The European Commission and Europa Nostra, the pan-European Federation for Cultural Heritage, announced today the laureates of the annual European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards. The top prize in the category, “Convervation of Architectural Heritage” was awarded to the Sarica Church in Cappadocia. Having suffered from severe surface erosion due to rainwater infiltration, cracks and flaking, this remarkable example of a rock-carved Byzantine church was rescued, restored and made accessible to visitors.

The awards will be presented to the representatives of the awarded achievements at the annual European Heritage Awards Ceremony, which will take place in Stockholm on 8 June in the presence of Europa Nostra's President, HRH the Prince Consort of Denmark, Ján Figel', European Commissioner in charge of Education & Culture, HRH Princess Madeleine, Patron of Europa Nostra Sweden, and Mrs Llena Adelsohn-Liljeroth, Swedish Minister of Culture.

Ján Figel', European Commissioner in charge of Culture, said : 'in the last 5 years, these awards have greatly contributed to the recognition of best practices in heritage conservation on a European level. They are now a keystone in the EU's cultural action'.

Jointly launched in 2002 by Europa Nostra and the European Commission, in the framework of the Commission’s Culture 2000 program, the European Heritage Awards have 3 aims : to promote high standards in conservation practice, to stimulate trans-boundary exchanges of knowledge and skills, and to encourage further exemplary initiatives in the field of cultural heritage.

For this year's awards, a total of 158 excellent applications and nominations from 32 countries were received in various categories and assessed in situ by independent experts. The most outstanding of these were selected by the Heritage Awards Jury in a series of meetings which took place over recent months.

For the related press release, please click here.

For more information: www.europanostra.org/awards_2006.html

Contacts : Frédéric Vincent : (+32 2) 298 71 66
Laurie Neale, Communications Officer, Europa Nostra,
Tel. +31 70 302 4055 ; co@europanostra.org
Eléonore de Merode, Heritage Awards Co-ordinator, Europa Nostra,
Tel. + 31 70 302 4052; ao@europanostra.org