Europa Nostra Award for the work of KÉSZ Csoport on St Michael's Church in Cluj

The restoration of St Michael's Church in Cluj has been awarded a European Heritage Award (Europa Nostra Award), Attila László, Archdeacon-Priest of Cluj-Doboca, confirmed to MTI on Thursday.

The winners of this year's most prestigious award in the field of European heritage conservation were announced on Thursday. The church in Cluj-Napoca's main square received the award for its restoration, which will be presented in Bucharest on 7 October. As previously reported, the work was carried out by KÉSZ Romania, a subsidiary of the Hungarian company KÉSZ Csoport, and we reported on the renovation in a video in December 2018.

Attila László said:

This prestigious recognition is a great joy for the parish, and the renovation involves the work, professional knowledge and human attitude of many people.

Living building

He also said that when the committee members were on site, they wanted to see not only what renovation had been done, but also "how the church is now living". "What is the community life, what is the artistic life, how is the celebration of all that this church is for. And that gives this award that extra richness for me," the archdeacon said.

He added that before the award ceremony on 7 October, a celebration will be organised in Cluj Napoca, in the church, where the community can celebrate together. The date will be announced later.

An outstanding example of Gothic architecture

Attila László and Ádám Maksay, project coordinator, also issued a statement on the topic, reminding that the award recognizes not only the technical and architectural efforts, but also the team's commitment to the preservation and promotion of European cultural heritage. They point out:

The Church of St Michael in Cluj is an outstanding example of European Gothic architectural heritage. "Its restoration was not just a simple structural and aesthetic restoration, but an initiative to revitalise an entire community, with a significant impact on tourism and cultural education"

 - they write.

They recall that the renovation, which took place between 2016 and 2022, included structural reinforcement, as well as interior renovation and modern improvements respecting the architectural traditions of the building.

The church, which was renovated with the support of the European Union and the Hungarian and Romanian states, was consecrated on 13 August 2022. Construction of the Gothic church began in the second half of the 14th century and was completed in the first half of the 15th century. Its present neo-Gothic tower was built between 1837 and 1859.