The European Commission and Europa Nostra announced the 2024 winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards, co-funded by the Creative Europe program of the European Union, on May 30. This year, 26 winners from 18 countries across the continent were honored.
“Our cultural heritage is our collective treasure, a bridge connecting our past, present, and future,” says Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, and Youth. “It holds a special place in our hearts and daily lives, fostering a sense of belonging and identity. The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards highlight the crucial role of exemplary projects and individuals dedicated to preserving and promoting our rich heritage. I warmly congratulate this year’s winners on their outstanding achievements.”
Georgia was awarded a 2024 nomination in the Citizens’ Engagement & Awareness-Raising category for the Citizens’ Rehabilitation of the Tsiskarauli Tower in Akhieli. Over three years, 46 Georgian and international citizens collaborated with technical experts and traditional craftspeople to restore the tower, bringing much-needed attention to the remote community of Khevsureti, and raising awareness of Georgia within Europe’s heritage arena.
The medieval watchtower in the Caucasus Mountains, which has witnessed war, occupation, and migration over the centuries, was severely damaged in 2001 by a Russian missile during the Second Chechen War. The restoration project not only gave new life to the tower, but also served as a model for the rehabilitation of Georgian defensive architecture.
The International National Trusts Organization (INTO) led the project in close collaboration with the National Trust of Georgia and REMPART (France), with support from a grant from ALIPH – the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas.
Participants in the project, while learning new skills in stonemasonry and path building, also experienced each other’s intangible heritage, showcasing the peacebuilding capacity of collective restoration. The project helped boost the profile of volunteering in Georgia, offering young people the chance to engage with and take pride in their heritage.
The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards, initiated by the European Commission in 2002 and managed by Europa Nostra ever since, have been instrumental for over two decades in recognizing and promoting the values of heritage for Europe’s society, economy, and environment.
By Kate Ruth Davies
