Eleven endangered heritage sites from eight European countries have been shortlisted by an advisory panel for the 7 Most Endangered programme 2023 run by the EIB Institute and Europa Nostra,  the voice of civil society committed to cultural and natural heritage, and supported by Creative Europe.

2023 marks the tenth anniversary of this innovative programme launched in 2013 by the Institute and Europa Nostra which mobilises public and private partners on a local, national and European level to find a viable future for endangered monuments and sites in Europe.

Ranging from an “Expo 58 style” train station in Belgium to a Partisan memorial cemetery in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Memento Park in Budapest and cultural landscapes in Serbia and Montenegro, the sites are:
– Kortrijk railway train station (Belgium)
– The domain and royal museum of Mariemont, Morlanwelz (Belgium)
– Partisan memorial cemetery, Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
– Tchakvinji fortress, Zugdidi (Georgia)
– Sisters’ House Ensemble, former Moravian settlement in Kleinwelka (Germany)
– Mansion (“konaki”) of Gidas, Alexandreia (Greece)
– Herman Ottó Museum, Miskolc (Hungary)
– Memento Park, Budapest (Hungary)
– Cultural landscape of Paštrovska Gora (Montenegro).
– Cultural landscape of Sveti Stefan, Paštrovići (Montenegro)
– Watermills of Bistrica, Petrovac na Mlavi (Serbia)

The shortlist was made based on 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 today. 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 development and as a tool for promoting peace and dialogue within their localities and wider regions.

The 7 Most Endangered 2023 laureates will be announced in the spring.

The Executive President of Europa Nostra, Prof. Dr. Hermann Parzinger, stated: “This shortlist covers a wide variety of monuments and heritage sites which are facing different types of serious threats. The local communities and civil society organisations are deeply committed to preserving these remarkable examples of our shared heritage, but they need broader support. We therefore call on local, regional, national and European stakeholders, both public and private, to join forces with Europa Nostra and our network of members and partners to secure a viable future for these shortlisted sites.”

“The 7 Most Endangered Programme, which brings together the cultural heritage expertise and advocacy of Europa Nostra and the technical assessment and financial expertise of the European Investment Bank (EIB), celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. On behalf of Europa Nostra, I wish to thank the European Investment Bank and its Institute as well as all the experts, professionals and volunteers for their significant contribution to saving Europe’s endangered heritage through this meaningful programme,”  he added.

The Director of the European Investment Bank Institute, Shiva Dustdar, said: “The EIB Institute is proud to contribute to safeguarding Europe’s endangered heritage through the 7 Most Endangered Programme with our long time partner Europa Nostra. For 10 years now, this catalytic programme has been facilitating the transfer of know-how and experience between different partners and countries. It is innovative in its format, useful in its purpose and shows the cohesive power of cultural heritage which connects European people and communities”.