When we think of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the image that often springs to mind is that of a temple or palace, a ruin from antiquity that reminds us of ancient civilizations. But UNESCO also lists an impressive range of industrial sites, properties that include factories, bridges, mines, mills, and power plants.
UNESCO industrial heritage sites are important because they preserve the physical and social legacy of the Industrial Revolution. They also stand as a document to human ingenuity and scientific, engineering, and technological development.
Many of these sites have been repurposed as tourist attractions. And a few are still functioning decades after they were inaugurated.
In this gallery, we visit 30 of the most impressive industrial world heritage sites that honor brilliant engineering and technical breakthroughs, as well as ordinary working communities who built modern industrial life. To learn more, continue reading.