taputapuatea
states: [france]
category: cultural
year: 2017
region: Europe and North America
latitude/longitude: -16.8414000000, -151.3723777778
unesco id: 1529
world heritage site: 1529
Copyright © 1992 - 2025 UNESCO/World Heritage Centre. All rights reserved.
Taputapuātea, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Ra’iātea Island, is a sacred cultural landscape central to Polynesian heritage. It features a complex of ancient marae—open-air temples—built between the 14th and 18th centuries, reflecting 1,000 years of mā’ohi civilization. These stone structures served as political, ceremonial, and spiritual hubs, connecting the living with ancestors and gods. Nestled amidst forested valleys, a lagoon, and coral reefs, it showcases traditional Polynesian architecture and navigation prowess. This site offers a profound glimpse into the region’s rich history and enduring cultural significance.