sehenswert

Sehenswert is a German adjective meaning “worthy of being seen” or “worth seeing.” It is commonly used to indicate that a place, event, or object deserves a visit. The term is formed from sehen “to see” and wert “worth” and is used predicatively (“Der Turm ist sehenswert”) or attributively (“eine sehenswerte Ausstellung”). With attributive use, adjectives follow typical German declension: ein sehenswerter Ort, eine sehenswerte Ausstellung, ein sehenswertes Gebäude, sehenswerte Städte.

In travel writing and tourism marketing, sehenswert is employed to classify attractions that are particularly interesting for visitors. It appears in guidebooks, brochures, websites, and signage, sometimes as a standalone label or in phrases like “sehenswertes Denkmal” or “sehenswerte Architektur.” The related noun form is Sehenswürdigkeit, which refers to a sight or landmark; “sehenswert” describes the value of such sites.

Cultural note: while commonly used across German-speaking regions, “sehenswert” can carry a promotional tone in marketing contexts, and more neutral alternatives exist, such as “attraktiv,” “interessant,” or “empfehlenswert” depending on emphasis.

Examples: Die Altstadt ist sehenswert. Das Museum ist sehenswert. Translation: The old town is worth seeing. The museum is worth visiting.