe

Subregion: Western Europe

UNESCO Region: Europe and North America

Capital: Paris

Population (2024): 68,516,699

Land Area: 547,560 km²

Currency: Euro (EUR)

Country Data Sources

About States Parties

States Parties are countries that have joined the World Heritage Convention. They commit to identifying, nominating, and protecting properties of outstanding cultural or natural value on their territory. States Parties are also expected to monitor and report on the condition of inscribed sites.

World Heritage Insights

How Politics and Institutions Shape the UNESCO World Heritage List

The UNESCO World Heritage List is usually seen as a catalogue of the world’s most important cultural and natural places. Yet behind every inscription there is a structured decision process: countries must first join the Convention, run for a seat on the World Heritage Committee, prepare nominations through a fixed procedure, and finally obtain enough votes for inscription.

World Heritage Info

Background

Learn about UNESCO, the World Heritage Convention, Tentative Lists, and how World Heritage Sites are selected and preserved. Explore the history, structures, and processes that protect humanity’s cultural and natural treasures.

Last updated: August 6, 2026

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