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Gdynia, Poland’s Interwar Modernist Port City, Wins UNESCO Heritage Status

People walk past the former ZUS (Social Insurance Institution) building, a building on the Gdynia Modernism Trail, at the intersection of 10 Lutego Street and 3 Maja Street in Gdynia, Poland, July 25, 2026. (Reuters)
People walk past the former ZUS (Social Insurance Institution) building, a building on the Gdynia Modernism Trail, at the intersection of 10 Lutego Street and 3 Maja Street in Gdynia, Poland, July 25, 2026. (Reuters)
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Gdynia, Poland’s Interwar Modernist Port City, Wins UNESCO Heritage Status

People walk past the former ZUS (Social Insurance Institution) building, a building on the Gdynia Modernism Trail, at the intersection of 10 Lutego Street and 3 Maja Street in Gdynia, Poland, July 25, 2026. (Reuters)
People walk past the former ZUS (Social Insurance Institution) building, a building on the Gdynia Modernism Trail, at the intersection of 10 Lutego Street and 3 Maja Street in Gdynia, Poland, July 25, 2026. (Reuters)

The center of the modernist Baltic ‌port city of Gdynia, built almost from scratch during the two decades between World War One and World War Two, was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List on Monday as the city celebrates its centenary year.

Nestled north of the historic city of Gdansk, birthplace of Poland's Solidarity labor union movement, and the seaside resort of Sopot, Gdynia was long regarded locally as poor relation to those places, yet the UNESCO award adds it to a 1,273-strong list ranging from Australia's Great Barrier Reef to the Acropolis in Athens.

The UNESCO award is a landmark or area with legal protection for having special ‌cultural or natural ‌value to humanity.

Gdynia is one of the clearest ‌symbols ⁠of the ambitions ⁠of interwar Poland after it regained independence in 1918 following 123 years of partition between Russia, Prussia and Austria-Hungary.

FISHING VILLAGE BECOMES GATEWAY TO THE WORLD

"This is an honor for a city that did not look back, but instead boldly looked to the future — a city built of dreams, courage, and a belief that Poland is capable of creating extraordinary things," Culture Minister Marta ⁠Cienkowska wrote on social media platform X.

Gdynia also reflects the ‌challenges facing the new state, which emerged ‌with only a narrow stretch of Baltic coastline and no major seaport of ‌its own.

To secure access to the sea, Poland chose the fishing village ‌of Gdynia, home to just 1,200 residents in 1920, as the site of a new gateway to the world. By 1939, the population had increased 100 times as people from across the country flocked to the city in search of ‌opportunity and a fresh start.

Architecture historians often compare Gdynia to other cities shaped by interwar modernism and the functionalist districts built in cities including Rotterdam and Brno in the 1920s and 1930s.

Unlike those urban centers, however, Gdynia was constructed almost entirely from scratch around a new seaport, giving it an unusually coherent architectural character and making it one of Europe's most complete examples of a modernist city built in a single generation.

Its center is characterized by streamlined buildings with flat roofs, rounded corners, long horizontal windows and balconies resembling ocean liners, reflecting the city's maritime identity and the era's faith in technology and progress.

UNESCO's World Heritage Committee is composed of representatives of 21 countries. Other sites recently added to its Heritage list include the D-Day Landings beaches in Normandy.

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Culture

Hegra Highlights Status as Saudi Arabia’s First UNESCO World Heritage Site

Hegra Highlights Status as Saudi Arabia’s First UNESCO World Heritage Site
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Hegra Highlights Status as Saudi Arabia’s First UNESCO World Heritage Site

Hegra Highlights Status as Saudi Arabia’s First UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a land that has witnessed successive civilizations whose traces remain across its regions, is home to AlUla Governorate, where the Hegra Archaeological Site stands as part of this rich human heritage.

It was the first Saudi site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, a testament to Saudi Arabia’s deep civilizational heritage and its commitment to preserving and safeguarding it for future generations.

As Saudi Arabia celebrates Saudi National Day, Hegra evokes part of the history of the Arabian Peninsula and the civilizational and cultural exchanges that took place across the region through the ages, according to SPA.

The Hegra Archaeological Site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008, becoming the first Saudi site to be added to the list, in an achievement that reflects its exceptional historical and civilizational significance. The site contains archaeological remains and carved rock facades that showcase the Nabataeans’ engineering and sculptural expertise.

Saudi Arabia, represented by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), pays particular attention to the Hegra Archaeological Site through comprehensive efforts to preserve the site and safeguard its archaeological and historical components.

These conservation efforts are complemented by archaeological studies, surveys, and research conducted by the RCU in cooperation with experts and academic institutions.

Hegra remains one of the Kingdom’s most prominent heritage sites and a destination for visitors and researchers from around the world.

Culture

Tyre’s Ruins Survived the Strikes. Now Divers are Finding their Way Back Underwater

A diver passes above Roman-era columns at an archaeological site near the coast in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
A diver passes above Roman-era columns at an archaeological site near the coast in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
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Tyre’s Ruins Survived the Strikes. Now Divers are Finding their Way Back Underwater

A diver passes above Roman-era columns at an archaeological site near the coast in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
A diver passes above Roman-era columns at an archaeological site near the coast in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

Beneath the Mediterranean waters off the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, divers swim past stone walls, ancient structures and a submerged road — remnants of parts of a city that once stood above the water.

With a shaky ceasefire in place after the latest Israel-Hezbollah war, visitors are returning to Tyre, a city known for its Roman ruins and its much older Phoenician history. Diving operators say interest in the underwater archaeological sites is increasing, though the number of visitors remains below prewar levels, The Associated Press said.

“The diving season is not like it used to be before, but the number of people coming to dive to see the ruins is increasing day by day,” said Yousef al-Jundi, manager of the Lebanon Diving Center.

The remains underwater are part of Tyre’s wider archaeological landscape. UNESCO says substantial archaeological remains of the ancient city are submerged, while underwater archaeological research has documented walls, harbor structures and other remains along the former island and coastline.

“This is the identity of this city, which tells us how old this city is and what its history is,” al-Jundi said. He said the underwater sites attract divers from around the world who want to see what is commonly described as Tyre’s “sunken city.”

Tyre was one of the major Phoenician maritime cities of antiquity, with trading networks that extended across the Mediterranean. The city was also famous for its purple dye and later became an important Greek and Roman center. Its archaeological remains were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1984.

The war raised concerns over the preservation of those remains, both on land and underwater.

“We were worried about the archaeological sites on land, which were affected by the war and the strikes, but at the same time we were also worried about the archaeological sites underwater, but thank God they were not affected,” al-Jundi said.

Before the ceasefire in late June, Tyre came under intense Israeli airstrikes, with neighborhoods in the coastal city heavily damaged during the fighting. UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee placed Tyre on its List of World Heritage in Danger in July 2026, citing the threat and damage caused by the ongoing hostilities.

Ali Badawi of Lebanon’s Directorate General of Antiquities said protecting the underwater sites remains a challenge.

“They’re not very well protected," Badawi said, adding that “encroachments” sometimes happen. “But we are trying very hard through surveys and research that we’re conducting, and we’re trying to develop laws to ensure their safety in the future.”

Badawi said the authorities also want to expand research and investment in underwater tourism, including the creation of underwater archaeological parks that would allow more visitors to see the sites.

The effort comes as Tyre seeks to rebuild its tourism sector after the war, while preserving archaeological remains that reflect thousands of years of the city’s history.

Culture

Historic Linah Marks Saudi National Day with Heritage Events, International Performances

Linah is one of the most prominent historical sites in northern Saudi Arabia - SPA
Linah is one of the most prominent historical sites in northern Saudi Arabia - SPA
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Historic Linah Marks Saudi National Day with Heritage Events, International Performances

Linah is one of the most prominent historical sites in northern Saudi Arabia - SPA
Linah is one of the most prominent historical sites in northern Saudi Arabia - SPA

Historic Linah, located south of Rafha in Northern Borders Region, will celebrate Saudi National Day with a series of national and heritage events at the Historic Linah Market.

The program features performances by local and international artistic groups, along with a variety of artistic segments, solo musical performances, and equestrian and camel-riding displays, SPA reported.

The festivities will also include puppet shows, children’s competitions, and a musical evening showcasing traditional songs.

The Historic Linah Municipality has completed preparations across sites, parks, and roads, decorating streets with national flags and festive lighting to welcome visitors and create a celebratory atmosphere that reflects national pride.

Linah is one of the most prominent historical sites in northern Saudi Arabia.

Once a key stop along ancient caravan routes, the town’s historic palaces and market continue to stand as enduring witnesses to the region’s collective memory.