Romania: two churches, Roman Catholic and Evangelical, among the winners of the European Heritage Awards 2024

Two churches in Romania, one Roman Catholic and one Evangelical, are among the winners of this year’s European Heritage Awards, the prize through which the European Union recognises excellence in the conservation, regeneration and adaptation to new uses of European heritage. The winners are the Roman Catholic Church of St Michael (14th century) in the city of Cluj-Napoca, and the fortified Evangelical Church of Alma Vii (14th-16th century) in Sibiu County. Belonging to the Archdiocese of Alba Iulia, St Michael’s Church – presented as a “gem of European Gothic architecture” – underwent extensive restoration between 2016 and 2020, with funds from the European Union, the Governments of Romania and Hungary, and other bodies. The work encompassed structural reinforcements, façade revivals, the refurbishment of the interiors, and modern enhancements. The fortified Church of Alma Vii, significant for the history and crafts in the region, has been restored as part of a project that involved the local community and revived the cultural landscape. A press release informs that 206 projects from 38 European countries were submitted for the Award. The jury, composed of 12 heritage experts from all over Europe, selected 26 winners from 18 countries. The two Romanian churches are among the winners in the “Conservation and Adaptive Reuse” category. The award ceremony will take place in October in the Romanian capital, which will also host the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2024.Cristina Grigore