25 YEARS IN THE SERVICE OF ROMANIAN HERITAGE AND COMMUNITIES
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Pro Patrimonio Foundation, as the voice of Europa Nostra in Romania, warmly welcomes the international recognition awarded in 2025 to ASTRA Regional Activity and Resource Center in Sibiu, winner of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards in the category education, training, and skills.
This prestigious distinction strengthens Romania’s constant and active presence in Europa Nostra Awards, alongside other Romanian projects that have been awarded over the years. It reconfirms the relevance and quality of local initiatives in the field of cultural heritage conservation and enhancement
The award given to ASTRA shows not only professional excellence, but also an innovative and inclusive approach with a direct impact on the community. Its working model – which brings together heritage, crafts, education, and professional training – is an example of good practice at European level. Pro Patrimonio Foundation is all the more pleased with this achievement as it has maintained a solid collaboration with ASTRA Museum, a strategic partner in educational, community, and conservation projects, for many years.
Europa Nostra Awards remain a barometer of excellence and innovation in the field of European heritage. Romania is present among the winners every year which highlights the vitality of its cultural sector and civil society and its commitment to essential European values: cohesion, sustainability, education, and cultural diversity.
Pro Patrimonio Foundation encourages specialists and organizations in Romania to apply for the 2026 edition of the awards – an initiative that can bring not only international visibility, but also resources, partnerships, and support for sustainable heritage projects.
We invite you to find out more about European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2025 in the press release below.
12 JUNE 2025 at 12:00 CEST
European Commission and Europa Nostra announce the winners of Europe’s top heritage awards 2025
Brussels / The Hague, 12 June 2025
Today, the European Commission and Europa Nostra have announced the 2025 winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards, which are co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. This year, Europe’s most prestigious awards for heritage go to 30 outstanding winners from 24 countries across the continent (see the full list below).
The 2025 winners exemplify the creativity and innovation demonstrated across Europe in efforts to safeguard and promote the unity in diversity of our rich heritage. This year’s edition of the Awards features an impressive range of winners across its five categories: from a remarkable restoration of an Art Nouveau landmark in Belgium combining traditional craftsmanship with technical innovation; to a ground-breaking research programme in Norway documenting half of the world’s glacial archaeological findings; from an innovative initiative supporting the sustainable upkeep of built heritage in Slovakia; to a successful educational project in Serbia that reimagined a beloved children’s poem through co-creation with children and students, promoting intergenerational dialogue and inclusivity; and to a heritage champion who has dedicated her career to preserving the built heritage of Greenland, Denmark.
Heritage supporters and enthusiasts are now encouraged to discover the winners and vote online to decide who will win the Public Choice Award 2025, which is entitled to receive a monetary award of €10,000. Votes can be cast until 12 September.
The winners were selected by the Awards’ Jury, composed of 11 heritage experts from across Europe, upon evaluation of the applications by the Selection Committees. A total of 251 eligible applications to this year’s Awards were submitted by organisations and individuals from 41 European countries.
Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, said: “Europe stands as a global cultural powerhouse. It is our duty and responsibility to ensure future generations can experience the richness and diversity of our heritage. The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards not only reflect how cultural heritage is deeply valued in Europe, but they also celebrate and honour this legacy and the ongoing efforts of cultural professionals and volunteers working across the continent to safeguard and promote it. By advancing inclusivity, fostering solidarity, promoting international cooperation, and encouraging intergenerational dialogue, they embody the very essence of our European values. Congratulations to the winners for their outstanding achievements and essential contributions.”
Cecilia Bartoli, the world-renowned mezzo-soprano and President of Europa Nostra, stated: “I warmly congratulate this year’s winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards on their well-deserved recognition. These inspiring initiatives demonstrate how cultural heritage can be a powerful force for positive change in Europe – strengthening communities, supporting well-being, sparking creativity, and contributing to economic resilience. Cultural heritage connects people across generations and borders. It brings Europe’s citizens closer together, united in our rich diversity. It brings beauty and meaning to our daily lives, and shows how it can help shape a more sustainable and inclusive future.”
The winners will be celebrated at the European Heritage Awards Ceremony 2025 on 13 October at Flagey, an iconic Art Deco building, in Brussels, Belgium. This high-profile event will feature the participation of European Commissioner Glenn Micallef and Europa Nostra’s Executive President Hermann Parzinger. During the ceremony, the Grand Prix laureates and the Public Choice Award winner will be announced, chosen from among this year’s winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards and entitled to receive €10,000 each. The ceremony will be a highlight of the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2025, which will take place from 12 to 14 October in Brussels. In a complex geopolitical context, the Summit will also provide a timely opportunity to give visibility and resonance to the upcoming Cultural Compass of the European Union, and to advocate for the political, societal, environmental and economic value of cultural heritage for the future of Europe. The Summit is organised by Europa Nostra and co-funded by the European Union.
The winners are listed alphabetically by country
Tower Roof of the Church of St. Mauritius, Spitz an der Donau, AUSTRIA
The restoration of the polychrome-tiled medieval roof of St. Mauritius’ Church in Spitz an der Donau secured Austria’s only surviving late medieval roof of its kind. Combining traditional craftsmanship with advanced research and careful conservation methodologies, the project has further reconnected the community with its heritage.
The restoration of Antwerp City Hall reinforced its function as the political and administrative heart of the city. Through a holistic and technically sophisticated approach, this project enhanced public access and sustainability while safeguarding a UNESCO-listed Renaissance landmark for future generations.
Hôtel Solvay, Brussels, BELGIUM
The restoration of Hôtel Solvay in Brussels, an Art Nouveau landmark by Victor Horta, addressed serious structural and waterproofing issues. Combining traditional craftsmanship with technical innovation, this project offers a compelling model for heritage conservation and sustainable maintenance in Europe.
Nicosia Old Municipal Market, CYPRUS
This project revitalised the Nicosia Old Municipal Market, transforming a modernist 1960s landmark near the Buffer Zone into a centre for innovation and civic exchange. Earthquake-resistant and inclusively designed, the new AGORA hub supports urban regeneration and bicommunal cooperation in Cyprus.
Kambones 1615 Historic House, Naxos, GREECE
Kambones 1615, a privately restored Venetian tower house on the island of Naxos, preserves five centuries of architectural, agricultural and cultural heritage. Using traditional techniques, this project blends sustainability, craft and community to create a model for heritage-led rural regeneration in Europe.
EC1 Łódź – City of Culture Complex, POLAND
EC1 in Łódź was transformed from a historic power plant into a vibrant cultural and educational complex. With museums, science centres, cinemas and inclusive public space, EC1 offers a powerful model for revitalising industrial heritage across Europe.
National Museum of Resistance and Freedom – Peniche Fortress, PORTUGAL
The Peniche Fortress, one of the main political prisons during the dictatorship in Portugal, now hosts the National Museum of Resistance and Freedom. Through careful adaptation and civic engagement, the site fully engages visitors with the values of liberty and democracy.
Puerta de Alcalá, Madrid, SPAIN
The restoration of the Puerta de Alcalá – a symbol of Madrid and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site – combined traditional craftsmanship and scientific analysis in a large-scale public project, setting new standards for transparency, research, and public engagement.
The Heritage Trees Project, BELGIUM
This research project safeguards the genetic and cultural heritage of monumental trees in Flanders by growing their descendants. Through community involvement, education, and the practical implementation of conservation methods, it creates a transferable model linking heritage preservation, biodiversity, and climate action.
Odeuropa, NETHERLANDS / FRANCE / GERMANY / ITALY / SLOVENIA / UNITED KINGDOM
Odeuropa explored the significance of smell in European heritage from the period 1600-1920. Using AI, historical sources and collaborative tools, this research project developed new methods, vocabularies and training resources, placing scent-based heritage firmly on the cultural map.
Glacier Archaeology Programme – Secrets of the Ice, NORWAY
Secrets of the Ice is a groundbreaking research programme in Norway’s Innlandet County, documenting over 4,500 artefacts – half of the world’s glacial archaeological findings. By uniting scientific innovation, methodology, education and public engagement, it highlights the urgent impact of climate change in high-altitude archaeology.
IS-LE: Islamic Legacy, pan-European project coordinated in SPAIN
This research project, with over 80 institutional partners from 40 countries, reframed the study of Islamic heritage in Europe and the Mediterranean. Through collaborative research, training, and open resources, it connected fragmented research traditions and fostered new narratives for academics, policymakers and society at large.
European Heritage Volunteers Programme, GERMANY
These training courses are organised at heritage sites across Europe, involving participants from countries worldwide. The training programme is cost-effective and grass-roots in nature, bridging generations and cultures, revitalising neglected sites, and demonstrating the value of hands-on, community-based heritage practice.
“Saber Fazer” Programme, PORTUGAL
“Saber Fazer” is Portugal’s national strategy for the safeguarding of traditional crafts and skills. It promotes knowledge transfer, sustainability and territorial cohesion by bridging urban-rural divides – turning ancestral techniques into tools for cultural and economic resilience.
ASTRA Center for Activities and Regional Resources, Sibiu, ROMANIA
The ASTRA Center in Sibiu revitalised a medieval guildhall as a vibrant training, certification and cultural hub. Through innovative partnerships, it set a national precedent for recognising traditional crafts, professionalising artisans, and linking heritage, education, and community resilience.
Pro Monumenta – Preventive Maintenance of Monuments, SLOVAKIA
Pro Monumenta is a national initiative supporting the sustainable upkeep of built heritage. Through inspections, craft training and public engagement, it demonstrates how early intervention and skilled maintenance can reduce costs and improve conservation results.
The Art of Protecting Bedechka, Stara Zagora, BULGARIA
The Bedechka Park in Stara Zagora, threatened by several controversial development plans, has become a community-driven symbol for ecological and cultural preservation. Civic-led advocacy and creative initiatives have transformed it into Bulgaria’s first land art and heritage park.
Baltic Sea 3D Wrecksite Ontology, FINLAND
The Baltic Sea 3D Wrecksite Ontology project has created the world’s largest public collection of photogrammetric 3D models representing historic shipwrecks. Driven entirely by volunteers, it provides open digital access, promoting heritage awareness, scientific research and sustainable diving in Finland and beyond.
Notre-Dame de Paris Restoration Outreach, FRANCE
The restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris has reached millions through digital content, social media, exhibitions, and educational kits. By making the process accessible, despite physical barriers, this project has engaged the public in heritage and raised awareness of the huge diversity and value of the crafts behind the restoration.
Donation Campaign “The Culture of Ukraine has no Means of Defence”, LITHUANIA / UKRAINE
The Lithuanian donation campaign “The culture of Ukraine has no means of defence” mobilised public support to provide essential restoration materials for Ukrainian museums affected by the ongoing war. This initiative fostered solidarity, international cooperation and active heritage protection in times of crisis.
Małopolska Culture Heritage Days, POLAND
For over two decades, the Małopolska Culture Heritage Days have invited residents and tourists to explore heritage sites from fresh perspectives. With annual thematic programmes, films, research, and a digital platform, this popular event has enriched heritage appreciation across Poland’s diverse Małopolska region.
Almalaguês – Weaving the Future from the Tapestry of Time, Coimbra, PORTUGAL
This project has revitalised the traditional weaving of the village of Almalaguês in Portugal, engaging local communities and younger generations through workshops, research and cultural events. It has promoted intergenerational dialogue, ensuring the continuity of ancestral know-how.
Hedgehog’s Home – Inventing a Better World, SERBIA
The Hedgehog’s Home – Inventing a Better World project reimagined a beloved children’s poem through co-creation with young children and students, promoting intergenerational dialogue and inclusivity. It sparked reflection on home, community and shared memory across Serbia and beyond.
Casa Batlló: Integrating Neurodiversity in World Heritage, Barcelona, SPAIN
Casa Batlló in Barcelona has pioneered the inclusion of neurodivergent individuals in public-facing museum roles. In collaboration with a specialised organisation, the museum developed a structured employment model that sets a precedent for inclusive practices in the heritage sector.
All Together Festival, Kyiv, UKRAINE
The All Together Festival annually gathers heritage professionals from across Ukraine to engage children and teenagers through interactive events, workshops and educational activities. It fosters cultural resilience, social inclusion, and professional capacity-building in the face of ongoing war-related challenges.
Peter Latz is a pioneer in the field of industrial heritage and landscape architecture in Europe. Through landmark projects, writing, and advocacy, he showed how history, ecology and design can reshape post-industrial landscapes into places of cultural and civic renewal.
Inge Bisgaard, GREENLAND / DENMARK
Inge Bisgaard has dedicated her career to preserving Greenland’s built heritage. Through pioneering fieldwork, policy development and community dialogue, she has worked to preserve both traditional wooden architecture and 20th-century heritage – helping to define a national conservation strategy that unites science, craftsmanship, and cultural identity.
Winners of the Europa Nostra Awards 2025
Three of this year’s winners come from countries that are not associated with the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union, namely The Holy See, Moldova, and the United Kingdom. These winners receive the Europa Nostra Awards, which reflect the organisation’s commitment to recognising heritage excellence in all countries of the Council of Europe.
The Camellia House, Wentworth Woodhouse, UNITED KINGDOM (Category Conservation & Adaptive Reuse)
The Camellia House at Wentworth Woodhouse, derelict for 50 years, has been transformed into a public tearoom and heritage venue. The restoration protects rare camellia plants while fostering sustainability, community engagement, training, and inclusive access in South Yorkshire.
School of Arts and Crafts of the Fabric of Saint Peter in the Vatican, HOLY SEE (Category Education, Training & Skills)
The School of Arts and Crafts, established by the Fabric of Saint Peter and the Fratelli tutti Foundation, offers full-time, tuition-free training in heritage crafts to young people. It revives centuries-old traditions while fostering community, spiritual growth and hands-on learning in the heart of the Vatican.
Varvara Buzilă, MOLDOVA (Category Heritage Champions)
Varvara Buzilă has dedicated over 45 years of her life to safeguarding Moldova’s intangible heritage. Through research, legislation, education, and public engagement, she has reshaped national awareness and achieved international recognition, becoming a leading voice for cultural identity and transmission in Moldova and beyond.
Showcasing heritage-related excellence in Europe since 2002
The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards were launched by the European Commission in 2002 and have been run by Europa Nostra ever since. For 23 years, the Awards have been a key tool to recognise and promote the multiple values of heritage for Europe’s culture, society, economy, and environment.
The Awards have highlighted and disseminated heritage excellence and best practices in Europe, encouraged the cross-border exchange of knowledge and connected heritage stakeholders in wider networks. The Awards have brought major benefits to the winners, such as greater (inter)national exposure, additional funding and increased visitor numbers. In addition, the Awards have championed a greater care for our shared heritage among Europe’s citizens. For additional facts and figures about the Awards, please visit the Awards website.
The Call for Entries for the 2026 edition of the Awards is open. Visit www.europeanheritageawards.eu for more information and submit your application online by 9 September 2025.
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PRESS CONTACTS
EUROPA NOSTRA Elena Bianchi, Awards Programme Manager +31 6 26 89 30 72 Joana Pinheiro, Communications Advisor +31 6 34 36 59 85
EUROPEAN COMMISSION Eva Hrncirova +32 2 298 84 33
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TO FIND OUT MORE
Press release in various languages
About each Award winner: Information and Jury’s comments Videos (in high resolution) Photos & e-banners (in high resolution)
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Europa Nostra is the European voice of civil society committed to safeguarding and promoting cultural and natural heritage. It is a pan-European federation of heritage NGOs, supported by a wide network of public bodies, private companies and individuals, covering over 40 countries. It is the largest and the most representative heritage network in Europe, maintaining close relations with the European Union, the Council of Europe, UNESCO and other international bodies. Founded in 1963, Europa Nostra celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2023.
Europa Nostra campaigns to save Europe’s endangered monuments, sites and landscapes, in particular through the 7 Most Endangered Programme. It celebrates and disseminates excellence through the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards. Europa Nostra actively contributes to the definition and implementation of European strategies and policies related to heritage, through a participatory dialogue with European Institutions and the coordination of the European Heritage Alliance.
Europa Nostra has led the European consortium selected by the European Commission to run the European Heritage Hub pilot project (2023-2025). It is also a partner of the New European Bauhaus initiative developed by the European Commission, and a leading European member and supporter of the Climate Heritage Network.
Creative Europe is the European Union’s flagship programme to support all cultural and creative sectors, including cultural heritage, enabling them to increase their contribution to Europe’s society, economy and living environment. With a budget of €2.4 billion for 2021-2027, it supports organisations in the fields of heritage, performing arts, fine arts, interdisciplinary arts, publishing, film, TV, music and video games as well as tens of thousands of artists, cultural and audiovisual professionals.
Thoughts shared by Peter Bond, consultant to Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank Institute
“I should like to congratulate the Pro Patrimonio Foundation (PPF) on its 25th anniversary. Its achievements in preserving and protecting physical and intangible heritage in Romania are numerous and varied. It has been a remarkable force for good and continues to develop.
I was first introduced to PPF in 2014 through the 7 Most Endangered programme of Europa Nostra and the EIB-Institute as I was involved as a consultant to the latter. PPF had nominated the “60 wooden churches in southern Transylvania and northern Oltenia” project to the programme. Despite great difficulties and challenges at every level, PPF has persisted over the years and has by now restored several churches and protected many others. This was undertaken in an exemplary manner with PPF coordinating all the technical work of restoring the structure and the associated art works. It was achieved with limited funds and institutional support and relied much on PPF coordinating a band of enthusiastic volunteers, all under the professional guidance of experts.
A significant example of the work has been the full restoration of the Ursi church in Vâlcea County. The project was recognised as outstanding in the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards in 2021 when it was awarded the Grand Prix in the Conservation Category and also won the Public Choice Award. This is but one example of PPF’s work, but it illustrates well the very worthwhile work carried out by the organisation over many years.
It is important for the preservation of the valuable heritage in Romania that this exceptional work continues and that its relevance is appreciated by the wider public who are encouraged to continue supporting the Pro Patrimonio Foundation“
Photo: PPF archive, Mr. Peter Bond on the Europa Nostra mission, October 2014
Thoughts forwarded by Nicolae Raţiu, President of the Board of Directors – Pro Patrimonio Romania in the year Pro Patrimonio Foundation celebrates its 25th anniversary.
“25 years have felt a very long time for myself as one of Pro Patrimonio’s co-founders. I had imagined that it would have been time enough for more Romanians to recognize the critical importance of our own history and built heritage. Sadly it has not been enough except for a mere handful of financial supporters for whom we are profoundly grateful as we are to those disappointingly few who have become members. A sad reflection of a nation’s pride and respect it has of itself.
Despite these disappointments and lack of adequate funding I am proud to record that PP has achieved some remarkable successes over the years such as the careful and beautiful restoration of the Golescu Villa, the repair of the Enescu home at Mihaileni, establishing a music and arts programme there for the local community, and the Europa Nostra prize-winning renovation of the Ursi church in North Oltenia. Our team of paid and unpaid architects worked tirelessly to achieve all of these successes and our deep gratitude must go to them for fighting so hard to preserve Romania’s extraordinary heritage.
I sincerely hope my message is heard and responded to by more of our readers becoming members and donors”
Nicolae Ratiu MBE
Trustee
Pro Patrimonio
Nicolae Ratiu, co-founder of Pro Patrimonio, welcomed HE the Romanian Ambassador Laura Popescu and HE the Papal Nuntio of the United Kingdom to the magnificent first floor hall filled with guests at the Romanian Cultural Institute in London to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Pro Patrimonio.
He went on to describe the early days establishing the Foundation in response to the appalling condition of so many of Romania’s beautiful ancient buildings. Benefitting from founder President Serban Cantacuzino’s extensive network of architects in both the UK and Romania, Administrative Boards were formed and project funds were soon raised.
Support was however difficult to secure in Romania, there being so many other worthy causes around the nation in desperate need. Gradually however properties were acquired via funds raised or by donation, which were then restored and returned to local community use. 4 buildings are completed and several others others are now in process.
Lobbying successes were mentioned, particularly the role played by Pro Patrimonio in blocking the Rosia Montana Gold Corporation’s plans to destroy the ancient Roman era gold mines and risking flooding the area with cyanide laced sand.
Nicolae Ratiu finished with an urgent call for new membership and donations to enable Pro Patrimonio’s essential work to continue.
There followed a most interesting and stimulating talk by heritage specialist and writer Jeremy Musson entitled ‘The Role of Beauty in cultural heritage and conservation.’ With quotations from many architects, Vanbrugh and Serban Cantacuzino amongst them, Jeremy Musson emphasised how beauty was the starting point for not only the designing but the subsequent preservation of historic buildings. John Ruskin was a British artist whose paintings of English country houses shaped perceptions of their historic value.
His quotation from Serban Cantacuzino was: “Pro Patrimonio has a series of on-going projects whose main mission is the conservation, rescue and reactivation of cultural heritage, especially in architecture. The actions focus on palpable projects meant to protect and rehabilitate heritage and on involving and raising awareness in communities regarding their own identity, memory and inherited cultural values. Pro Patrimonio Foundation supports the idea that each citizen is responsible for heritage and that the latter represents an element that shapes social identity. In the view of the Foundation, tradition is not a set of inflexible values, it teaches us to learn about the identity and culture that has shaped us, still models us today and encourages critical thinking adapted in a balanced and practical way to contemporary life.”
Jeremy Musson closed with the words: “the use of a fragile historic house ( the George Enescu house at Mihaileni) as a tool for the education of children and the creation of a wider community of association around it is a typical example of the strategy by which the Pro Patrimonio Foundation has managed to save other monuments and will continue to save others.”
There followed a special concert with Alexandru Tomescu, a longtime supporter of Pro Patrimonio and Dragos Ilie performing a selection of Paganini’s sonatas for violin and guitar from Centone di Sonate, a collection of six sonatas, which Alexandru describes as “miniature operas” and “very spectacular” – which indeed they were. As usual Alexandru interspersed the delightful pieces with fascinating contextual anecdotes.
Afterwards a reception was enjoyed with delicious Romanian food and with excellent wine sponsored by Prince Stirbey wines.
July, 28th – August 11th, 2024, Rozdil
Pro Patrimonio Foundation participated in August in the UREHERIT program where more than 50 Ukrainian and Romanian volunteers were involved in conservation works at the Lanckoronski-Rzewuski Palace in Rozdil, Lviv region, Ukraine.
The educational program and conservation works took place within the framework of the International Heritage Summer School organized in the framework of the European project UREHERIT by two of the 11 consortium partners – Ro3kvit: Urban Coalition for Ukraine and Romanian Order of Architects (OAR) – with the involvement of Heritage UA, Building Ukraine Together BUR, Pro Patrimonio Foundation, Monumentum Association / Ambulance for Monuments and Studio Govora.
From July 28th to August 11th, 2024, in the village of Rozdil, Lviv region, a Ukrainian-Romanian heritage volunteer camp took place. More than 50 volunteers – students of architecture and cultural studies, members of renowned heritage NGOs and experts from both countries contributed to the educational program and on-site interventions. The focus was on testing different participatory methods and actions for heritage protection and recovery.
On behalf of Pro Patrimonio, architect Raluca Munteanu came back with overwhelming impressions after two weeks spent at the summer school: „I accepted the invitation of the OAR to participate in the workshop in Ukraine, together with colleagues from Ambulance for Monuments and Studio Govora, in order to share Pro Patrimonio’s experience of intervening on historic buildings and working with and educating young people. This time I was the one who learned. I learned from the young volunteers the determination and resilience to get involved and to hope for a normal world, to rebuild both communities and buildings, so brutally, inhumanly and absurdly destroyed. Their resolute spirit and courage have been an inspiration to us, and the two weeks have left behind spaces that the local community is now already using. In times of hardship, the value of these spaces is much greater, because they help to strengthen cohesion. I thank my Ukrainian friends for the lessons learned and my friends and colleagues here with whom I have worked side by side.”
You can learn more about this ambitious program in the detailed material prepared by the Romanian Order of Architects, partner of this project, link here.
Paris, September 18th 2024
On September 18, ICR Paris and Pro Patrimonio France invite you to discover Herculane Baths, Govora Baths, Câmpulung and the Romanian Black Sea coast, remarkable places in Romania. The exhibition provides an overview of this thermal and spa heritage, situating it in the European landscape, while offering an insight into the processes involved in its conservation, preservation and enhancement. The exhibition will include documents, photographs, archival and contemporary short films, case studies and examples of good practice.
Curated by Caroline d’Assay, President of Pro Patrimonio France, with the collaboration of two heritage architects working in France, Alina Jornea-Tataru and Paul Stancioiu, this exhibition is part of the third edition of the ICR Paris Cycle Patrimoine program, focusing on the role of civil society in safeguarding and capitalizing Romanian heritage.
The event is part of the European Heritage Days, September 21-22, 2024. Details here
Opening: September 18th, 2024, 19.30 o’clock
Conference: September 18th, 2024, 19.00 o’clock
Exhibition: September 18th– November 5th, 2024; Monday-Friday 10:00-18:00
The exhibition is open on Saturday, September 21st, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, on the occasion of European Heritage Days 2024.
Macadam Gallery, Romanian Cultural Institute, 1 rue de l’Exposition 75007 Paris, France
Free entry.
Read also:
Cycle Patrimoine – ediţia a II-a
Constantly with us over the years, Radio Romania Music presents the developments, needs and achievements we have at the George Enescu House in Mihăileni. And this year too, in a wide-ranging interview conducted by Ariadna Ene-Iliescu with pianist Raluca Știrbăț, the picture of this moment is presented, which you can discover below.
”The president of the International Society „George Enescu” in Vienna, pianist Raluca Știrbăț, is also the initiator of the project to save Enescu’s house in Mihăileni. She recently spoke to our colleague Ariadna Ene-Iliescu about the „Concerts on Siret” festival:
„Concerts on the Siret” is an annual event, which aims to integrate the „George Enescu” House in Mihăileni into the cultural and educational circuit in the area and nationally. What is the current state of the house in Mihăileni?
Radio Romania Music has always supported us, even from the first days of the campaign to save the house. We had a small problem, so to say, a problem that unfortunately is common in more and more old houses made of clay, stone or brick, a fungus, a biological attack, but we will solve it. We hope to get rid of this by the fall. Of course, we still need some money, so all donations to the „Pro Patrimonio” Foundation are welcome. This year we marked Enescu Day on August 19 with a blue and red „supermoon” and an exceptional ensemble of children from Havârna playing folk games and music, but the concerts are being held at the „Miclescu” Manor House in Călinești and the „Moruzi” Manor House in Vârful Câmpului. We already had a very nice concert on Wednesday – a recital of arias and lieder, I also sang a solo, but the „focus” was on the exceptional soprano Tehmine Schaeffer, who came especially from Vienna. And on Sunday – the final concert of the young masterclass participants. Also, in September there will be another concert at the „Moruzi” mansion in Vârful Câmpului, a concert by the „PlaCello” Ensemble, also from Bucharest, with Răzvan Suma, Ștefan Cazacu, Mircea Marian and Ella Bokor, four cellists with a very beautiful program.
Between August 17-25 you are mentoring a young generation of pianists, as you said, students from music colleges in Botoșani, Suceava, Iași, Bacău, Piatra-Neamț and Bucharest. How do you go about working with these trainee performers?
The number 9 seems to have become the magic number in our masterclass, because we start at 9 and finish at 9 and we work about nine hours a day. Unlike other courses, I do the courses the way I like to do them, so that each child has one hour of class every day, so seven hours on paper which works out well towards eight to nine hours. We mainly work on new programs that they are just figuring out now in the summer for next year, but we also work on a concert piece that they already have well worked on from the previous year.
What kind of audience do the events in the „Concerts on the Siret” series have?
We are very happy that the audience is getting bigger and more varied. There are also people from the local area, who enjoy it tremendously. We have a lot of music lovers from Botoșani, Iași, Bacău, Piatra-Neamț, and the audience is getting bigger every year. This is already our fourth edition and we hope to grow over time.
What future plans are there for the „George Enescu” house from Mihăileni?
The house in Mihăileni will simply be a living place, a place where music is made and not just music, but also music education, a wide variety of activities dedicated to young people and children in the area – from painting to theatre, crafts. The „Pro Patrimonio” Foundation and the „Maria” Association, and I must also mention the „Dream Horses” Association, are basically the initiators, partners and supporters of these projects. They are very much involved. When the work to eliminate this biological attack is finished, the activities will continue without interruption. It is also a home where one can live, write, compose and create very well and with great inspiration. It is a place where various musical residencies have already taken place, so musicians have lived there – a string quartet. I would like to organize a small symposium in the future, maybe, or in the same way, residencies in other fields – in literature or architecture… because it’s a place that really charges you up!”
19th August 2024 public event held in the courtyard of the George Enescu House in Mihăileni
Folk dance ensemble „Zorile Havârna”. Coordinator – Ionel Roboschi, Choreographer – Narcis Fediuc
Vocal group „Armonia” of the secondary school „Ioan Cernat”, Havârna. Coord. – prof. Roberta Mihalciuc, prof. Ciprian Ignat
August, 17-25 Masterclass held by pianist Raluca Știrbăț at Miclescu Manor, Călinești, Bt
August 21, 19:00 o’clock Recital of arias and lieder
Tehmine Schaeffer – soprano (Vienna) and Raluca Știrbăț – piano at Miclescu Manor, Călinești, Bt, Sala din Deal
August 25th, 18:00 o’clock Concert of young pianists participating in the Masterclass, students of music colleges from Botoșani, Suceava, Iași, Bacău, Piatra-Neamț and Bucharest, Miclescu Manor, Călinești, Bt, Sala din Deal
Theodora Epuran, Narcis Artenie, Bianca Andreea Havîrneanu, Luca Cirstean, Ruxandra Blandu, George Taranu, Alexandra Mariţencu Caia
Images and video: Raluca Ştirbăţ archive
Initiators: Pro Patrimonio Foundation, Maria Association, Internationale George Enescu Gesellschaft Wien, Dream Horses. Partners: Bucecea City Hall, Elsaco, PlaCello. Sponsors: Egger, Ideograf, Cella Cosimex SRL.
Photo: Florin Timofte
September 16th, 17:00 o’clock, Moruzi Manor, Vârfu Câmpului, Bt
PlaCello Ensemble: Răzvan Suma, Ella Bokor, Ștefan Cazacu, Mircea Marian. Special guest: Natsumi Kuboyama (piano, JPN). On the program works by: Haendel, Charpentier, Haydn, Schumann, Rossini, Popper, Shostakovich.
Lecture by PhD. Remus Tanasă, researcher Institute of History “A.D. Xenopol”, Iași
Images and recordings of this concert that defied the dark rain clouds and delighted the audience in the courtyard of the Moruzi Manor can be found in the article by Mrs. Florentina Toniţa for Botoşani News, photo/video: Botoșani News / Florin Timofte
Câteva gânduri despre Enescu – the lecture given by PhD. Remus Tanasă, researcher at the Institute of History “A.D. Xenopol” Iași, at the end of the concert at the Moruzi Manor.
If you want to know more about the events and the needs of the Enescu House, you can visit
Enescu House in Mihăileni on its third life
Details and images from previous editions of Concerts on Siret:
Concerte pe Siret, ediţia a IV-a, 17-25 august 2024
Concerte pe Siret. Concert final Masterclass, 22 august 2023. Călinești, Sala din Deal.
Concerte pe Siret, ediția a III-a
Cum a fost la Concerte pe Siret, ediţia a II-a
Cum a fost la „Concerte pe Siret” ediţia I
„Concerte pe Siret”. 140 de ani de la nașterea lui George Enescu
The European Cultural Heritage Summit is the annual gathering of Europe’s cultural heritage stakeholders. It is organised by Europa Nostra, a pan-European federation of heritage NGO’s, which counts some 250 member organisations together with more than 100 associate organizations, representing 5 million citizens. Every year, in addition to the flagship European Heritage Awards Ceremony, the summit includes a meeting on European public policies in the field of cultural heritage. Every year, Europa Nostra undertakes to debate and then draw public policy guidelines for the European institutions. This year, the theme of the meeting was quality principles in heritage conservation, emphasising the need for clear frameworks of action to ensure quality results in cultural heritage practice at European level.
The Romanian organizations active in relation with Europa Nostra, at the initiative of Pro Patrimonio Foundation and the Romanian Order of Architects, have mobilized for the first time in a very large number – over 60 organizations – to produce a manifesto related to cultural heritage in Romania. An important argument are the new mandates starting this year at all administrative levels in Romania. It is also an important moment for a synchronized action with Europa Nostra to communicate the expectations of Romanian civil society concerned and active in the protection of cultural heritage to the Romanian decision makers.
The conclusion emerged from the discussions that took place on Saturday, October 5, 2024, when non-governmental organizations and professionals involved in cultural heritage preservation gathered for the first time in Bucharest, in a round table, on the margins of the European Cultural Heritage Summit on October 6-8, to discuss the experiences they had in their projects and to agree on common priorities for action for the protection of cultural heritage in Romania.
The demands and priority principles for action were included in a Manifesto for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in Romania, which was presented in its final form at the Public Policy Agora, which took place during the European Cultural Heritage Summit on Tuesday, October 8.
Acknowledging that:
Civil society in Romania calls on the central and local public administration authorities to urgently implement a plan consisting of five actions, which will contribute to the improvement of the framework for the protection and capitalization of Romanian heritage:
1 Asociația CasApold
2 Fundația Biserici Fortificate
3 Fundația Pro Patrimonio
4 Asociația Biserici Înlemnite
5 Asociația Artis Peritia
6 Kraft Campus
7 Art Conservation Support (ACS)
8 Nod Makerspace
9 Asociația Front la Dunăre
10 Asociatia Ivan Patzaichin Mila 23
11 Human Made Art/ Cronicari Digitali
12 Universitatea Națională de Arte-București
13 112Patrimoniu – GL Patrimoniu al OAR București
14 Asociația Youth Vision for Society
15 Asociatia ARA – Arhitectura. Restaurare. Arheologie
16 Grupul Civic Piața Veche Craiova
17 Asociația GEYC
18 Asociația 37
19 Rafinăria la prezent
20 DE-A ARHITECTURA, SYAA ARHITECTURA, CUMULUS
21 Asociația Pro Noviodunum
22 Asociația Gaspar, Baltasar & Melchiror/Școala de la Piscu
23 Asociația Ideilagram
24 Asociația Unda Verde
25 Librariile Cărturești
26 Raluca Chițimia
27 MKBT: Make Better
28 Asociația Re:Rise
29 Asociația Profesională a Urbaniștilor din România (APUR)
30 Asociația Studio Zona
31 Asociatia Maria
32 Asociatia Monumentum/Ambulanta pentru monumente
33 Asociatia Inima Olteniei
34 Asociația ARHAIC / Ambulanța pentru Monumente Sălaj
35 Asociatia ACTUM
36 Asociatia De-a Arhitectura
37 ATU – asociația pentru tranziție urbană
38 Zero Positive Architecture SRL
39 Baza. Deschidem orașul
40 Asociatia Rosia Montan in Patrimoniul Mondial
41 Asociația culturală Aici A Stat
42 Asociația Laborator Zero Pozitiv Oradea
43 Asociația Petrus Italus Trust- Alianța pentru patrimoniul bistrițean
44 Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Optolectronica INOE 2000
45 Bogdan Simona-Loredana
46 Timișoara verde-albastră
47 UAUIM, OAR, DOCOMOMO_ROMANIA
48 Fundația Mihai Eminescu Trust
49 ICOMOS – Comitetul Național Român
50 Atelierul de Patrimoniu
51 Asociația Tri
52 Asociația ARTA în dialog (UrbanEye Film Festival)
53 ArhipeisajStudio.srl
54 Asociatia Salvati Conacul Zarifopol
55 Asociația pentru Arheologie Industrială – AIR
56 Studiogovora
57 Rencontres du Patrimoine Europe-Roumanie
58 Asociația Culturală „Patrimoniu pentru Viitor”
59 Asociația de Dezvoltare Intercomunitara Zona Metropolitana Bucuresti (ADIZMB)
60 ARCEN
61 Uniunea Arhitectilor din Romania
62 Ordinul Arhitecților din România
63 Revista Arhitectura
64 Asociația Prin Banat
65 Asociatia Locus / HerculaneProject
66 Nod Makerspace
67 Asociatia EDUCATIE , ARTA , ECOLOGIE
68 Asociatia Istoria Artei
Read more:
July 2024
After a year of intense efforts, the George Enescu House in Mihăileni has overcome the most difficult phase. The biological report prepared by Mrs. Ionela Melinte, a biologist, certifies that the works to eliminate the Merulius lacrymans fungus were correctly approached and that the house is now biologically sanitized. The interventions were carried out carefully and with small steps in order not to risk spreading the contamination, but also to prevent major damage to the structural frame. We thank our donors and sponsors, without whom these works would not have been possible: Egger Group, Dedeman, EchitArt, Elsaco.
In spite of the maintenance and landscaping works with drains, soakaways, vertical systematization and ventilation of the underground spaces, the humidity in the cellar persists. Because this excessive humidity cannot be controlled naturally, we are in talks with BioDry to use high-performance mechanical dehumidification solutions.
Work is currently concentrating on re-finishing to make the house welcoming and ready for activities. Interior and exterior plaster, stoves and floors are being redone. The work also partially affected the electrical wiring. While the lighting has been conserved since the start of the work, the entire socket network has been dismantled in order to be able to carry out work on the foundations, plinth and floors. This now needs to be redone.
The estimated cost for all these activities to complete and reopen the house is around 25 000 Euro.
Since it was introduced to the public and educational projects have gradually started to take place in or in connection with the George Enescu House in Mihăileni, it has proved to be a real catalyst. More than just a heritage object, it is what generates strong links for local communities on the left bank of the upper Siret, a revived local identity, a renewed interest in the stories of place and the cultural landscape of the river, open access to culture and music education, sound study and traditional crafts.
In parallel with these efforts to restore and maintain the Enescu House, the George Enescu Academy of Music and Sound Studies in Mihăileni was established, functioning as a center of excellence in the study of classical music. Children from the Moldavian region have been attracted to the Academy, giving them the chance to get a quality education in a cultural environment that combines memorial and music education.
Every summer, hands-on experiential and creative education workshops are organized in which children from Mihăleni take part, this year the heritage education component is called „The Heritage Kit and Caravan – Houses and Communities Working Together” and is being carried out with monthly activities, kits and workshops in five communities where Pro Patrimonio has restoration interventions.
Pro Patrimonio’s involvement over the years has been done without State involvement, through private donations, cultural projects and volunteering. Once the consolidation and restoration work on the building is completed, the use of the house will be directed towards education and research, with a preponderance in the field of music and in the interest of future generations.
Read also:
Un proiect simbol pentru comunitatea locală
O ciupercă dăunătoare afectează lemnul Casei George Enescu din Mihăileni. Intervenţii de urgenţă.
Concerte pe Siret. Concert final Masterclass, 22 august 2023. Călinești, Sala din Deal.
Concerte pe Siret, ediția a III-a
Eliminarea umezelii la Casa George Enescu. Şantier sub observaţie.
For a year and a half, from the beginning of 2024 until June 2025, the Heritage Education program has been enriched with more workstations and offers 125 children from rural areas and beyond the opportunity to learn directly through experimentation and creativity about the heritage of architecture, local memory and identity, nature, buildings, relationships between people and cultural values.
The project entitled “Heritage Kit and Caravan – Houses and Communities Working Together” has two components that have proven over years to be very important: remote interventions through heritage kits and on-site interventions through workshops, camps and community days within the heritage caravan.
25 children from 5 communities in different counties (Botoșani, Brașov, Argeș, Vâlcea and Olt) will form mixed working groups with a local coordinator, they will meet twice a month for six months to work together on the stories of six emblematic heritage buildings in Romania (with at least one example from their own neighborhood). The stories received in the pack will be complemented by numerous practical challenges that question and challenge the groups of children to rethink life in the community, the nearby natural setting and the individual spaces they use in relation to examples of good practice received and then constructed by themselves.
The first six examples of kits tell the stories of: the Enescu House in Mihăileni, Botoșani county; Viscri 18 peasant house, Viscri, Brasov county; the Golescu Villa, town of Câmpulung Muscel, Argeș county; Neamțu Manor, Olari village, Olt county; Urși Church, Vâlcea county and a surprise house.
Each kit pack dedicated to one of the six places contains: an interactive exploration booklet of the house, a slice of the large map puzzle of Romania, a pop-up construction and the house itself that lights up.
The caravan is designed for direct interaction. It brings together project coordinators and trained trainers for two successive camp sessions and community days in all five Pro Patrimonio communities. Workshops, cultural, sporting and culinary competitions, exhibitions and film evenings will invite both children involved in the program and curious and eager family members to participate.
The kits, camps and community days aim to be an engaging cultural product, demonstrating that the collaborative heritage stories of architects, designers, historians and environmental specialists can work together in an understandable educational package and generate ideas and solutions for creative development and the enhancement of quality life for individuals and groups, using existing cultural resources in innovative ways.
The camps and community days at the end of the project give us the opportunity to generate a sense of belonging to a community and instill the idea that the power to change lies in one’s own hands.
***
Over the last ten years, through its trans-annual and interdisciplinary “Education for Heritage” program, the Pro Patrimonio Foundation has been promoting education of and for heritage wherever the Foundation physically intervenes.
The over 40 workshops initiated by Pro Patrimonio in these years are mainly aimed at children aged 7-14 years old, in vulnerable situations in the communities where the foundation carries out projects for the rescue, conservation and rehabilitation of architectural heritage (Golescu Villa in Câmpulung, Neamțu Manor in Olari, Perticari-Davila Manor in Argeș, George Enescu House in Mihăileni, etc.).
The activities are organized annually in the form of practical workshops and aim to educate and teach directly, through experimentation and creativity, about architectural heritage, local memory and identity, nature, buildings, relationships between people and cultural values. Projects such as “3 Doors, 3 Countries Festival” (2018), “The Heritage Caravan” (2019), “Enescu House Days” (2020), “School of Landscape, Art and Sound” (2021), “My Village Story” (2022), the “Heritage in a Package “ kit series and numerous one-off actions in the sites where we work, have shaped and consolidated over time a functional working strategy.
“Heritage Kit and Caravan – Houses and Communities Working Together” is a project realized by Pro Patrimonio Foundation, supported by the Romanian Order of Architects Stamp Tax and co-financed by AFCN.
