Europa Nostra – the European voice of civil society committed to cultural and natural heritage – and its partner organisation, the European Investment Bank Institute (EIBI), has announced the 12 most threatened heritage sites in Europe shortlisted for the 7 Most Endangered programme 2021.
…sites embody our shared history…
…immense and multifaceted value of our cultural heritage…
Europa Nostra writes:
Europa Nostra – the European voice of civil society committed to cultural and natural heritage – and its partner organisation, the European Investment Bank Institute, have today announced the 12 most threatened heritage sites in Europe shortlisted for the 7 Most Endangered programme 2021:
Achensee Steam Cog Railway, Tyrol, AUSTRIA
Modern Theatre, Sofia, BULGARIA
Cemetery Complex of Mirogoj, Zagreb, CROATIA
Church of Saint-Denis, Hauts-de-France, FRANCE
Narikala Fortress, Tbilisi, GEORGIA
Green Space System, Cologne, GERMANY
Five Southern Aegean Islands, GREECE
The Giusti Garden, Verona, ITALY
The Ca’ Zenobio Palace, Venice, ITALY
De?ani Monastery, KOSOVO*
Central Post Office in Skopje, NORTH MACEDONIA
San Juan de Socueva Chapel and Hermitage, Cantabria, SPAIN
Information about these exceptional European heritage sites and the reasons why they were shortlisted are provided below.
The selection was made on the basis of the outstanding heritage significance and cultural value of each of the sites as well as on the basis of the serious danger that they are facing. The level of engagement of local communities and the commitment of public and private stakeholders to saving these sites were considered as crucial added values. Another selection criterion was the potential of these sites to act as a catalyst for sustainable socio-economic development for their localities and wider regions.
The 12 endangered heritage sites were shortlisted by an international Advisory Panel, comprising experts in history, archaeology, architecture, conservation, project analysis and finance. Nominations for the 7 Most Endangered Programme 2021 were submitted by member organisations, associate organisations and individual members of Europa Nostra from all over Europe as well as by members of the European Heritage Alliance.
The final list of 7 Most Endangered heritage sites in Europe for 2021 will be unveiled in March.
The Executive President of Europa Nostra, Prof. Dr. Hermann Parzinger, stated: “At a time of a distressing global crisis, we stand in full solidarity with local communities all across Europe who are the tireless stewards of our most vulnerable heritage assets. We stand in solidarity and we also stand in action. You can count on Europa Nostra, and our wide network of members and partners, to raise our voices in defence of these 12 heritage sites at risk of being lost forever. From iconic natural landscapes, to sites of religious significance and modernist architectural gems, these remarkable sites embody our shared history and are an untapped source of development and wellbeing for the regions and countries involved and for Europe as a whole. At a time when it is most needed, let us work together to preserve our cultural heritage and place it where it belongs: at the heart of Europe’s post-pandemic recovery”.
The Dean of the European Investment Bank Institute, Francisco de Paula Coelho, said: “This shortlist is an important reminder that our cultural heritage is fragile and that it should not be taken for granted. With this shortlist, our joint aim is to support and amplify the efforts of local communities who, throughout Europe, are convinced of the immense and multifaceted value of our cultural heritage. In order to fully capitalise on our shared cultural heritage as a driver of sustainable development, we must ensure its physical safeguarding as the first and most urgent step”.
The 7 Most Endangered programme is run by Europa Nostra in partnership with the European Investment Bank Institute. It also has the support of the Creative Europe programme of the European Union. Launched in 2013, this programme forms part of a civil society campaign to save Europe’s endangered heritage. It raises awareness, prepares independent assessments and proposes recommendations for action. While not providing direct funding, the listing of an endangered site often serves as a catalyst and incentive for mobilisation of the necessary public or private support, including funding.
For the 2021 edition, for the first time since the launch of the programme, the selected 7 Most Endangered heritage sites will be eligible for an EIB Heritage Grant of up to €10,000 per site. The EIB Heritage Grant can be allocated to the eligible selected 7 Most Endangered sites to assist in implementing an agreed activity that will contribute to saving the threatened site.
