The historic D-Day landing beaches in Normandy have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, marking the completion of a campaign that began nearly two decades ago.
The decision recognises more than 80 kilometres of France’s northwestern coastline where Allied forces landed on June 6, 1944, in one of the most significant military operations of the Second World War.
The Allied invasion marked a decisive step in the campaign to liberate Western Europe from Nazi Germany and ultimately bring the war in Europe to an end.
The UNESCO nomination covers the five beaches identified by their wartime code names: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword.
The sites continue to attract visitors from around the world, although the number of surviving D-Day veterans able to return to Normandy is declining. World leaders also gather at the beaches for major anniversary commemorations.
Hervé Morin, president of the Normandy region, said the new status carried a responsibility to protect the sites for future generations.
The D-Day beaches now join more than 50 other French locations on the World Heritage List, including Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy and the Palace of Versailles.
UNESCO recognition is awarded to sites considered to have “outstanding universal value”. The designation brings global attention and requires authorities to work towards the protection and preservation of the locations.
Greece also welcomed the inclusion of Mount Olympus on the World Heritage List.
The country’s highest mountain is a protected nature reserve and is traditionally regarded in Greek mythology as the home of the ancient gods. It is also one of Europe’s most biodiverse regions and supports a range of rare wildlife.
“From today, the mythical Mount Olympus becomes a mountain belonging to all of humanity,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis wrote on Facebook.
Italy also received new recognition for 18 historic theatres dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. The theatres, located across the regions of Emilia-Romagna, Marche and Umbria, were recognised for their role in the cultural and social life of the communities where they were built.
Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli welcomed the decision, saying the country viewed the recognition with pride and satisfaction.
The additions highlight UNESCO’s broad approach to cultural heritage, bringing together sites associated with major historical events, natural environments and the development of local cultural traditions.
For Normandy, the decision gives the D-Day beaches a permanent place among the world’s most important heritage sites at a time when the generation that witnessed the landings is steadily disappearing.
