UNESCO fortified churches in Transylvania - a network for the "safeguarding" of cultural heritage with open "gates" in order to facilitate access to it

Project facts

Project promoter:
Unitarian Church of Dârjiu
Project Number:
RO12-0034
Target groups
Young adults,
Elderly people
Status:
Completed
Initial project cost:
€35,452
Final project cost:
€32,361
From EEA Grants:
€ 24,756
The project is carried out in:
Harghita

Description

The project aims to create a network of collaboration between the seven fortified churches in Romania, included in the World Heritage List. This network aims to develop conditions for the “safeguarding” of the cultural heritage values of the ethnic Hungarian and Saxon, applying the strategy of the “open gates” to promote this heritage and facilitate the access to it. The project includes conservation and restoration works of the frescos inside the church of Dârjiu, which illustrates the legend of king St. László, painted in 1419, and the creation of an exhibition related to folk art and traditional crafts. It also includes the development of the exhibition, network activities such as the production of a booklet with cultural and tourist itineraries and detailed information about the regions and the seven fortified churches, the making of maps showing tourist itineraries, the developing of a common promotion site and the production of a promotion documentary film. This all contributes to community development through increase use of tourism potential by revitalising of cultural heritage and promoting cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue and protection of minorities.

Summary of project results

The project aimed to create a network of cooperation between the seven fortified churches in Romania included in the World Heritage List: Câlnic, Prejmer, Viscri, Dârjiu, Saschiz, Biertan, Valea Viilor. This network aims to create conditions for the “defence” of the cultural heritage values of the ethnic Hungarian and Saxon, applying the strategy of the “open gates” to promote this heritage and facilitate the access to it. The project included conservation and restoration work of the frescos inside the church of Dârjiu, which illustrate the legend of King St. László, painted in 1419, and the creation of a museum exhibition related to folk art and traditional crafts inside Dârjiu church. The implementation of this project was a good example for the administrators of other churches, members of the created network, regarding heritage capitalization. The role of the network is to achieve effective cooperation in restoration, preservation and enhancement of these valuable monuments. In this respect it was signed a protocol of cooperation between the Evangelical Church of Romania and the Unitarian Church of Transylvania. The outputs of the project consist in: - Restored murals inside and outside the fortified church Dârjiu with a total area of 45 sqm; - Museum - type exhibition created in the church of Dârjiu. The exhibition consists of four parts: Intercultural exhibition in the context of Fortified Churches Network; Folk art exhibition; Photo exhibition; Ethnographic and folk art outdoor exhibition. - A network of cooperation and promotion of the seven fortified churches in Transylvania, which are part of the World Heritage UNESCO. The network activity included the production of 11.200 booklets presenting cultural and tourist itineraries related to the seven fortified churches and the surrounding region, the creation of 7 map – panels and 5600 printed maps, a common promotion website (www.1419.ro) and the production of a promotional documentary film.

Summary of bilateral results