Vardzia cave monastery complex receives European Cultural Heritage Award / Europa Nostra Prize

By Khatia Bzhalava

Thursday, May 27

The creation of the Vardzia Rock-Cut Complex was initiated in the second half of the 12th century by King George III and was completed under the reign of his daughter, Queen Tamar.

In 2021, the European Leading Award was given to 24 projects from 18 European countries in seven different nominations.

The European Cultural Heritage Award / Europe Nostra Prize, funded under the Creative Europe Program, was awarded to the project for conservation of the Vardzia Cave Complex, a 12th-13th centuries monument in Southern Georgia. The nomination application submitted by Georgia to the European Commission and the organization Europa Nostra became one of the winners along with eight other nominees, who were named as exemplary achievements in the conservation category. In 2021, the European Leading Award was received by 24 projects from 18 European countries in seven different nominations.

According to the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia, the Vardzia Cave Monastery is located in the most active seismic region of Georgia, thereby it has suffered serious damage. In addition, considering a rise in visitor numbers over the recent years, there was a need to urgently launch works at the site. The Government of Georgia, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs and the Cartu Foundation funded the monitoring system of the Vardzia rock complex. The project was led by the Georgian National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation in close collaboration with ISPRA (Geological Survey of Italy).

According to Europa Nostra, the successful pilot project which has formed the basis of the Rock Cut Heritage Safeguard State Program will support saving several similar sites in Georgia, such as the David Gareji Monasteries and Hermitage which was included on the 7 Most Endangered list 2018 by Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank Institute.

The creation of the complex was initiated in the second half of the 12th century by King George III and was completed under the reign of his daughter, Queen Tamar. Stretching to a height of 50 metres and a length of approximately 800 metres, the complex is located along a cliff and consists of several hundred rooms.

The 2021 award winners were revealed by Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, and Hermann Parzinger, Executive President of Europa Nostra at a live online event. The President of the European Parliament David Sassoli addressed the winners with a statement. “Through your professionalism, your dedication, your artistic sensitivity, you have helped revitalise the Europe of today and to project it into the future,” said Sassoli.

“This year’s laureates powerfully demonstrate how heritage offers solutions and paths to recovery in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges, as we take action for the climate, mobilise for sustainable urban and rural development and tackle the many threats to our core European values,” states Europa Nostra’s Executive President Hermann Parzinger in his remark.

Heritage supporters from all over the world can vote online for the winner of the Public Choice Award from the winning projects. The Public Choice Award winner will be announced during the European Heritage Awards Ceremony, which will take place on 23 September in Venice. The Grand Prix laureates will each receive a monetary award of Euro10,000.