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The 30 winners of the 2013 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards have been honoured at a ceremony in Athens.

Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, and world-famous tenor Plácido Domingo, President of NGO Europa Nostra, announced the seven winners of the Grand Prix, selected by a jury of experts, as well as the winner of the Public Choice Award, chosen by an online poll.

The ceremony took place in the Odeion of Herodes Atticus, at the foot of the Acropolis, at the centre of the Greek capital, in front of an audience of up to 5,000 people. Coincidence or not, it was the Propylaea Central Building of the Acropolis which won the Public Choice Award. All the winners receive a plaque or trophy while the seven Grand Prix winners also receive €10,000 each.

During the award ceremony, Plácido Domingo, said: “Athens, the cradle of Europe’s democracy, is the perfect setting in which to pay tribute not only to the winners of our awards, but also to all the citizens and communities that are strongly engaged in safeguarding our cultural and natural heritage.”

‘It is in times of crisis that culture is most needed’

Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth defended the fact that public money is being spent on cultural events: “During these difficult days we go through in many member states in our union, I often hear people argue that public spending on culture is a luxury we cannot afford. I would argue the opposite. It is in times of crisis that culture is most needed.”

In a statement, the European Commission explained that cultural heritage, “brings a significant contribution to job creation and growth. (…) [It] provides jobs for around eight million people in the EU and contributes up to 4.5 percent of Europe’s GDP. Spending on conservation of cultural heritage by public and private bodies is worth an estimated €5 billion a year.”

Watch the award ceremony with Androulla VASSILIOU, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth

The seven Grand Prix winners are:

Tallinn Seaplane Harbour, Estonia (Conservation)

Roman Theatre of Medellin, Spain (Conservation)

Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, United Kingdom (Conservation)

Restoration of the Exceptional Machines of Wielemans-Ceuppens Brewery, Brussels, Belgium (Research)

Association for the Promotion of Art and Culture in the Eastern Part of Germany, Berlin, Germany (Dedicated service)

SOS Azulejo Project, Loures, Portugal(Education, training and awareness-raising)

Public Choice Award: Propylaea Central Building, Acropolis, Athens, Greece (Conservation)

Picture of Placido Domingo and video of the press conference’s credits © European Union, 2013

More about: Culture, EU Commission, European Union, History

Copyright © 2013 euronews

Article source: http://www.euronews.com/2013/06/17/europe-celebrates-its-cultural-heritage-in-a-time-of-crisis/

Becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site involves an arduous process, which results in a tome like you see above. It’s overflowing with words justifying the unique value of the cultural heritage in a place–and it’s also a promise to preserve and protect those places.

I was lucky enough recently to get to spend a few minutes talking to the UNESCO representative in Mantua, a World Heritage Site in northern Italy. (Several people are employed just to make sure the cultural resources are preserved the way that was promised in the big book.)

The book is open to the map page for Sabbioneta, a World Heritage Site you’ve likely never heard of. It’s a short drive away from Mantua, and is the outstanding example of a planned “perfect Renaissance city” envisioned by Vespasiano Gonzaga Colonna. The pinkish section is the town, entirely enclosed by walls that remind you of those encircling Lucca. The blue outline represents a sort of buffer zone. You can’t build skyscrapers that would block the view of the city, or throw up an eyesore factory within spitting distance of the city walls. Sometimes it’s a battle to keep expansion in the buffer zone to an acceptable level.

Sabbioneta is a small town, but tricks were used to make it seem larger. The main road that traverses the city from gate to gate, for example, is wider at the center and narrows as it approaches the outer wall, resulting in an optical illusion that makes the road seem way longer than it actually is. It also has a couple of zigs and zags to confuse invaders.

To me, Sabbioneta represents a world of ideas, from the way cities can be built to serve a population to the way citizens who chose to live there were treated. Jews, for example, were free inside the city walls rather then being locked into a “ghetto” as they were in other cities of the day.  If you have the time, Sabbioneta is worth visiting. It’s not Rome or Florence, but those cities formed themselves around and between earlier settlements; it’s seldom you see a city locked into the ideas floating around at particular time in history.

Article source: http://goeurope.about.com/b/2013/06/14/sabbioneta-a-unesco-world-heritage-site.htm

My partner and I are planning a trip to Europe in mid-September for 10 to 12 weeks. We’re going to London and Paris and a few spots in northern Italy, then continuing south through Italy and into either Spain or Greece (we’re not sure which will be cheaper given their current economies). We’ve also considered travelling from northern Italy into central/eastern Europe. What do you suggest, factoring in the weather, our activities and our budget? We’re finding the abundance of choice overwhelming! – Sarah

Lonely Planet’s Sarah Bennett and Lee Slater reply:

With almost three months up your sleeve, you could embark on a grand European tour visiting numerous countries. Spain is marginally more expensive than Greece and most of eastern Europe, so if cost is a major factor, you may wish to skip it.

Eastern Europe is a fascinating destination, and the following itinerary traces a route through some of the region’s diverse landscapes and historic cities before heading south to the Mediterranean for some autumnal sun. As it happens, the shoulder season of September through October is arguably the best time to visit, as the crowds and prices have dropped off and the weather is generally pleasant.

From northern Italy, head through Austria, pit-stopping at Salzburg and Vienna on your way to the Czech Republic. Experience Prague’s famous old-world heritage, and its lesser-known hip neighbourhoods like Vinohrady and Zizkov. From there you could head further east into Poland and the effortless beauty of Krakow, or north into Germany and hedonistic Berlin.

Come November, head south in search of the sun, through the Balkan countries of Croatia, Montenegro and Albania, and into Greece. No trip to Croatia is complete without seeing the baroque buildings and marbled streets of Dubrovnik, or sauntering along the Adriatic coast, with its sapphire waters, hidden coves and remote islands.

Highlights of Montenegro include historic towns hemmed in by limestone cliffs in the Bay of Kotor, and the primeval forests and alpine lakes of Biogradska Gora National Park.

After years of government-enforced isolation, Albania welcomes travellers with sincere hospitality. Tirana, the capital, is lively and colourful with a buzzy cafe culture, while further south more sedate offerings are on hand in the Unesco World Heritage-listed museum town of Berat.

Getting around eastern Europe is simple and economical, with extensive rail and bus networks, and loads of budget airlines serving major cities. Good online resources are flycheapo.com, raileurope.com, bahn.de and eurolines.com

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Despite the economic crisis gripping Europe, there’s one sector which has seen a dramatic surge of interest in recent years: river cruises. Trips along Europe’s great waterways are in higher demand than ever; thanks to their relaxed pace, customizable activities, and itineraries which mix culture, history, cuisine, and nature, river cruises are quickly becoming package vacations for the modern era. However, recent flooding on the Danube, one of Europe’s most popular rivers, has led operators to cancel cruises and put many travelers’ summer plans in jeopardy. Thankfully, Europe is full of great rivers just waiting to be explored.

We’ve gone to the community of real travelers and locals on minube to find recommendations about 2013′s best river cruise destinations in Europe. Have a favorite river that we missed? Feel free to share it with us!

1.) The Douro - The Douro, which runs through central Spain and up into Portugal’s stunning wine heartland, is one of Europe’s best river routes for wine aficionados and history buffs alike. Starting from the picturesque coastal city of Porto, travelers can explore the Douro Valley, whose natural microclimate makes it a perfect location for the centuries-old vineyards producing the region’s legendary Port wine. If you’d like some culture with your beverage, most cruise lines offer ample time to explore the city of Porto and short excursions to Salamanca, both of which boast historic districts which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. (Photo by Diego Garces)

2.) The Rhine - The undoubted king of European waterways is the Rhine, and its course through Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands is marked by majestic valleys, scenic vineyards, and the highest concentration of medieval castles in the world. While the Rhine route does make stops at historic cities like Basel, Strasbourg, Cologne, and Rotterdam, the river’s most famous stretch is the Rhine Gorge in central Germany, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and widely considered to be one of Europe’s most romantic destinations. There, visitors can enjoy a crisp glass of German Riesling, explore enchanting medieval villages, and enjoy an unparalleled natural setting replete with stunning cliff-top castles such as Marksburg, pictured above. (Photo by Lucrecia Caparelli)

2.) The Guadalquivir - There is no better way to discover Andalucía’s mix of Mediterranean charm and imperial splendor than a trip up its main waterway: the Guadalquivir. Most cruises start around the charming coastal town of Cadiz, considered one of Europe’s oldest settlements, before heading past the stunning white villages of Andalucía’s heartland and towns like Jerez, the international home of sherry and flamenco. The highlight of the Guadalquivir, however, is Seville, the one-time capital of Spain during the Age of Exploration, whose orange blossom-lined streets give way to impressive monuments reflecting the city’s Moorish and imperial past. (Photo by Manuel P. Castro)

3.) The Seine - The Seine is widely known as the river which runs through the heart of Paris, and while short day-trips to explore the City of Lights by boat are as popular as ever, a growing number of travelers are opting to take the Seine and wind their way through Normandy and the historic villages of Le Havre, Vernon, and Rouen. Aside from offering excursions to explore the halls of the Palace of Versailles and Giverny, a favorite among the Impressionists, most cruises along the Seine also offer a visitors a chance to experience the authentic side of one of France’s most renowned cheese regions (Camembert, anyone?) and a front-seat view of Normandy’s epic coastal cliffs. (Photo by Juan Z. Aranda)

5.) The Elbe - Along with the Rhine and Danube, the Elbe is one of Central Europe’s main rivers and a relative newcomer on the European River Cruise scene. While the Elbe itself is notable more for its landscape of cliffs and castles than for big-city stops, it does have tributaries which connect with bucket-list destinations like Berlin and Prague. Some of the highlights of the Elbe route include Dresden, whose beautiful downtown has been restored after being devastated by Allied bombing runs in WWII, and Saxon Switzerland, a dramatic park of mountains and rock formations which would make any climber salivate. (Photo by Macgreg)

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Article source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/minube/smooth-sailing-top-destin_b_3421192.html

Humanity’s most significant heritage site is not on the Earth, but on the Moon. The Lunar landings, between 1969 and 1972, mark the brief period when twelve men walked on the Moon, taking us beyond our own planet.

Since then we have sent machines to other worlds, like Mars Curiosity and of course, Voyager 1, which is 18.486 million kilometres away from home, about to enter interstellar space.

But it is the moment when we first stepped on the Moon that will not only go down in history, but will still be recalled as a defining moment in our species story in the distant future. But will the Lunar landing sites still be around?

The question is not as abstract at it may seem. With the beginnings of space tourism and commercial interests, there could well be visits to the Moon in twenty years, some say much sooner.

The cause of preservation became more urgent after Google offered $30 million for the “first privately funded teams to safely land a robot on the surface of the Moon, have that robot travel 500 meters over the lunar surface, and send video, images and data back to the Earth.” By 31 December 2015. 

Twenty three teams are actively competing. More worrying, was a bonus prize for “precision landing near an Apollo site or other lunar sites of interest (such as landing/crash sites of man-made space hardware).”

Alun Salt, from UNESCO Astronomy and World Heritage Initiative, tells New Europe, “I’m told the 3.6 million old footprints at Laetoli, Tanzania were reburied after they were damaged by tourists who wanted to compare their feet with an australopithecine’s. It would be nice if we could take a few small steps to prevent similar damage on the Moon.”

NASA quickly arranged talks with Google and agreement was reached on avoiding landing sites, in particular that of Apollo 11 and 17, the first and last visits by humanity.

It could take longer than that to put in place a framework to protect the sites and being conservation and heritage into the space age. There are a few problems, not least that nobody owns the Moon, meaning that it becomes difficult to protect something that nobody has dominion over.

It also means that a lot of work has to go into getting a legal framework made before real protection, and penalties for violations can be put in place, until then, there is precious little protection possible for such important sites on our collective history.

So far, the only protection is that of the American government insisting it owns whatever they took to the Moon and left behind.

Salt explains, “To get a site heritage listed, the host nation has to nominate the site. However, Article II of the Outer Space Treaty says that no nation can claim sovereignty in any way over the Moon. It’s made more complicated by Article VII. Any artefact in space is the responsibility of the state that put it there.”

He adds, “So Russia can claim ownership of Luna-2, but they can’t list the site where it landed as the first location where humans successfully placed a Lander. The same goes for the USA and Tranquillity Base. The Lander, the flag, all the waste are all protected as property of NASA, but the lunar surface they’re on is not.”

To put it bluntly, Salt says, “This means that the bags of faecal matter left on the moon have more legal protection than the footprints of the first landing.”

There are a large number of objects on the Moon, including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s moon boots, flags, empty food bags, tools and other items like a golf ball and lunar rover. There’s even a piece of art, an 8.5cm sculpture called ‘Fallen Astronaut’ which commemorated the eight US and six Russian space who died in the space race.

The Moon does have some positives from a heritage perspective says Salt, “What would legal protection protect a site from? Archaeological sites can decay from human intervention or slow natural decay. Nature isn’t a big problem. The sites are at risk from meteorite strike, but that’s a very low risk and you can’t legislate against that. It’s not like the sites are being overrun by forest, or under threat of earthquake damage.”

The sites are, however as fragile as they are inaccessible. NASA have produced a 96 page technical guide to prospective moonwalkers, which sets out exclusion zones, based at protecting their physical artefacts and what they call ‘ongoing experiments.’

There are laser reflectors on the surface, which are being used in various ways, but they have shown that the Moon is edging away from earth, by a few centimetres a year, but these are being retired. The other point of scientific interest is in the rate of decay, or dust covering on the materials they left behind.

The space agency is also trying to strike a balance between preservation and scientific needs, something earthly conservationists can appreciate.

Visiting the sites could also have a good outcome. What exactly are the conditions of the tools and vehicles? Only one item has been returned to Earth – which showed that flu germs can survive in space, when Apollo 12 recovered the Surveyor 3 camera.

They have held the first and last sites at the highest level of protection and are open to discussions with those planning to drop in elsewhere.

As a heritage plan, it has major holes. For example, it isn’t universal, what about all the other nations who have thrown objects, including people at the Moon. What about punishment? What about prosecution?

There is another issue; context.

What about preserving what Buzz Aldrin called the “magnificent desolation”? Shouldn’t the Apollo 11 landing site have its view preserved with a large exclusion zone, or should people be allowed to get to near touching distance? Many would say the former.

What we have to do now is to work out how to preserve our Lunar heritage. It’s going to take so long to agree a comprehensive treaty, we really should start today. If not we may find that some egomaniacal billionaire or error-making scientist gets there first and ruins it for everyone. For ever.

Article source: http://www.neurope.eu/article/first-footsteps-space-heritage

Some of the most important cultural sites in Europe are in danger of disappearing.

Last month, landmarks preservation group Europa Nostra shortlisted 14 of the continent’s endangered cultural heritage sites hoping to garner attention and inspire action to prevent their continued decay. Among these landmarks are churches, archaeological sites, and historic neighborhoods.

Of the nominated sites, seven will be chosen on June 16 as the most endangered. Europa Nostra plans to dispatch “rescue teams” to survey each site and develop rehabilitation plans, which will be presented to the European Heritage Policy Conference in Brussels this December.

“With this new advocacy program, Europa Nostra aims not only to identify the most endangered monuments and sites in Europe but also to launch a true call for action,” Europa Nostra’s executive president Denis de Kergorlay said in a press release. “By sending multidisciplinary teams of experts to visit the selected sites, together with our partners, we will seek to contribute to finding sustainable and viable solutions for the future. In this way, we hope to inspire and encourage action by various public and private organisations also in other places in Europe and beyond.”

The 7 Most Endangered program launched last January, inspired by the success of a similar initiative by the U.S. National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Check out the 14 most endangered heritage sites in Europe:

Loading Slideshow

• Former Royal Estate Of Tatoi, Athens, Greece

  It may not look like much thanks to years of neglect, but this a href=”http://www.europanostra.org/UPLOADS/FILS/7ME_Texts%20Advisory%20Panel_Final_Photos.pdf” target=”_blank”rare house/a stands as a testament to Greece’s history, architecture and nature. It is endangered because of a lack of support from local governments and businesses to restore the building to its once former glory.

• Roman Amphitheatre, Durrës, Albania

  It wasn’t until 1966 that a href=”http://www.europanostra.org/UPLOADS/FILS/7ME_Texts%20Advisory%20Panel_Final_Photos.pdf” target=”_blank”a local discovered this amphitheater/a when he noticed that a fig tree had sunk a few meters in to the ground. Durrës’ urban fabric and local community may overtake the historic site.

• St. Paul And Peter Church, Aragatsotn, Armenia

  Crumbling walls and exposed stones are the only remains of this a href=”http://www.europanostra.org/UPLOADS/FILS/7ME_Texts%20Advisory%20Panel_Final_Photos.pdf” target=”_blank”Christian structure that originated in the 5th century/a. The remains of this historical landmark are threatened by regular flooding.

• Buffer Zone, Nicosia, Cyprus

  The buffer zone was originally a href=”http://www.europanostra.org/UPLOADS/FILS/7ME_Texts%20Advisory%20Panel_Final_Photos.pdf” target=”_blank”created to foster peace/a between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots after hostilities broke out in the early 60s. A revitalization project will inject new life into the corridor, but the plans also threaten the buffer’s historic significance.

• Vauban’s Fortifications, Briançon, France

  Once a a href=”http://www.europanostra.org/UPLOADS/FILS/7ME_Texts%20Advisory%20Panel_Final_Photos.pdf” target=”_blank”fortification to protect the city of Briançon/a, France, this 17th-century monument now needs help from the international community as it is falling apart.

• Gaslight And Gas Lamps, Berlin, Germany

  Video killed the radio star and now it looks like modern electricity may kill off a href=”http://www.europanostra.org/UPLOADS/FILS/7ME_Texts%20Advisory%20Panel_Final_Photos.pdf” target=”_blank”Berlin’s iconic series of gas lamps/a. The series of gas street lights are still perfectly functional and remain historically valuable (not to mention they add a touch of romance) to Berlin.

• Citadel, Alessandria, Italy

  This Italian monument a href=”http://www.europanostra.org/UPLOADS/FILS/7ME_Texts%20Advisory%20Panel_Final_Photos.pdf” target=”_blank”dates back to the 18th century/a and shares ties to Europe’s Napoleonic times as well as the Unification of Italy. Decay and extensive revitalization costs are currently the biggest threats to this landmark.

• Renaissance Monastery Of San Benedetto Po, Montova, Italy

  The a href=”http://www.europanostra.org/UPLOADS/FILS/7ME_Texts%20Advisory%20Panel_Final_Photos.pdf” target=”_blank”Renaissance Monastery Of San Benedetto Po/a earned its fame as a monument of historic and artistic importance during the 15th and 16th century. It was heavily damaged by an earthquake in 2012 and groups now fear that without repairs, the site will close down.

• Manueline-Style Monastery And Church of Jesus Setúbal, Portugal

  Once a site for the ratification of the signature of the a href=”http://www.europanostra.org/UPLOADS/FILS/7ME_Texts%20Advisory%20Panel_Final_Photos.pdf” target=”_blank”Treaty of Tordesillas/a in 1494 between Spain and Portugal, this monastery and church are both now in a state of rapid decay.

  emCLARIFICATION: This slide has been changed to reflect that the Monastery And Church of Jesus Setúbal was the setting for the ratification of the signature of the Treaty of Tordesillas, and not the place where the treaty was signed. /em

• Roşia Montană Mining Landscape, Transylvania, Romania

  Three millennia of mining activities have shaped a href=”http://www.europanostra.org/UPLOADS/FILS/7ME_Texts%20Advisory%20Panel_Final_Photos.pdf” target=”_blank”Roşia Montană’s landscape/a into what it is today. Oddly, it’s the current open-cast gold mining project that threatens the site’s environment and heritage.

• Neolithic Archaeological Site Of Vinča-Belo Brdo, Belgrade, Serbia

  It may not look like much but there’s a great deal of history that remains uncovered in a href=”http://www.europanostra.org/UPLOADS/FILS/7ME_Texts%20Advisory%20Panel_Final_Photos.pdf” target=”_blank”the site of Vinča-Belo Brdo/a. The site faces two threats: the nearby Danube’s river bank and a lack of funding to continue excavation.

• Neighborhood Of El Cabanyal-Canyamelar, Valencia, Spain

  This a href=”http://www.europanostra.org/UPLOADS/FILS/7ME_Texts%20Advisory%20Panel_Final_Photos.pdf” target=”_blank”seaside neighbourhood/a is known for decorative façades found on the buildings. Locals wish to preserve the buildings from a new road project so that future generations can continue to enjoy their

• St. George Armenian Church, Mardin, Turkey

  Now a derelict church, this a href=”http://www.europanostra.org/UPLOADS/FILS/7ME_Texts%20Advisory%20Panel_Final_Photos.pdf” target=”_blank”monument dates back to the 5th century/a and served Turkey’s large Armenian population until the turn of the 20th century. It represents Turkey’s efforts to preserve the country’s multi-cultural history.

• Historic City Of Hasankeyf And Its Surroundings, Hasankeyf, Turkey

  The city serves as a a href=”http://www.europanostra.org/UPLOADS/FILS/7ME_Texts%20Advisory%20Panel_Final_Photos.pdf” target=”_blank”record of shared human history/a that has spanned both Europe and Asia. The remains of the city are threatened by the construction of a nearby hydroelectric dam that, if completed, would flood 80 per cent of the monuments by the next decade.

Earlier on HuffPost:

Article source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/19/most-endangered-european-heritage-sites_n_3294405.html

In the framework  of the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia, the World Heritage Center  in cooperation with the Advisory Body ICCROM is holding an informal information meeting to present the capacity-building strategy initiative for the Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe (CESEE) region.  

The Steering Group on the sub-regional capacity-building strategy, established during the last Periodic Reporting Workshop for World Heritage National Focal Points from CESEE in Tbilisi, Georgia in November 2012, has worked productively in the past months. The World Heritage Center will present the results of this ongoing work and share the reflections on the sub-regional capacity-building strategy for CESEE during the side event.

The meeting will be held on Friday 19 June 2013 at 1:15 pm, Room 1 2, Peace Palace.

Article source: http://whc.unesco.org/en/events/1054