UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), based in Paris, was founded in London in 1945 as a specialised agency of the UN. On 16 November 1945, 37 states signed the constitution in London. It awards the title of World Heritage (World Cultural Heritage and World Natural Heritage) to sites that are of global significance due to their uniqueness, authenticity and integrity and are proposed by the states.

The title is based on the World Heritage Convention ratified by 196 states. As of 2025, the UNESCO World Heritage List comprised 1,248 sites in 170 countries. Of these, 972 cultural monuments and 235 natural monuments are listed; a further 41 monuments are listed as mixed cultural and natural heritage sites. A total of 51 World Heritage sites are transboundary or transnational, i.e. assigned to two or more countries.
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Markus J. Eser
Weinakademiker und Herausgeber „Der Weinkalender“