European Heritage Award / Europa Nostra Award 2024 for restoration of the Fortified Church Ensemble from Alma Vii (Sibiu county)
The European Commission and Europa Nostra today announced the 2024 winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards, co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union. This year, Europe’s most prestigious awards for heritage go to 26 outstanding winners from 18 countries across the continent (see the full list below).
Among this year’s winners is the restoration of the Saxon Church from Alma Vii, ROMANIA. The restoration not only preserved the architectural and historical integrity of the church, but strengthened the local community, encouraged the sustainable development of tourism and revitalized the cultural heritage of the village.
The winners were selected by the Awards’ Jury, composed of 12 heritage experts from across Europe, upon evaluation of the applications by the Selection Committees. A total of 206 eligible applications to this year’s Awards were submitted by organisations and individuals from 38 European countries.
Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said: “Our cultural heritage is our collective treasure, a bridge connecting our past, present and future. It holds a special place in our hearts and daily lives, fostering a sense of belonging and identity. The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards highlight the crucial role of exemplary projects and individuals dedicated to preserving and promoting our rich heritage. I warmly congratulate this year’s winners on their outstanding achievements.”
Cecilia Bartoli, the world-renowned mezzo-soprano and President of Europa Nostra, stated: “My heartfelt congratulations to this year’s winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards on their well-deserved recognition. By honouring these fantastic creative projects, we also demonstrate our great commitment to protecting our shared cultural heritage, which is vital for building a more united, sustainable and beautiful Europe. May their inspiring examples be followed by many citizens – heritage professionals, volunteers and lovers – public organisations and private companies across our continent and beyond.”
The winners will be celebrated atthe European Heritage Awards Ceremony 2024 on 7 October at the Romanian Athenaeum, the most prestigious concert hall in Bucharest, Romania, which recently received a European Heritage Label in recognition of its European significance. This high-profile event will be co-hosted by the European Commissioner Iliana Ivanova and Europa Nostra’s Executive President Hermann Parzinger. During the ceremony, the Grand Prix laureates and the Public Choice Award winner, chosen from among this year’s winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards and entitled to receive €10,000 each, will be announced.
The ceremony will be a highlight of the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2024 which will take place on 6-8 October in Bucharest under the high patronage of the President of Romania, H.E. Klaus Iohannis. The Summit, co-funded by the European Union, is organised by Europa Nostra in close cooperation with heritage organisations and partners, both public and private, in Romania.
Heritage supporters and enthusiasts are now encouraged to discover the winners and vote online to decide who will win the Public Choice Award 2024, entitled to receive a monetary award of €10,000. You can cast your vote until 22 September.
Saxon Church in Alma Vii, ROMANIA
This project rescued and restored a cultural landmark that symbolises centuries of history and craftsmanship in the picturesque village of Alma Vii in Transylvania, Romania. The comprehensive restoration not only preserved the church’s architectural and historical integrity but also empowered the local community, fostered sustainable tourism development, and revitalised the village’s cultural heritage. The project was coordinated by Mihai Eminescu Trust and supported by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) and EEA Grants.
Alma Vii, a traditional Transylvanian Saxon village, is known for its fortified church, a testament to centuries of history and craftsmanship. The church and its surroundings were in a state of disrepair, making preservation a pressing concern. The masonry, composed of both stones from the 14th century and handcrafted bricks from the 16th century, was non-homogeneous, resulting in structural weaknesses and visibly pronounced cracks, large fissures from past interventions, dislocations, and compromised joints. Plasters on the facades were deteriorated, especially on the northern side, leading to interior masonry issues. The wooden structure suffered from rot, humidity, and insect infestation.
The project’s integrated approach to conservation was strongly related to the implementation of a multifaceted strategy that combined high-quality restoration methods, sustainable heritage site valorisation, community engagement, strategic planning for sustainable development, and economic empowerment. The restoration works adheres to best practices, embracing minimal, reversible interventions using traditional local building materials and techniques. Skilled architects, engineers, and builders experienced in historic restoration were integral to the project. Restoration included repairing cracks in walls, re-binding stones and bricks, cleaning and pointing dislocated mortar with lime mortar, rebuilding deteriorated buttresses and ring wall segments, and repairing the damaged wooden roof structure. The church sacristy was also saved from collapse through the reconstruction of the vault.
The project placed a significant emphasis on engaging the local community in heritage revitalisation through meetings, events, and educational workshops. These activities were designed to raise awareness about the value of cultural heritage, explore the protection and conservation of local heritage, and identify together with community members new functions for the church after completing restoration works. This was especially relevant as the church’s Saxon community had mostly left the village by the end of the 1990s.
The project not only breathed new life into a historical monument but also invigorated the community. It has become a catalyst for sustainable tourism, economic opportunities, and cultural exchange. The project’s holistic approach involved community engagement, education, and international collaboration.
“The conservation of the Saxon Church in Alma Vii is a strong example for fortified churches, and for religious heritage which no longer has a surrounding, original community to care for it. The meticulous yet minimal intervention ensured the use of compatible materials and solutions which were sensitive to the original structure. This is evident in how the original bricks and tiles were retained, and how the patina was conserved. This sustainable approach is also evident in the high-quality results, achieved with limited funding. The project has restored the cultural landscape of this small village, and included community engagement to the highest level, thus instilling a sense of responsibility for this heritage”, the Awards’ Jury said.
These are the winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2024 in five categories[1]:
[1] The winners are listed alphabetically by country
Conservation & Adaptive Reuse
Royale Belge Building, Brussels, BELGIUM
Schulenburg Mansion, Gera, GERMANY
Ignacy Historic Mine, Rybnik, POLAND
Saxon Church in Alma Vii, ROMANIA
St. Michael’s Church, Cluj-Napoca, ROMANIA
Snow Wells, Sierra Espuña, SPAIN
Research
NewsEye: A Digital Investigator for Historical Newspapers, AUSTRIA/FINLAND/FRANCE/GERMANY
Education, Training & Skills
Teryan Cultural Center – Empowering Armenian Refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh, Yerevan, ARMENIA
Boulouki – Travelling Workshop on Traditional Building, GREECE
Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme, IRELAND
Serfenta Crafts Revitalisation Model, Cieszyn, POLAND
White Carpentry School, Narros del Castillo, SPAIN
Citizens’ Engagement & Awareness-raising
The Square Kilometre, Ghent, BELGIUM
The Silence that Tore Down the Monument, Kamenska, CROATIA
Preserving the Community Halls for Local Civil Society Activities, FINLAND
Fortified Castles of Alsace Association, FRANCE
Citizens’ Rehabilitation of the Tsiskarauli Tower, Akhieli, GEORGIA
International Festival of Classical Theatre for Youth, Syracuse, ITALY
Foundation for the Conservation of the Historical Estate Ockenburgh, The Hague, THE NETHERLANDS
Heritage Champions
Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities, CROATIA
Else “Sprossa” Rønnevig, Lillesand, NORWAY
Professor Piotr Gerber, Wrocław, POLAND
Europa Nostra Awards 2024 for outstanding projects from the UK
This year, Europa Nostra Awards go to four remarkable heritage projects from a European country not taking part in the EU Creative Europe programme.
Gideon Tapestries, Hardwick Hall (Conservation & Adaptive Reuse category)
Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, Shrewsbury (Conservation & Adaptive Reuse category)
Westminster Hall, London (Conservation & Adaptive Reuse category)
Marcus Binney CBE, OBE Hon FRIBA FSA (Heritage Champions category)
Background
European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards
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 22 years, the Awards have been a key tool to recognise and promote the multiple values of heritage for Europe’s 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 2025 edition of the Awards will open in Autumn 2024.Sign up for our newsletter to receive the Call once it is launched or visit www.europeanheritageawards.eu/apply for more information.
Europa Nostra
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 last year.
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 an official partner of the New European Bauhaus initiative developed by the European Commission, and is a leading European member and supporter of the Climate Heritage Network.
Creative Europe
Creative Europe is the EU programme that supports the cultural and creative sectors, 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.