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Historic Centre of Sighişoara

Romania
Factors affecting the property in 2010*
  • Financial resources
  • Impacts of tourism / visitor / recreation
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Other Threats:

    Deterioration of monuments in general and the fortifications in particular;

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

a) Dracula Park project;

b) Deterioration of monuments in general and the fortifications in particular;

c) Lack of protection and maintenance measures, local responsibility and funding strategies.

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2010
Requests approved: 1 (from 2004-2004)
Total amount approved : 20,000 USD
2004 Revitalisation du Centre Historique de Sighisoara (Approved)   20,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2010**

2002 : World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS mission 

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2010

The State Party report, received on 1 February 2010, provides information regarding the actions implemented by the National Institute for Historic Monuments of Romania and the Municipality of the town of Sighisoara since the 32nd session of the World Heritage Committee (Quebec, 2008), namely:

a) Monitoring of the state of conservation

The National Institute for Historic Monuments has developed a « Study on Interventions affecting the constructions of the urban ensemble of Sighisoara for the period 1990-2006 ». This study indicates examples of interventions on the buildings such as volume modifications, irregular interventions on facades, use of inadequate materials, replacement of traditional woodwork, changes in the function of buildings, development of interior courtyards and terrasses. In its report, the State Party recognizes that these types of intervention transform the urban aspect of the ensemble and could threaten the historic urban fabric. The study recommends the adoption of solutions aimed to avert major interventions and irreversible loss. In October 2008, the Mayor of Sighisoara founded a World Heritage Bureau to improve the management and monitoring of the state of conservation of the property.

b) Protection and management of the site

Since 2008, the town of Sighisoara is part of the thematic network HerO (Heritage as Opportunity) of the URBACT II Programme of the European Commission. Under this programme, and based on the results of the Framework Programme for the protection and management of the Historic Centre of Sighisoara finalised in 2007, the authorities expect to complete the management plan and the local action plan for this property before end-2010.

With the report, the State Party transmitted summaries of the following documents:

- Economic-social development strategy for the town of Sighisoara 2008-2013, approved by the Municipality of the town;

- The Zonal and Regulatory Urban Plan for the Protected Area of the property, approved by the National Commission for Town Planning;

- The Feasibility Study for the rehabilitation of the Historic Centre of Sighisoara as a part of the Documentation for Notice of Intervention Work;

- Study concerning the presentation of the Historic Centre of Sighisoara; 

- Traffic Control Regulations in the Citadel;

- Regulations for street commerce;

- « Lighting Designers for Historic Urban Landscape » Project under the « Culture 2007 – 2013 » Programme;

- Funding Conventions for two road construction projects.

 

c) Rehabilitation, restoration, construction

With the report, the State Party also transmitted information concerning the following projects :

- Rehabilitation of systems for waste water and drinking water supplies

- Rehabilitation of the gas network

- Optical surveillance

- Architectural illumination

- Rehabilitation of street pavements in the Citadel and access roads

- Best practice guides

- Restoration and development of the Tailors’ Tower in partnership between the Municipality of Sighisoara and the « Cele sapte Cetati » Association.

 

d) Promotional activities

The State Party transmitted with the report information concerning several promotional activities organized at Sighisoara, notably:

- Feasibility Study for the establishment of a National Centre for Tourist Information

- 25 cultural events organized in 2009 by the Town authorities, NGOs and the History Museum of Sighisoara 

- Establishment of a partnership between the Municipality of Sighisoara and the « Mihai Eminescu Trust » Foundation, under the patronage of HRH Prince Charles of Great Britain. 

 

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note that the report prepared by the national authorities contains very detailed information concerning the actions taken by the State Party to ensure the monitoring of the state of conservation of the property, as well as its protection and management. However, information concerning the state of conservation presented in the Study on Interventions affecting the Constructions of the Urban ensemble of Sighisoara is only for the period 1990 to 2006. The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies thank the State Party for its Study that clearly highlights the potential impacts of the interventions on the value and integrity of the property, and shares the concerns expressed in this document. Consequently, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies consider that, in accordance with paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, the State Party should be encouraged to transmit for evaluation and comment detailed documents concerning the recent interventions, the detailed monitoring of the state of conservation of the property and in particular the general state of the monuments and fortifications. The description of any intent to undertake or authorize restoration, rehabilitation, conservation or construction projects, likely to affect the Outstanding Universal Value of the Historic Centre of Sighisoara should also be transmitted for evaluation. 

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2010
34 COM 7B.93
Historic Centre of Sighisoara (Romania) (C 902)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-10/34.COM/7B,

2. Recalling Decision 32 COM 7B.103, adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008),

3. Takes note of the actions taken by the State Party to ensure the monitoring of the state of conservation of the property, as well as its protection and management, and encourages it to pursue all the requisite steps to closely monitor the state of conservation of the property;

4. Urges the State Party to provide three printed examples and an electronic version of the approved Protection and Management Plan for examination by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;

5. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, the description of any intent to undertake or to authorize restoration or construction projects, as well as impact studies of all projects likely to affect the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage property, before granting any authorization that would be difficult to reverse;

6. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2012, an updated and detailed report on the state of conservation of all the components of this property and on the progress accomplished in the implementation of the above recommendations, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 36th session in 2012.

Draft Decision: 34 COM 7B.93

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-10/34.COM/7B,

2. Recalling Decision 32 COM 7B.103, adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec, 2008),

3. Takes note of the actions taken by the State Party to ensure the monitoring of the state of conservation of the property, as well as its protection and management, and encourages it to pursue all the requisite steps to closely monitor the state of conservation of the Historic Centre of Sighisoara;

4. Urges the State Party to provide three printed examples and an electronic version of the approved Protection and Management Plan for examination by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;

5. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, in accordance with paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, the description of any intent to undertake or to authorize restoration or construction projects, as well as impact studies of all projects likely to affect the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage property, before granting any authorization that would be difficult to reverse;

6. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2012, an updated and detailed report on the state of conservation of all the components of this property and on the progress accomplished in the implementation of the above recommendations, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 36th session in 2012. 

Report year: 2010
Romania
Date of Inscription: 1999
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (iii)(v)
Documents examined by the Committee
arrow_circle_right 34COM (2010)
Exports

* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.


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