| p>"Will the entire known world eventually be a | | | | and surrounded by residential quarters that date back |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site?", asked the New York | | | | to the Middle Ages. |
| Times this week as the organisation added 21 new | | | | The Episcopal City of Albi forms a coherent and |
| locations to its list of World Heritage Sites. The list now | | | | homogeneous ensemble of monuments and quarters |
| totals at 890 destinations that UNESCO deem as | | | | that has remained largely unchanged over the |
| "having outstanding universal value". | | | | centuries." |
| With a diverse ensemble of locations, the new | | | | Today Albi retains a fierce individuality as it seats 6 |
| additions add to eclecticism of the list. We see new | | | | cantons covering nearly 18 communes, with a total |
| additions range from remote natural locations, such as | | | | population of 67,729. its announcement on the world |
| the central highlands of Sri Lanka, to more travailed | | | | heritage list encourages Al bi's plight as a historical site |
| urban locations like the 17th century canal belt in | | | | and rewards its excellent preservation of its historical |
| Amsterdam. | | | | landmarks. Furthermore it should shed light on an as |
| Also among the new members is the Episcopal City of | | | | yet over looked tourist destination and bring in some |
| Albi in southern France. The organisation praises its | | | | well deserved tourism revenue. |
| retention and preservation of historical constructions | | | | The area can boast some of the best sites and best |
| running the entire gamut of the first millennium. It's | | | | villas in France. |
| inscription criteria reads as such: | | | | UNESCO have also added four destinations to their list |
| "Episcopal city of Albi (France) | | | | of sites in danger, one of which being the Everglades |
| On the banks of the Tarn river in south-west France, | | | | National Park in Florida. Meanwhile the Galapagos |
| the old city of Albi reflects the culmination of a | | | | Islands have found themselves gazumped from the list, |
| medieval architectural and urban ensemble. Today the | | | | as sufficient methods had been put in to combat the |
| Old Bridge (Pont-Vieux), the Saint-Salvi quarter and its | | | | danger posed to the wild life by over fishing. |
| church are testimony to its initial development (10th -11th | | | | Among other locations added to the list of world |
| centuries). | | | | heritage are the imperial citadel of Thang Long-Hanoi in |
| Following the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathar | | | | Vietnam, The Australia convict sites, Bikini Atoll Nuclear |
| heretics (13th century) it became a powerful episcopal | | | | test site and others displaying a wide range of |
| city. Built in a unique southern French Gothic style from | | | | historical or cultural significance. |
| local brick in characteristic red and orange colours, the | | | | Other sites have been renewed on the list such as |
| lofty fortified Cathedral (late 13th century) dominates | | | | Graz in Austria and Churches of Modiva. |
| the city, demonstrating the power regained by the | | | | Missing out on the list is Mount Vernon, George |
| Roman Catholic clergy. Alongside the Cathedral is the | | | | Washington's estate, which was nominated but did not |
| vast bishop's Palais de la Berbie, overlooking the river | | | | make the list. |