The idea of doing free-running at UNESCO Heritage Sites is not exactly new. In fact, a lot of 'traceurs' (practitioners) have been making videos of their high-speed stunts at some of the world's most breathtaking cultural monuments and infrastructures. By combining gymnastics and track & field, 'traceurs' can navigate through difficult obstructed terrain with spectacular ease.
Disclaimer: this article does not promote trespassing at protected cultural sites. A report published by Jakarta Coconuts on the 30th of June (2016) featured Red Bull's formal apology to the Indonesian cultural ministry for doing crazy advertising stunts at the Borobudur complex.
Prior to doing parkour stunts at important foreign sites, it is important for visitors to secure proper authorization. For the sake of an out-of-the-box whim, these cultural locations make a wonderful playground for adventurous parkour enthusiasts among tourists.
Chichen Itza (Mexico)
The Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza are an excellent obstacle course for traceurs. The El Castillo pyramid stands 30 meters high - a good warm-up before doing the powerful leaps and vaults. Perhaps the most challenging pathway is leaping on top of each pedestal of the Colonnade of Thousand Columns.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park (USA)
Free-running at UNESCO World Heritage Sites do not necessarily mean booking a flight abroad. Closer to home is the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, located in McKinley County, New Mexico. The rock dwellings and bricked 'kivas' (underground shrines) make an excellent uninhabited playground.
Kasbah of Algiers (Algeria)
In doing parkour stunts at foreign sites, it is also an ideal choice to visit the 'kasbah' (walled town) of Algiers Province. One can either leap over each rooftop of tightly-knit building complexes or free-run through the maze of narrow alleys and multi-tiered staircases.
Ait Benhaddou (Morocco)
Many parkour tourists would definitely love the walled town of Ait Benhaddou, located at the Saharan border of Marrakech. This was the site of the film "Prince of Persia" - the first video game series that popularized parkour prior to the "Assassin's Creed" franchise.
Valetta (Malta)
If there is any location parkour tourists would probably consider their mecca, it is the capital city of Malta. Being the predominantly used set for the first Assassin's Creed film, this location has PARKOUR spelled all over its entire labyrinthine urban landscape.
