The nonprofit World Monuments Fund (WMF) has announced its 2025 World Monuments Watch list, a list of cultural heritage sites it deems most at risk of disappearing due to threats like war, climate change, natural disasters, and tourism. The list, released once every two years, brings to the forefront these at-risk buildings and sites in an effort to mobilize local and international support for their preservation. WMF has already secured $2 million towards these new projects.

Among the 25 sites on the watch list this year, the lineup includes two breathtaking grottos in China; rock-cut cave temples that are feeling the impact of mass tourism; a modernist cinema that embodies the cultural and political history of 20th-century Angola; and a millennium-old earthen Nigerian chief’s house that just might be the key to creating a more sustainable future for its local communities.

While all of these buildings and sites are to be expected to make this list, there’s one addition this year that felt very out of this world: the moon. “As a new era of space exploration dawns, international collaboration is required to protect the physical remnants of early moon landings and preserve these enduring symbols of collective human achievement,” WMF writes in a statement. “WMF seeks to increase awareness and protection of lunar heritage.”

Read on for the full list of world sites from 2025’s World Monuments Watch.

Monasteries of the Drino Valley, Albania

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Photo courtesy Wandrille Potez / World Monuments Fund
Monastery of the Transfiguration, Mingul.

After religious institutions were outlawed by Albania’s communist government in 1967, the Drino Valley monasteries, once vital to Albania’s social fabric, were abandoned. Broader social and economic shifts in Albania have further compounded the challenges monasteries, which have fallen into significant disrepair, face. Rural depopulation leaves surrounding villages in need of human and financial resources needed to care for sites like this network of Orthodox monasteries. If saved, it could be “a model for sustainable tourism via preservation,” WMF concludes.

Cinema Studio Namibe, Angola

modern architectural structure with a curved roof and prominent arches
Photo courtesy of Walter Fernandes / World Monuments Fund
Exterior of the Cinema Studio Namibe.

Construction for the Cinema Studio Namibe, located in the port city of Moçâmedes (formerly Namibe), began in 1973. It was designed by Portuguese architect José Botelho Pereira and is a prime Angolan representation of tropical modernist architecture. The cinema was never fully completed due to the 1975 outbreak of the Angolan Civil War. Now, 50 years since construction was halted, the Cinema Studio Namibe lies in a state of gradual decay. Recent urban regeneration initiatives in Moçâmedes have brought new attention to this beloved local landmark, which WMF hopes could become the cinema and (even recreational center) it was intended to be.

Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

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Courtesy World Monument Fund
QhapaqNan Road, in Colombia.

The Qhapaq Ñan, often called the Andean Road System, is an impressive pre-Hispanic network of ancient roads that once converged on the Inca capital of Cusco. The Incas played a large part in its creation, though it connects many ethnic groups across modern-day Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Today, the road network faces development pressure and environmental degradation, something WMF feels local and international advocacy could sustainably manage and restore.

Buddhist Grottos of Maijishan and Yungang, China

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Courtesy World Monuments Fund
Aerial view of temples carved into Maiji Mountain.

The grottos of Maijishan and Yungang are among the most celebrated examples of Buddhist grottos, carved into rugged cliffs in ancient China. Both grottos, designated as World Heritage sites, are feeling the impact of mass tourism. The influx of overcrowding visitors accelerates the deterioration of the artwork and infrastructure. Though Maijishan and Yungang present different challenges, both sites underscore the urgent need for new and innovative visitation management strategies,” WMF states.

Swahili Coast Heritage Sites, Comoros, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania

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Courtesy World Monuments Fund
Waves crash along a seawall on Mozambique Island.

The Swahili coast—which stretches from Kenya, Tanzania, and northern Mozambique while also encompassing the Comoros archipelago—reflects centuries of trade and cultural exchange that produced a distinct heritage of stone towns, merchant houses, and living traditions. Today, climate change experience through storm surges and coastal erosion threaten these sites. Revitalizing these age-old practices could help reinforce climate resilience and support the primary custodians of this heritage.

Chapel of the Sorbonne, France

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Courtesy World Monuments Fund
Chapel facade in the bustling Place de la Sorbonne.

The Chapel of the Sorbonne in Paris’s Latin Quarter is a jewel of French architecture, standing on the grounds of the theological college founded by Saint Louis in the 13th century. The chapel has suffered decades of conservation issues, including vandalism and desecration during the French Revolution. While restoration work has been undertaken to preserve the chapel, it has been closed for decades due to structural and conservation issues. In partnership with the City of Paris and The Chancellerie des Universités de Paris, WMF will work on the conservation issues as well as plans to reopen the chapel.

Serifos Historic Mining Landscape, Greece

rusty metal bridge over clear blue water
Photo courtesy of Orestis Karamanlis / World Monuments Fund
Mining loading bridge at Mega Livadi, Serifos.

From the 1870s until 1965, this island in the Cyclades archipelago has been a leading mining center for Greece, thanks to its rich iron ore deposits. At one point, 37 islands once participated in mining activities, made possible by two major loading facilities created at the bays of Mega Livadi and Koutalas. The area’s railway networks, administrative buildings, and workers’ housing bear witness to Greece’s irreplaceable industrial past. Today, Serifos’ mining landscape lacks comprehensive legal safeguards and faces mounting pressure for new construction from tourism development. As this symbol of industrial heritage faces imminent collapse, WMF seeks to advocate for strengthened legal protection of the mining landscape and to secure resources for emergency stabilization of its most threatened elements, integrating it into tourism planning.

Bhuj Historic Water Systems, India

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Courtesy World Monuments Fund
Aerial view of Bhuj’s central artificial lake system, showing Chhatardi and Hamirsar Lakes.

Hamirsar Lake, located at the heart of the historic city of Bhuj in western India, is a lifeline in the arid landscape and the site of holiday festivities. It was built in the 16th century during the reign of Rao Khengarji and designed to sustain Bhuj’s earliest development. It has since become a robust network of stepwells, tanks, and canals that support the city’s growth. Today, however, Bhuj faces a water crisis. Urban planning has increasingly centralized Bhuj’s water management, and its traditional systems were overshadowed by modern infrastructure that has struggled to meet the people’s needs amid rising drought. To address its water crisis, WMF posits that revitalizing this heritage technology could foster resource security.

Musi River Historic Buildings, India

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NOAH SEELAM//Getty Images
Osmania General Hospital (OGH) in Hyderabad in 2015.

The historic Musi River in Hyderabad connects the city and anchors the riverscape as a shared space of urban life. However, it faces mounting challenges from pollution, driven by rapid growth and industrial expansion. Its poor ecological health is impacting the Musi’s everyday functions. WMF recommends preservation of several buildings along the Musi riverscape, including the Osmania General Hospital, that can be a shared public resource for generations to come.

Noto Peninsula Heritage Sites, Japan

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Courtesy World Monuments Fund
Damaged historic building in Kuroshima Preservation District of Wajima.

Located in the Hokuriku region on Japan’s western coast, the Noto Peninsula is renowned for its rustic beauty and rich cultural history. The Hokuriku region was struck by a magnitude-7.6 earthquake on January 1, 2024, an event that hit the Noto Peninsula the hardest, triggering a tsunami, fires, widespread soil liquefaction, and hundreds of aftershocks. It claimed 460 lives and damaged over 136,000 homes, as well as countless historic places. While efforts to recover the damage were made, devastation caused to landmarks threatens the collapse of local tourism. A series of community-driven preservation projects in this region can spur cultural, social, and economic recovery.

Erdene Zuu Buddhist Monastery, Mongolia

historic temple complex with traditional architecture and green lawn
Courtesy World Monuments Fund
The Three Buddha temples at Erdene Zuu house a collection of Buddhist artifacts.

Erdene Zuu Monastery, built in 1586, is one of the few Buddhist sites to survive Mongolia’s decades of anti-religious crackdowns. As the area around the temple confronts extreme weather and encroaching desertification, key structures are swiftly deteriorating and require intervention. Mongolia, however, suffers from a lack of mid-career professionals in conservation. The preservation of Erdene Zuu can offer a training ground for building expertise as interest in heritage conservation grows among younger generations.

Jewish Heritage of Debdou, Morocco

a winding pathway leading down a rocky hillside towards a small village
Courtesy World Monuments Fund
View over Jewish mellah in the southern part of Debdou.

The historic village of Debdou in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains preserves the memory of a once-vibrant Jewish community that is no longer living. However, its remnants remain: two Jewish cemeteries, residential bildings, 12 synagogues, and a yeshiva (Jewish academy), mainly constructed of rammed earth, adobe, and stone, still stand. It’s a testament to an inspiring tradition of multi-faith respect and coexistence. As wear and tear continues to pile up at its centuries-old buildings, they are more vulnerable to collapse without proper conservation interventions. The WMF calls for documentation and advocacy for the survival of this historic Jewish site.

Chief Ogiamien’s House, Nigeria

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Photo courtesy of Olatubosun Adeshina / World Monuments Fund
Earthen walls form a courtyard on the building’s western side.

Chief Ogiamien’s House, built nearly a thousand years ago, is a rare survivor of traditional earthen architecture from the Benin Kingdom in what is now Nigeria. As critical maintenance skills are lost, this millennium-old earthen structure faces an uncertain future. WMF believes that the preservation of Chief Ogiamien’s house presents a timely opportunity for its local communities to connect with their city’s ancient past and preserve local building traditions.

Gaza Historic Urban Fabric, Palestine

desolate urban landscape featuring destroyed buildings and rubble
Photo courtesy of Getty/Anadolu
Ruins of Qasr al-Basha after a December 2023 airstrike, January 2024.

The Gaza Strip is a gateway between Asia and Africa, acting as a crossroads of cultures since Neolithic times. Amid the October 7, 2023 conflict, however, the landmarks along it have suffered unprecedented damage. As of March 2024, an estimated 63% of all heritage sites in Gaza had sustained damage, of which 31% had been completely destroyed. UNESCO has verified damage to 75 heritage sites in Gaza as of December 2024. This includes the Great Omari Mosque in Gaza City, one of Gaza’s most iconic landmarks, and Suq Al-Qaisariyya, a recently restored Mamluk-era market that served as Gaza City’s gold market since the late 20th century, among many others. The WMF calls for heritage reconstruction to help in post-conflict recover, emphasizing the need to prepare post-ceasefire recovery efforts that focus on restoring a sense of continuity for a community that has suffered immense loss.

Waru Waru Agricultural Fields, Peru

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Courtesy World Monuments Fund
Aerial view of a Waru Waru agricultural field.

Dating back to 1000 BCE, the Waru Waru Agricultural Fields on the Peruvian Altiplano are an ancient agricultural system that offer a unique pathway to food security amid a changing climate. They feature raised fields of Andean crops—including potatoes, quinoa, and cañihua—surrounded by irrigation channels that form spectacular patterns. Climate change-induced droughts have forced many families to migrate to cities, leaving behind their Waru Waru fields and the traditions associated with them. As Indigenous insights into climate resilience gain increasing recognition worldwide, Waru Warus exemplify how practices that have endured millennia of change can help communities face an uncertain future.

Terracotta Sculptures of Alcobaça Monastery, Portugal

interior view of a grand architectural dome with intricate sculptures
Courtesy World Monuments Fund
Interior dome of the Reliquary Chapel showcase.

Climate change threatens the terracotta sculptures of Portugal’s Monastery of Alcobaça, renowned for their baroque craftsmanship. Created by Cistercian monks in the 17th and 18th centuries, these sculptures display intricate detail but are fragile due to low-temperature firing and layered construction. Prolonged exposure to humidity and temperature fluctuations has led to significant deterioration. Conservation efforts must focus on scientific research and preventive measures while engaging local artisans to restore this craft. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, Alcobaça can promote sustainable tourism, preserving the sculptures and revitalizing the region’s artisanal ceramic traditions.

Ruins of Old Belchite, Spain

aerial view of a rural area with ruins and cultivated land
Courtesy World Monuments Fund
Aerial view of Old Belchite’s ruins, with the new Belchite village seen in the distance.

The ruins of Belchite, a village destroyed during the Spanish Civil War, serve as a poignant reminder of the horrors of war. Located in Aragon, Spain, the village’s once-prosperous architecture—reflecting centuries of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish coexistence—has decayed after 80 years of neglect. Urgent conservation is needed to prevent further collapse of its historically significant structures. Preserving Belchite as a site of memory offers a vital opportunity for reflection on Spain's past and could boost local economic growth through sustainable tourism. The WMF seeks to conserve these ruins as a powerful symbol of peace and reconciliation.

Water Reservoirs of the Tunis Medina, Tunisia

courtyard featuring striped arches and a well
Courtesy World Monuments Fund
Majel with manual water-drawing system in courtyard.

In drought-prone Tunisia, traditional water systems like underground cisterns, or majels, offer a sustainable solution to water scarcity. Once common in Tunis's medina, majels collected and stored rainwater, but they fell out of use with modern piping. Restoring these cisterns can ease pressure on municipal supplies and help build resilience to drought. Historic buildings like Dar Lasram offer opportunities to test conservation techniques for these systems, blending traditional and modern methods. The WMF aims to raise awareness and support the rehabilitation of majels, contributing to water security and preserving valuable heritage.

Historic City of Antakya, Turkey

interior of a partially collapsed building with debris on the floor
Courtesy World Monuments Fund
Rubble fills the Sheikh Ali mosque, which was severely damaged in Antakya’s earthquakes.

Antakya, formerly Antioch, has a rich history as a center of trade and cultural exchange, home to diverse religious communities. The devastating earthquakes of February 2023 severely impacted the city, causing significant loss of life and destroying numerous historic sites. Preservation efforts are urgently needed to address the damage and support the return of displaced residents. The WMF and local partners aim to promote recovery through safeguarding the city’s historic fabric and renewing a sense of home.

Kyiv Teacher’s House, Ukraine

historic building with a distinctive domed roof and entrance
Courtesy World Monuments Fund
Kyiv Teachers House, Ukraine.

The Teacher’s House in Kyiv, once Ukraine’s parliamentary seat after its 1918 independence, was heavily damaged by a missile blast in 2022. This national icon, home to the Pedagogical Museum and exhibits on the Ukrainian Revolution, suffered significant damage to its windows and dome, leaving it largely unusable. As one of many cultural sites affected by the war, it highlights the destructive impact of conflict on heritage. The WMF
supports restoration efforts to preserve the Teacher’s House as a symbol of resilience and Ukrainian identity during ongoing conflict.

Belfast Assembly Rooms, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

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Photo courtesty of Joe Laverty / World Monuments Fund
Facade of the Assembly Rooms in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter.

Belfast’s historic Assembly Rooms, built in 1769, once central to civic life, now sit vacant. Local advocates, the Assembly Rooms Alliance, aim to transform this heritage-listed building into the Museum of the Troubles and Peace, fostering reflection on Northern Ireland’s complex history. The museum would explore Belfast’s role during the Troubles, encouraging dialogue and understanding. However, significant challenges remain, including the building's private ownership and necessary conservation work. The WMF supports efforts to restore the Assembly Rooms, repurposing it as a cultural hub that promotes healing and reconciliation for the community and beyond.

The Great Trading Path, United States

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Photo courtesy of Roderico Y. Díaz, Iximché Media / World Monuments Fund
The gouge of the historic Great Trading Path is still visible in the woods outside of Hillsborough, North Carolina.

The Great Trading Path, a historic route of exchange for Indigenous communities in the American Southeast, remains a vital cultural link for their descendants, especially the Occaneechi People. This trail, once a key route for trade and connection, now faces threats from industrial development and insufficient recognition of its significance. Sacred to the Occaneechi for ceremonies and burials, the path's preservation is crucial for maintaining Indigenous ties to ancestral lands. The WMF supports efforts to commemorate the path’s legacy, raise public awareness, and improve Indigenous participation in decision-making to protect this culturally significant site.

Historic Lighthouses of Maine, United States

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Photo courtesy of Bob Trapani Jr / World Monuments Fund
Waves crashing at Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth during a storm.

Maine’s historic lighthouses, including the Portland Head Light from 1791, face growing threats from climate change, particularly rising sea levels and storm surges. Once critical for trade and transportation, these lighthouses now serve as cultural icons and tourist attractions. With 66 historic light stations still standing, many have been repurposed for educational and economic uses. However, the Gulf of Maine’s rapid warming puts these structures at risk. The WMF, in partnership with Maine Preservation, aims to unite lighthouse stewards to develop climate adaptation strategies and raise awareness about the preservation of coastal heritage and communities.

Barotse Floodplain Cultural Landscape, Zambia

cultural procession with participants in traditional clothing marching with spears and a large elephant sculpture
Courtesy World Monuments Fund
The annual Kuomboka transhumance ceremony marks the end of the rainy season.

The Barotse Floodplain Cultural Landscape in Western Zambia is a unique area where the Lozi people have built their culture around seasonal river flooding since 1600 CE. The annual Kuomboka ritual, which involves the king’s migration via a royal boat, is central to their traditions. However, erosion, siltation, and climate change, including rising temperatures, droughts, and flooding, are threatening this landscape and its infrastructure, such as canals and sacred sites. The WMF supports efforts by the Barotse Royal Establishment and Zambia’s Heritage Commission to adapt and restore this culturally significant landscape to preserve Lozi traditions.

The Moon

silhouette of ancient temples against a night sky with a full moon
Courtesy World Monuments Fund
The Moon rising above Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Thailand.

As space exploration advances, the preservation of early Moon landing sites, like Tranquility Base, is crucial to protect humanity’s collective achievements. The Apollo 11 mission and other historic lunar sites house over 100 artifacts, including Neil Armstrong's boot print, symbolizing extraordinary scientific and engineering feats. However, with growing commercial interest in the Moon, these sites are at risk of exploitation, looting, and damage. The WMF supports the efforts of the International Scientific Committee on Aerospace Heritage advocates, raising awareness to safeguard the Moon's cultural significance for future generations.

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Rachel Silva
Associate Digital Editor

Rachel Silva is the associate digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers all things design, architecture, and lifestyle. She also oversees the publication’s feature article coverage, and is, at any moment, knee-deep in an investigation on everything from the best spa gifts to the best faux florals on the internet right now. She has more than 16 years of experience in editorial, working as a photo assignment editor at Time and acting as the president of Women in Media in NYC. She went to Columbia Journalism School, and her work has been nominated for awards from ASME, the Society of Publication Designers, and World Press Photo.