After much urging by Prague and Berlin, UNESCO has officially added a new region to the list of World Heritage Sites. The region spans the border between Germany and the Czech Republic, and therefore, goes by more than one names: Erzgebirge in German, Krušnohoří in Czech and the Ore Mountains in English.

Not only has mining taken place in the region since the 12th century, it is also a significant source of technological and scientific innovation that helped shape modern mining developments across Europe. Recognising the cross-border area as a World Heritage Site celebrates and honors the shared cultural significance of mining in both countries.