UNESCO Heritage Sites

The ruins of the ancient city of Aksum are found close to Ethiopia's northern border. They mark the location of the heart of ancient Ethiopia, when the Kingdom of Aksum was the most powerful state between the Eastern Roman Empire and Persia. The massive ruins, dating from between the 1st and the 13th century A.D., include monolithic obelisks, giant stelae, royal tombs and the ruins of ancient castles. Long after its political decline in the 10th century, Ethiopian emperors continued to be crowned in Aksum. Continent: Africa Country: Ethiopia Category: Cultural Criterion: (I)(IV) Date of Inscription: 1980 The ruins of the ancient city of Aksum The ruins of the ancient city of Aksum are located close to Ethiopia's northern border. They mark the location of the heart of ancient Ethiopia, when the Kingdom of Aksum was the most powerful state between the Eastern Roman Empire and Persia. The massive ruins, dating from between the 1st and 13th centuries, incl...

Konso Cultural Landscape is a 55km2 arid properties of stone walled terraces and fortified settlements in the Konso highlands of Ethiopia. It constitutes a spectacular example of a living cultural tradition stretching back 21 generations (more than 400 years) adapted to its dry hostile environment. The landscape demonstrates the shared values, social cohesion and engineering knowledge of its communities. The site also features anthropomorphic wooden statues - grouped to represent respected members of their communities and particularly heroic events - which are an exceptional living testimony to funerary traditions that are on the verge of disappearing. Stone steles in the towns express a complex system of marking the passing of generations of leaders. Continent: Africa Country: Ethiopia Category: Cultural Criterion: (III)(IV) Date of Inscription: 2011

There are 11 monolithic cave churches that were built on 13th century by the King Lalibela. Only 4 cave churches were finished and the remains are still unfinished. These churches and its surroundings are called 'New Jerusalem'. Lalibela is a high place of Ethiopian Christianity, still today a place of pilmigrage and devotion. The World famous Church of Saint George, Lalibela is one of the finished churches.The rock-hewn churches of Lalibela are a UNESCO World heritage site. Continent: Africa Country: Ethiopia Category: Cultural Criterion: (I)(II) (III) Date of Inscription: 1978