UNESCO World Heritage in Jordan

The many sights reflect the thousands of years of history that Jordan has to offer. Six of them are a part of the UNESCO World Heritage and many more are candidates for it. Some cultural sites are even directly related to the Bible and are settings from the stories.

Petra

In 1985, the caravan city of Petra became a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was an important (trade) junction between Arabia, Egypt and Syria-Phoenicia and is located between the Red Sea and Dead Sea. The city is half built and half carved in rocks. It is surrounded by mountains, which are crisscrossed by passages and ravines. The site blends ancient Eastern traditions with Hellenistic architecture and is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Many also refer to the city as the "eighth wonder of the world".

Quseir Amra

Quseir Amra is a well-preserved desert castle, which was built in the 8th century by the Umayyads. It was a fortress with garrison, but was also used as a residence. The most significant features are the reception hall and the hamam. (A hamam is a traditional oriental bathing establishment.) Both feature elaborate murals. These reflect the secular art of the bygone era. The site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.

Um er-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa'a)

The archaeological site of Umm er-Rasas (Kastron Mefa'a) has not been fully excavated to date. It contains ruins of a settlement and influences from the Roman and Byzantine periods and from early Islam are evident. The site was built around the end of the 3rd century. The settlement began as a Roman military camp and later developed into a city. The UNESCO cultural heritage site (since 2004) is known in the Bible as Mephaat (Josh 13; I 8) and is thus a setting for a story from the Christian Book of God.

Wadi Rum Protected Area

The Wadi Rum Protected Area is located in the south of the country, close to the border with Saudi Arabia. It has been a UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site since 2011. Wadi Rum has a varied desert landscape with rock formations that are bizarre and sculpture-like. Here you can find more than 4000 drawings carved into the rocks. They remind of the many caravans that passed through the area. Also on the rocks more than 10,000 inscriptions that testify to the early development of the alphabet.

Baptism Site "Bethany Beyond the Jordan" (Al-Maghtas)

The UNESCO World Heritage Site is an important place for Christians. It is said to be the place where Jesus was baptized. Since the 2nd century it has been an important pilgrimage site for people of Christian faith. However, from 1967 to 2002 the place was inaccessible, because during the 6-Day War the bank of the Jordan River was lined with mines and they had to be removed first. In 2015, the site was included in the World Heritage List.

As-Salt - place of tolerance and urban hospitality

As the last UNESCO World Heritage Site to date, the old city of As-Salt was inscribed on the list in 2021. The city was an important trade link between the West and the Eastern Desert and experienced a "Golden Age" from 1860 to 1920. This era led to increasing numbers of people from different regions settling in the city. Muslim and Christian communities share many traditions, which is evident in the lack of physical separation between them. For this reason, the city is called a place of tolerance.

Do you want to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and discover the country in a sustainable way? Then come with us on a unique adventure! Visit our Jordan round trip the Wadi Rum Protected Area and the breathtaking city of Petra, but also much more!

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