Chiatura Cableway, David Gareji Included in Europe's 12 Most Endangered Sites

Europa Nostra, the most representative heritage organization in Europe, has included Georgia’s Chiatura Cableway and David Gareji Monastery Complex in its list of Europe’s 12 sites shortlisted for the 7 Most Endangered Program 2018.

The endangered heritage landmarks from 10 European countries are:

• The Historic Centre of Gjirokastra, Albania;
• The Post-Byzantine Churches in Voskopoja and Vithkuqi, Albania;
• The Historic Centre of Vienna, Austria;
• The Coal Preparation Plant in Beringen, Belgium;
• The Buzludzha Monument, Bulgaria;
• The Aerial Cableway Network in Chiatura, Georgia;
• The David Gareji Monasteries and Hermitage, Georgia;
• The Castle of Sammezzano, Tuscany, Italy;
• The Constanta Casino, Romania;
• The Prehistoric Rock-Art Sites in the province of Cadiz, Spain;
• The Prinkipo Greek Orphanage, Princes’ Islands, Turkey;
• The Grimsby Ice Factory, United Kingdom.

Some of these sites are in danger due to neglect or inadequate development, others due to a lack of resources or expertise.

These 12 sites were shortlisted by a panel of experts in history, archaeology, architecture, conservation, project analysis and finance.

The final list of the 7 Most Endangered heritage sites in Europe will be selected by the Board of Europa Nostra on 15 March, 2018.

If selected for the final list, the two Georgian monuments will become subject to rehabilitation efforts involving recommendations by Europa Nostra experts.

Europa Nostra says that the Aerial Cableway Network in Chiatura is an important site of industrial heritage.

“The network – composed of 18 passenger and 27 cargo cableways – is striking in its diversity of architectural styles and engineering solutions. The absolute majority of cableways retain their original architectural and technological components,” the article reads, adding that due to the lack of maintenance, many of the passenger cableways have deteriorated and have been closed down.

The David Gareji Monasteries and Hermitage, located in in Eastern Georgia on the semi-desert Iori plateau, dates back to the 6th-century and is comprised of 22 rock-hewn monasteries and more than 5,000 sanctuaries and cave-cells.

“The combination of rock architecture, medieval murals, prehistoric archaeology and paleontological fields makes the entire ensemble a masterpiece of Georgian culture. It is registered as a Monument of National Importance,” Europa Nostra reports, adding the site faces the threat of irreversible deterioration.

The Georgian Arts and Culture Center submitted the nomination for the 7 Most Endangered Program 2018.

For more on Chiatura, chek out Where.ge’s article here.

By Thea Morrison