Endangered European Heritage in the Spotlight

At the end of November, the notable international project RE: concluded, co-financed under the Creative Europe program. The project focused on three endangered cultural heritage sites: the Idrija Miners' House Giser (Idrija), the Neptun Bath (Romania), and the Gothic Church of St. Ladislaus (Slovakia).

For the ID20 Institute, this project was significant as it contributed to our long-term goal of preserving, protecting, and promoting the heritage of Idrija miner's houses. We highlighted the Giser House, a traditional Idrija miner's house, which is gradually being transformed into an interactive heritage experience. As part of the project, we created a special theatrical-gastronomical experience called, which attracted more than 180 people in its first year. The performance, with its captivating storytelling, delicious cuisine, and immersive experience, takes visitors back to the time when Idrija was a bustling mining town. The show delves into the challenges faced by the local Črv family and offers an insight into the lives of ordinary people during a turbulent historical period.

The theatrical-gastronomical performance takes us into the life of the Črv family after World War I. Photo: Marko Čuk

Workshops in Giser House

Giser House especially came to life in June 2024, when it hosted a three-day Masterclass. Heritage enthusiasts from all three project countries gathered to participate in workshops on lime plaster, storytelling, and 3D digitization. Participants left Idrija with new skills, lasting connections, and a deeper understanding of the city's rich history and cultural heritage. The RE:viving Heritage masterclass was an outstanding success, demonstrating the value of collaborative efforts in preserving our shared past for future generations.

"This was an exceptionally valuable experience in the Slovenian environment. It was truly a pleasant experience. The most valuable part was the teamwork, with lots of listening, talking, and sharing impressions during the workshops. And of course, the wonderful people." – Mateja Kužner Čelešnik, participant of the masterclass at Giser House.

A storytelling workshop also took place during the Masterclass at the House Giser. Photo: Marko Čuk

Traditional Restoration Techniques in Romania

Similar masterclasses were held in Slovakia and Romania, with participants from Slovenia also attending. In Romania, the masterclass took place in the spa town of Băile Herculane, where the historic Neptun Baths were even selected as one of Europe's most endangered heritage sites by Europa Nostra. As part of the project, LOCUS organised 3D scanning of individual ornaments to ensure their preservation, and moulds were made for their reproduction. Participants learned restoration techniques and participated in two workshops, including traditional restoration techniques on casts of decorative elements from the Neptun Baths facade and woodworking.

Participants of the masterclass created with plaster casts in Romania. Photo: Mihai Toth

Restoration and Preservation in Slovakia

The third masterclass took place in the village of Kameňany in Slovakia and was organised by the partner organization Gotická cesta, which unites lovers of cultural heritage dedicated to preserving, protecting, and promoting Gothic churches in Slovakia.

In the Masterclass, more than 40 participants from Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia helped restore and protect the cultural heritage in the village of Kameňany in Slovakia. They took care of earthworks and garden maintenance and conducted a lime plaster workshop. They also restored and mechanically cleaned wooden doors. Additionally, the Gotická cesta association prepared a manual for the restoration of the village centre, which takes into account heritage and the local community.

At the end of the project, we published an overview brochure where you can read more about the mentioned workshops, including rich photographic material.

Participants of the masterclass worked with lime plaster in Slovakia. Photo: Vladimír Ondrejovič

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

The ID20 share of the project is co-financed by the Ministry of Public Administration of the Republic of Slovenia under the Public Call for the period 2022 - 2024 for the co-financing of projects by non-governmental organizations selected in EU budget-funded calls or EFTA Financial Mechanism Office.