UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Romania

On the occasion of November 16, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Day in Romania, I would like to present you what are the objectives of my country included in Unesco.

The United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture was founded in 1945, and on November 16, representatives of 44 states participating in the London Conference of UNESCO, signed the Constitutive Act , which came into force on November 4, 1946 . Romania is a member of UNESCO since 1956.

UNESCO has included up until now, 7 sites in Romania on the list of World Heritage Sites. Let’s see this list:

1. Churches of Moldavia

The motivation for their inclusion is due to the uniqueness of exterior wall painting, which lies on the surface including on the tower, not only on the walls, but also the theological significance of the message.

• Beheading of Saint John the Baptist Church of Arbore village
• The Assumption of the Virgin and of Saint George’s Church of the old Humor Monastery
• The Church of the Annunciation of Moldovița Monastery
• Sacred Cross Church of Pătrăuți
• Saint Nicolas’ Church of Probota Monastery
• Saint John the New Monastery of Suceava
• Saint George’s Church of the former Voroneț Monastery
• Church of the Resurrection of Sucevița Monastery

2. Dacian Fortresses of the Orăştie Mountains

• Sarmizegetusa Regia, the capital of Dacia
• Costești-Cetățuie Dacian fortress
• Costești-Blidaru Dacian fortress, the strongest of the Dacian Fortresses
• Piatra Roșie Dacian fortress
• Dacian fortress of Bănița
• Dacian fortress of Căpâlna

3. Historic Centre of Sighișoara

Sighisoara, a medieval beautiful town, is a testament to the culture of the Transylvanian Saxons, with over 800 years of existence. In Sighisoara it is assumed that Vlad the Impaler (known as Dracula) was born in 1431, in the former body guard house, where his father lived for a while (Vlad Dracul House).

4. Danube Delta

Danube Delta is considered the largest reserve of wetlands in Europe, covering an area of ​​2681 km2. In the Danube Delta there are more than 360 species of birds and 45 species of freshwater fish.

5. Monastery of Horezu

6. Villages with fortified churches in Transylvania

The motivation is to preserve the structure and historical image associated with the presence of the fortified churches  typical for the Saxon villages in Transylvania.

• The site of Biertan with the fortified church and a part of the town
• Village of Câlnic
• Village of Dârjiu
• Village of Prejmer
• Village of Saschiz
• Village of Valea Viilor
• Village of Viscri

7. Wooden Churches of Maramureș

In Maramures, there are several monuments of wooden architecture representative for the country, of impressing size and monumentality.

• The Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple in Bârsana
• The Church of Saint Nicholas in Budești
• The Saint Parascheva Church in Desești
• The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in Ieud Deal
• The Church of the Holy Archangels in Plopiș
• The Saint Parascheva Church in Poienile Izei
• The Church of the Holy Archangels in Rogoz
• The Church of the Holy Archangels in Șurdești

In addition to these sites inscribed on the World Heritage list, there is also a list of tentative sites that may be considered for nomination as: The Historic Centre of Sibiu, Byzantine and post-byzantine churches of Curtea de Argeș, Monumental Ensamble of Târgu Jiu and Historic Town of Alba Iulia.

Intangible cultural heritage list of UNESCO (officially formed in 2008, by a convention signed in Paris), contains works from 76 countries. Intangible Cultural Heritage refers to traditions, oral expressions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe, traditional crafts.

Romania is also present in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO with: Callus dance (2005), Doina (2009) Horezu ceramics (2012), Traditional Romanian carols sung by men  (2013 ).

See more information and photos about all of these here.