Valença formalises UNESCO candidacy for the Raia Bastioned Fortresses

On June 3rd 2024, the application of the Bastioned Fortresses of the Raia to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site was made official, in a symbolic ceremony held at the Almeida Centre for the Study of Military Architecture.

More than a decade after the process began, the municipalities of Valença, Almeida and Marvão formalised the delivery of the final dossier to the president of UNESCO's National Commission, Ambassador José Moraes Cabral. According to José Manuel Carpinteira, mayor of Valença, classification as a World Heritage Site will be essential for the preservation, valorisation and tourist projection of the fortresses, both nationally and internationally.

He added that this distinction will help improve the visitor experience, providing a deeper contact with the territory's history. This application stands out for being open and in series, representing an innovative model for valorising cross-border heritage.

The official submission of the proposal to UNESCO is scheduled for 2025, in Paris, where it will be evaluated by a group of international experts before going on to be deliberated by the World Heritage Committee.