World Heritage Convention

The World Heritage Convention is an international convention which UNESCO adopted in 1972. Ratified by the States Parties, it sets out to identify and protect natural and cultural sites demonstrating outstanding universal value (OUV).

The criteria for the inscription of properties on the World Heritage List are described in the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention. After a property’s inscription, a protection and management process is set up pursuant to national regulations.  

The Loire Valley was added to the World Heritage List in 2000 as a continuing cultural landscape. The founding of Mission Val de Loire and establishment of the management plan are among the measures undertaken by the French State following its inscription. 

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World Heritage Convention