UNESCO World Heritage Site
There are currently no UNESO world cultural or natural heritage sites on Tahiti. However, the inclusion of a site in French Polynesia on the UNESCO World Heritage List is currently being discussed:
- Les Iles Marquises
Papeete
Papeete has about 26,000 residents and is the capital of French Polynesia, to which Tahiti belongs. Together with the surrounding neighboring communities, the city has around 130,000 residents. Papeete is in the northwest of Society Island.
Special structures
Whare Houses
These are houses built on stilts in lagoons and connected by bridges.
Arue Town Hall in Papeete
The building was built by the Australian architect Victor Raoulx in 1892 for the Australian consul.
The lumber, redwood, was from California.
Tahiti Lighthouse
The oldest lighthouse in Tahiti, dating from 1867, stands at Venus Point and was constructed by Robert Stevenson, father of the writer Roberts Louis Stevenson.
Pouvanaa a Oopa Monument/Papeete
The Pouvanaa a Oopa Monument in Papeete is, as the name suggests, dedicated to the politician and leader of the former Tahitian separatist movement, Pouvanaa a Oopa. The monument was erected in 1982.
Museums
Museum of Tahiti
The Museum of Tahiti has exhibitions with numerous exhibits of very old indigenous objects.
Gauguin Museum
The Gauguin Museum has similar exhibitions to the Museum of Tahiti.
Churches and temples
Tione Temple
The Tione Temple in Papara on Tahiti – from 1996 – combines the style of the “Gothic Revival” with the wooden construction style of the southern hemisphere and is decorated with kitschy details.
Church near Mataiea
The church near Mataiea is modeled on the Tempietto di Bramantes – a Renaissance chapel in Rome.
Church of the village of Papetoai
The church of the village of Papetoai – on the island of Mororea – was built in 1822 on an octagonal floor plan.
Notre Dame Cathedral/Papeete
The church is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Papeete. The cathedral was solemnly consecrated in 1875. It is the oldest Catholic church in Tahiti and one of the last remaining buildings of early colonial architecture. It is located near the capital’s waterfront on Rue du Général de Gaulle.
Archaeological sites
Marae Taputapuatea
Marae Taputapuatea on the island of Raiatea is one of the holiest sites in Polynesia and at the same time one of the largest and very well preserved. Marae is a gathering place of the individual extended families and tribes. The marae as a meeting place can be found throughout Polynesia, such as. e.g. in New Zealand.
Maeva on Huahine Island
Several maraes can be visited here.
Petroglyphs
stone carvings on the Marquesas and Tahiti Tikis – human-like stone figures, on the Marquesas they are up to 2.5 m high.
University of French Polynesia
The University of French Polynesia was founded in 1987 under the name Université Française du Pacifique. This university was affiliated with the University of New Caledonia. In 1999 the two universities were split. The campus of the University of French Polynesia is located in Punaauia. There are currently around 3,000 students studying at the following faculties:
- Medicine
- Natural sciences
- Law Sciences
- Social sciences
- Linguistics
- Technology
- Economics
Natural beauties
Mount Orahena
With a height of 2,241 m, it is the highest mountain on the island and is located in the central massif of the island.
Numerous waterfalls
Black basalt
Sand beaches
Light sand beach The only light sand beach is on the west coast of the island.
Bora Bora
Opunohu
Lagoon The Opunohu Valley on Moorea.
