French President Emmanuel Macron began his visit to AlUla Governorate on Wednesday by exploring the historic "Al-Hijr" region, Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Accompanied by a delegation including Madinah Region Governor Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Kassabi, and other Saudi and French officials, Macron explored significant archaeological sites like Qasr al-Farid, known for its distinctive rock formation with ancient tombs, columns adorned with engravings, and decorative stone elements, all pointing to its historical significance.
They also visited the "Qasr al-Bint" archaeological site, known for its unique construction from the pre-Islamic era in AlUla's historic Al-Hijr region, and "Al-Diwan", a historical landmark in the northeastern part of Al-Hijr that resembles an open-air theater set amidst Al-Hijr's natural landscape, and features a narrow path carved into a rock formation named "Al-Diwan", SPA reported.
Surrounded by columns and stonewalls adorned with intricate architectural designs, "Al-Diwan" provides insight into the architectural styles of ancient civilizations.
The tour took the visitors to several other ancient historical sites and landmarks in AlUla, which attract tourists from all over the world. These sites are meticulously preserved by RCU, the Ministry of Culture, the Saudi Tourism Authority, and other concerned bodies; they represent a heritage that reflects the essence of AlUla and the civilizations that have inhabited the region over time.
