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
We invite you to register for a workshop on the optimal use of polarized light microscopy and SEM1 to better understand mineral materials in conservation, architecture and archaeology. It will take place at the National University of Arts Bucharest for a period of 4 days, between 23 – 26 September 2025. The event is jointly organized by Prof. Dr. Johannes Weber from the University of Applied Arts Vienna, the National University of Arts Bucharest with the support of Prof. dr. Maria Dumbrăvicean and the Pro Patrimonio Foundation with the help of Arch. Raluca Munteanu.
“Microscopy is the most effective analytical technique
for gathering information on historic artefacts and building materials”
The analysis of the mineral material of architectural and archaeological objects in the laboratory is frequently a challenging task for conservation scientists, building researchers and archaeologists. It includes the identification and characterization of stones, mortars and ceramics as well as the assessment of their structural and material failures. Within the range of various methods of analysis employed, thin section petrography, eventually combined with SEM, offers a powerful method to gain relevant information on historical and modern building materials. Planned as a platform for scientists and experts with a background in mineral artefacts, the four-day workshop is aimed at demonstrating and discussing the potential of light microscopic and SEM techniques in the field of restoration, building research, conservation science and archaeology-archaeometry. The main focus is laid on the thin section analysis of mortars, plasters, concrete, stone and ceramics by applying transmitted and reflective light. Composition, workmanship and degradation will be discussed.
The group will comprise a maximum of 30 participants from architecture and conservation. Lectures and discussions are in English. They will be held resp. moderated by a conservation scientist from the University of Applied Arts Vienna, with a degree in petrography and a sound background in the use of different microscopic techniques in the fields. Following an introduction on methodology, each type of material will be quickly discussed on a general level before displaying examples of analysis by microscopy of actual samples.
The 4 day participation amounts to 250 EUR. The students of the National University of Arts have free access in the limit of 15 places. The participation fee includes digital course materials. Informal registration shall be sent not later than June 30 2025 through this Formular. You will then within short receive a confirmation with details of participation and payment. The number of participants is limited, and a ‘first come, first serve’ policy will be followed according to the date of registration. Should no sufficient number of participants register, the event will be cancelled. In that unlikely case, you will be informed as soon as possible and payments will be fully reimbursed.
1 SEM = scanning electron microscopy
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Microscopic techniques to study mineral materials in cultural heritage PROGRAM |
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Time |
Topic |
Type and lecturer |
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Tuesday September 23, 2025 |
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09:00 – 10:00 |
Welcome and organisational details, |
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10:00 – 12:30 |
Introduction: Microscopy in conservation and architectural research. |
lecture |
JW |
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12:30 – 14:00 |
Lunch break |
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14:00 – 15:00 |
Microscopy of selected building stones and their decay phenomena |
live microscopy |
JW |
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15:00 – 16:30 |
selected Romanian heritage stones |
VC |
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16:30 – 17:30 |
Soluble salts – identification by microscopy and SEM |
live microscopy and lecture |
JW |
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17:30 – 18:30 |
Biological growth under the microscope |
IG |
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Wednesday, September 24, 2025 |
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16:30 – 17:00 |
Visualization of consolidants by microscopy and SEM |
JW |
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09:00 – 10:00 |
Ceramic materials |
lecture and live microscopy |
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10:30 – 11:30 |
Gypsum mortars |
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11:30 – 12:00 |
Calcareous and cementitious mortars; classification and historical context. |
lecture |
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12:30 – 14:00 |
Lunch break |
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14:00 – 16:30 |
Air lime mortars from the Antiquity up to date |
lecture and live microscopy |
JW |
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16:30 |
Case studies on mural paintings |
lecture |
MB |
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Thursday September 25, 2025 |
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09:00 – 09:30 |
Dolomitic lime mortars |
live micoscopy |
JW |
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09:30 – 10:00 |
Pre-industrial feebly hydraulic lime mortars. |
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10:00 – 11:00 |
Pozzolanic and brick-dust lime mortars. |
lecture and live microscopy |
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12:00 – 12:30 |
Open questions and discussion |
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12:30 – 14:00 |
Lunch break |
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14:00 – 15:30 |
Industrial natural hydraulic lime and natural (“Roman”) cement mortars. |
lecture and live microscopy |
JW |
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15:30 |
Case studies on modernistic architecture |
lecture |
RM |
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Friday, September 26, 2025 |
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09:00 – 12:30 |
Portland cement mortars and concrete. |
lecture and live microscopy |
JW |
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12:30 – 14:00 |
Lunch break |
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14:00 – 15:00 |
Evaluation of mortar parameters by microscopy. |
lecture |
JW |
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15:00 – 17:00 |
Samples from participants |
live microscopy |
All |
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17:00 |
Open questions and discussion |
microscopy |
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Lecturers |
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IG |
Prof. Univ. Dr. Ioana Gomoiu |
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JW |
Prof. Univ. Dr. Johannes Weber |
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MD |
Conf.Univ. Dr. Maria Dumbrăviceanu |
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RM |
Arh. Raluca Munteanu |
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VC |
Dr. Eng. Valentina Cetean |
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Coffee snacks and luncheons will be provided by the organizers – the costs are not included in the participation fee
Johannes Weber is a petrologist graduated from the University of Vienna, Austria. He has been working since the 1980-s at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, where he has been lecturing mineral material sciences in respect to the characterization, decay diagnosis and principles of conservation to students of heritage conservation. Many of his national and international research activities were focused on ancient and historic mortars, in which he implemented and further developed methods of microscopy to investigate the nature of binders as well as the microstructure of inorganic consolidants in the pore system of decayed stone and mortar. Since 2014 he has been organizing annual international seminars on the study of heritage materials by means of microscopy.
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.
January 2025
The rationale behind the creation of Pro Patrimonio Romania Foundation in 2000, the balanced adaptation to the local context, the strategic flexibility and the long-lasting and impactful projects show that the organization has proven its usefulness.
The essential idea the founding architect Șerban Cantacuzino had should be restated: the foundation was created using the Anglo-Saxon National Trust model, which has adapted over time due to the completely different situation between British and Romanian society.
Pro Patrimonio has developed a progressive strategy, starting from seemingly minor issues of information and debate, and succeeding in creating a rather important circle of interest – Bucharest, Brasov, Câmpulung. Then came the second stage: the decisive step of saving the buildings, backed up by the principle asserted by Șerban Cantacuzino – the protection of monuments of particular importance through donations. The access to donors generated a certain kind of knowledge linked to social relations, created a group of supportive members outside Romania and influenced other organizations to do similar things. I am referring to a networking cooperation process, like the ever-present Pro Patrimonio branches in England and France.
Pro Patrimonio has not stopped, the strategy has naturally evolved towards issues raised at territorial level. The first project was 60 Wooden Churches, which started in 2009 from a simple observation: in rural areas there are values that pointwise may seem small, but which become a very precious heritage, when seen as a whole. They could be saved only taken as a whole and the case of the Bears’ little church – which was awarded multiple prizes in 2021 – is a perfect example, based on a slow process in which collaborators and volunteers worked side by side with passion.
Pro Patrimonio applies its strategy in a flexible and exploration-based manner. How do we start a project without knowing how it ends? is, in fact, the first question about how we manage and what we do after a project is completed. The idea is not to leave the place, but to pass on values and knowledge to local communities; this is how the heritage education project came about. Good heritage administration starts with education as the spearhead and the tool that can pass on a one-off effort in the long term.
Another principle of action is reciprocity in behaviour towards heritage that you cannot maintain but you know you have to pass on, sometimes in borderline situations. Internally, we look for solutions based on common sense and normal gestures in relation to values, transmissibility, maintenance and correct use of heritage, nothing excessive (projects such as the study of historic plasterwork, maintenance of a church, etc.).
We did not segregate (by profession, age, function) in Pro Patrimonio projects. We worked with whom we could and adapted to each case. Romania is stratified, there are segregations and differences of perception in terms of history, tradition, patriotism, responsibilities, which makes a whole series of losses unexpected and unnecessary. It is a different understanding of values.
We cannot be indifferent to the destruction of national heritage and that of neighbouring countries. Heritage has no borders; it is a normal concern.
In the long term, we want to pass on the Pro Patrimonio system that will be metabolized as a model at a general level, where the concern for heritage becomes a normality.
Șerban Sturdza
Fundatia ADEPT & Pro Patrimonio invite you to a
ROMANIAN FESTIVAL
The Romanian Cultural Institute
1 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PH
Tuesday 21st January 2025 at 6pm
Fundatia ADEPT 20th Anniversary
Exhibition private view: British Painters in Transylvania
Talk by Dr John Akeroyd: Transylvania’s Flowers & Countryside
Reception with Romanian food & wine
&
Wednesday 22nd January 2025 at 6pm
Pro Patrimonio 25th Anniversary
Live in concert: Alexandru Tomescu & Dragos Ilie
Talk by Jeremy Musson: The Role of Beauty in Cultural Heritage & Conservation
Reception with Romanian food & wine
RSVP:
Link to register for ADEPT reception (21.01.25) – donations invited
Link to tickets for Pro Patrimonio reception (22.01.25) – £25
The exhibition will be open on Wednesday 22nd January 10am – 3pm then continue, week days only,
2pm – 4pm, until Tuesday 4th February 2025
Brochure_Romanian festival 2025
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
