On 8 April, Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank Institute (EIB) announced their yearly selection of Europe’s seven most endangered heritage sites. With their election, the places are eligible for an EIB heritage grant of up to €10.000. Elected sites can use the money to organise an activity to save them from destruction.
The seven most endangered list includes plenty of religious heritage, such as the Historic Cemetry Complex of Mirogoj in Zagreb (Croatia), the Dečani Monastery in Kosovo and the San Juan de Socueva Chapel and Hermitage in Cantabria (Spain).
Other sites are located in Austria (the Achensee Steam Cog Railway), Italy (The Giusti Garden in Verona) and North-Macedonia (Skopje’s Central Post Office). The largest ”site” is the so-called Cycladic landscape. It stretches out over five Greek islands: Amorgos, Kimolos, Kithira, Sikinos and Tinos. (Text continues below slideshow)
The Dečani Monastery in Kosovo has been on the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger since 2006. The Orthodox Christian Monastery is one of the most important Medieval religious monuments in Europe. Image: Courtesy of Dečani Monastery/Europa Nostra (Flickr) CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 
San Juan de Socueva is an ancient hermitage and chapel set into the rocky mountains on Northern-Spain. Dated to 660-680 AD, its state of conservation is worrying. Image: Miguel de Arriba/ Europa Nostra (Flickr) CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 
In March and December 2020, the city of Zagreb was hit by two major earthquakes, which caused severe damage to the Cemetery Complex of Mirogoj. Image: Milan Pezelj/Europa Nostra (Flickr) CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 
The Achensee Steam Cog Railway is the only public railway in the world that, since its opening in 1889, still uses all of the equipment of a late 19th-century railway system. The Tyrolean railroad is at risk of fast deterioration due to lack of maintenance. Image: Gunter Mackinger/Europa Nostra (Flickr) CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 
Finalised in 1974, the Central Post Office of Skopje represents the modernist Brutalist architectural style of the post-war era. The building survived a massive fire in 2013 but suffered serious damage. Image: Blagica Stojcevska/Europa Nostra (Flickr) CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 -
The Giusti Garden in Verona is one of the finest examples of a Tuscan Renaissance garden that has survived in its original form until the present day. In 2020, the site was hit by three severe thunderstorms which caused extensive damage to the entire complex. Image: Giardino Giusti Srl/Europa Nostra (Flickr) CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 
The Cycladic landscape of five Aegean islands, forms a vital part of Greek and also European identity. This iconic and harmonious landscape is in grave danger due to the proposed programme to install wind turbines on the five islands. Image: Municipality of Amorgos/Europa Nostra (Flickr) CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Lots of work ahead
Now that the endangered spaces and places are decided, the real work is yet to start. A team of experts will now come together with the nominated heritage sites and key stakeholders, according to Europa Nostra. The teams will provide advice, look for additional funding and set recommendations for the site’s future.
Europe’s cultural heritage is precious and deserves our utmost attention and protection.
European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel
During the online presentation of the list, Guy Clausse, Executive Vice-President of Europa Nostra, underlined the urgency to act and protect the sites. ”These sites are important testimonies of our shared past, memory and identity.” He also hoped Europa Nostra would support the local communities involved, as Clausse was determined to save these ”heritage treasures.”
”Europeans take pride in cultural heritage. It brings them together”, the Dean of the EIB, Francisco de Paula Coelho, stated. European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel agreed with him. She also hoped the recent attention could raise awareness about the problematic situation the selected sites face. ”Europe’s cultural heritage is precious and deserves our utmost attention and protection.”
No garantuees
The inclusion in the 7 most endangered list seems like a step in the right direction for these sites. However, it is no guarantee these sites will survive in the future. For example, the National Theatre in Tirana, Albania, was included in the 2020 edition of the list. A few months after its nomination, authorities destroyed the building. You can watch the video below to learn more about its controversial demolition.
Source: Europa Nostra
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