All
travelers have lists of “places to visit”—some of countries, some
of cities—but the ultimate travel checklist is that of the UNESCO
World Heritage Sites. UNESCO was created by the United Nations in
1945 and is best known for its World Heritage Site program, dedicated
to identifying and conserving sites of outstanding cultural or natural
importance. These are the most fascinating places in the world—and
Viking River Cruises can take you to many of them. Below is a sampling
of just some of the places we visit on our Europe and Russia itineraries.
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Europe
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Historic
Center of Vienna
One of the area's earliest inhabited
Celtic and Roman settlements, Vienna
developed into the capital of the
Austro-Hungarian empire. Music,
theater, art, architecture, education
and the sciences have always
flourished here, and the city is rich in history and culture.
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Würzburg
Residenz
This magnificent baroque palace—
filled with frescoes, paintings and fine
furniture—is one of Germany's largest
and most beautiful. The palace was
built in the 18th century by a talented
international group of architects,
painters, sculptors and stuccoworkers;
damaged during WW II,
restoration occurred from 1945-1987. |
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Cologne
Cathedral
Construction
of this Gothic masterpiece, one of the world's largest churches,
began in 1248 and took seven centuries to complete. Escaping
allied bombing in WW II, Cologne's Cathedral is considered
an "exceptional work of human creative genius,"containing
artistic treasures, intricate stained glass windows and religious
relics.
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Historic
Center of Prague
Dating as far back as the 11th
century, the Old Town, Lesser Town
and New Town of Prague make up
the magnificent historic city center.
With monuments such as Hradcany
Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, Charles
Bridge and numerous churches
and palaces, Prague is an exciting
cultural destination. |
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Banks
of the Seine in Paris
Wide avenues and architectural
masterpieces of Paris, including
iconic landmarks such as the
Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame
Cathedral and Place de la Concorde,
as well as graceful bridges like the
Pont Neuf and Pont Alexandre III,
can best be viewed from the banks
of the Seine River.
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Old
Town of Regensburg
A lovely medieval town located
on the Danube River in Bavaria,
Regensburg’s history as a wealthy
trading center is apparent. A large
number of well-preserved Roman,
Romanesque and Gothic buildings
are found here, including the
market, City Hall, Cathedral and
elegant patrician houses.
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| Russia
& Ukraine |
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Historic
Center of St. Petersburg
Known
as "Venice of the North" for its numerous canals
and bridges, St. Petersburg was founded in 1703 by Peter the
Great. Temporarily renamed Leningrad during the Cold War,
the city's architectural heritage is rich, featuring examples
of both baroque and neoclassical styles, such as in the Winter
Palace and the Hermitage.
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Saint
Sophia Cathedral, Kiev
Kiev's
Saint Sophia Cathedral symbolizes the Christian principality
of Kiev, created in the 11th centruy in a region evangelized
after the baptism of St. Valdimir in 988. The spiritual and
intellectual influence of the Monastery of the Caves contributed
to the spread of the Russian Orthodox faith from the 17th
to the 19th centurires. |
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these and other UNESCO sites on one of our European, Russian
or Ukraine river cruise itineraries. Now let Viking River
Cruises help you experience these amazing sites with the following
special offers. |
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To
book, call Viking River Cruises at 1-800-304-9616
or contact your local travel agent
Reservation
Hours:
Mon-Fri, 5:00a.m.-8:00p.m. Pacific Time • Sat,
5:00a.m.-5:00p.m. Pacific Time
Sun, 7:00a.m.-4:00p.m. Pacific Time |
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