Europe's 7 Most Endangered Sites

The 7 Most Endangered program, a civil society campaign run by Europa Nostra in partnership with the European Investment Bank Institute, was launched in 2013. Inspired by a similar successful project from the US National Trust for Historic Preservation, its goal is to identify threatened monuments and sites across Europe and act as a catalyst for their preservation by mobilizing public and private partners. Nominations for the list can be submitted by a wide range of entities, including Europa Nostra's member organizations, public and private bodies active in heritage, and even individual members. An international advisory panel of experts in fields like history, archaeology, architecture, and finance assesses the nominations and creates a shortlist. From this shortlist, the Board of Europa Nostra selects the final seven sites. The selection is based on the heritage and cultural value of the site, the imminent danger it faces, the engagement of local communities, and the site's potential to foster sustainable socio-economic development. While not a direct funding program, being on the list raises awareness, and the selected sites are eligible for an EIB Heritage Grant of up to €10,000 to initiate preservation efforts. The 2026 list of endangered sites includes the Katapola Village and Ancient City of Minoa in Greece, the Fábri Watermill in Feked, Hungary, and the Blower Hall in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg. Also on the list are the British Barracks at Fort Chambray in Gozo, Malta; the Vale de Milhaços Gunpowder Factory in Seixal, Portugal; the Reformed Church of Sântămăria Orlea in Romania; and Weifert's Brewery in Pančevo, Serbia. Threats to these sites are varied. The Reformed Church of Sântămăria Orlea, for instance, faces damage from rising dampness and structural cracks, endangering its centuries-old frescoes. The British Barracks at Fort Chambray are at risk from a large-scale development project that would involve the demolition of most of the historic structure. The program has seen notable successes. The Wooden Church of Urși Village in Romania, included in the 2014 list, was fully restored between 2009 and 2020 with the help of various partners and the momentum generated by the program. This restoration project went on to receive a European Heritage Award/Europa Nostra Award, a Grand Prix, and the Public Choice Award in 2021. Following the announcement, teams of experts from Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank Institute will visit the seven selected sites. They will meet with local stakeholders to assess the situations and produce technical and financial reports that include recommendations for action to help preserve these pieces of European heritage.