Europa Nostra and EIB Institute announce 14 heritage sites in Europe shortlisted for the 7 Most Endangered Programme 2025

Press releases (in 13 languages) and photos can be downloaded at the bottom of this webpage

The 14 monuments and heritage sites in Europe shortlisted for this year’s edition of the 7 Most Endangered Programme were announced today by Europa Nostra, the leading European heritage civil society network, and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Institute. Since its launch in 2013, the programme has become a leading civil society initiative dedicated to safeguarding Europe’s endangered heritage, acting as advocate and catalyst for rallying the necessary public and private support, including funding.

 

These are the 14 most threatened monuments and heritage sites in Europe preselected for 2025:

• Arakelots Monastery and Settlement, ARMENIA
• Railway Station of Mixnitz-Bärenschützklamm, AUSTRIA
• Iron Castle of Ath, BELGIUM
• Nyborg Castle, DENMARK
• Castle of Monemvasia, GREECE
• Blower Hall, Esch-sur-Alzette, LUXEMBOURG
• Railway Bridges and Embankment Baardwijkse Overlaat, THE NETHERLANDS
• National Theatre, Oslo, NORWAY
• Great Synagogue in Orla, POLAND
• Church and Convent of Paulistas in Lisbon, PORTUGAL
• Generalštab Modernist Complex in Belgrade, SERBIA
• Church of Santo Estevo de Pousada, SPAIN
• Valhalla Swimming Hall, Gothenburg, SWEDEN
• Victoria Tower Gardens, London, UNITED KINGDOM

 

The 14 endangered heritage sites, spanning 14 European countries, were shortlisted by an Advisory Panel comprising European experts in history, archaeology, architecture, project analysis, and finance. The nominations of the sites for the 7 Most Endangered Programme 2025 were made or endorsed by members of Europa Nostra, as well as by members of the European Heritage Alliance.

The shortlisted sites were selected on the basis of their heritage significance and cultural value, as well as the serious danger that they are facing today. The level of engagement of local communities and the commitment of public and private stakeholders to saving these sites were considered crucial added values. Another selection criterion was the potential of each of the sites to act as a catalyst for sustainable socioeconomic development.

 

The Executive President of Europa Nostra, Prof. Dr. Hermann Parzinger, said: “The shortlisted heritage sites are threatened by demolition, unsuitable development, lack of funding, or neglect. We strongly support the activists and communities who are fully committed to saving these sites. It is our shared responsibility to preserve and enhance Europe’s treasures. Our heritage is instrumental in building a more peaceful, cohesive and sustainable future.’’

The Head and Director of the European Investment Bank Institute, Shiva Dustdar, stated: “European identity, attractiveness, and economic growth are deeply rooted in our cultural heritage. This shortlist serves as a reminder of its fragility and how often we take it for granted. Through our continued partnership with Europa Nostra, the Institute amplifies the efforts of local communities across Europe. These communities recognise that preserving cultural heritage sites can help them address other pressing challenges. We look forward to seeing these sites restored and protected for future generations.”

The final list of 7 Most Endangered heritage sites in Europe for 2025 will be unveiled in March/April.

 

14 European heritage sites shortlisted for
the 7 Most Endangered Programme 2025

(listed in alphabetical order of the country where they are located)

Arakelots Monastery and Settlement, ARMENIA

Hidden within the forests of the Tavush region in northern Armenia, the Arakelots Monastery and Settlement is a gem of medieval heritage. The remnants of the settlement include a pair of churches, a caravanserai, an oil mill, and the Sranots Bridge, which collectively narrate the story of a vibrant medieval trade hub on the Armenian Silk Road.

Despite its historical prominence, the religious and secular ensemble has been abandoned since the 17th century. Encroaching vegetation, structural decay, and climate-related hazards jeopardise its preservation. Its precarious state, due to geopolitical tensions and environmental challenges, calls for immediate action.
Nominated by an Individual Member of Europa Nostra, Dr. Jasmine Dum-Tragut from the Armenian Studies Division at the University of Salzburg in Austria, with the support of stakeholders from Armenia.

Railway Station of Mixnitz-Bärenschützklamm, AUSTRIA

Located in the heart of Styria in southern Austria, the Mixnitz-Bärenschützklamm Railway Station is a testament to 19th-century innovation in railway engineering. As soon as it was built in 1844, the station became a popular destination for Alpine tourism. It is still in use, serving both local commuters and tourists. The station’s building has great architectural and cultural value.

The main threat to the Mixnitz-Bärenschützklamm Railway Station is a planned diversion of the route, as part of a comprehensive construction project associated with the Koralm Railway, which requires track expansion. The station is planned to be demolished and replaced by new waiting sheds for purely technical and economic reasons.
Nominated by Europa Nostra Austria, which champions the preservation and adaptive reuse of the railway station.

Iron Castle of Ath, BELGIUM

Built in 1887 in the city of Ath, the Iron Castle (Château de Fer) is partially constructed of pressed sheet metal using an innovative system for prefabricated modular construction, developed by the Belgian engineer Joseph Danly. It is the last remaining example in Belgium of this particular type of industrial heritage, and one of the few remaining ones in Europe.

The Iron Castle of Ath is no longer in use and shows signs of significant deterioration. The owner is committed to preserving the building but operates within economic constraints.
Nominated by an Individual Member of Europa Nostra, Professor Laurent Debailleux, Head of the Architecture Department at the Polytechnic Faculty of Mons in Belgium, with the support of Europa Nostra Belgium, ICOMOS, Patrimoine Industriel Wallonie Bruxelles, EFAITH, and the owner of the building, the Federal Property Agency.

Nyborg Castle, DENMARK

Founded in the 12th century and modified with Renaissance features during the 16th century, the Nyborg Castle is among Denmark’s best-preserved royal castles from the Middle Ages. Despite its exceptional historical and cultural value and legal protections, the Nyborg Castle is threatened by an invasive construction project. The development aims to build a new information centre, covering over 2,000m², in the listed archaeological courtyard of the castle and directly on the medieval base and underlying cultural remains of its North side, as well as a smaller structure on its South side.

In 2020 the ‘Board of Complaints’ had declared the project “illegal”, stating it “violates the Danish laws” and would result in “irreparable damages to the protected castle”. However, on the initiative of the Minister of Culture, the Danish Parliament recently adopted a special law to authorise the construction of this new information centre at Nyborg Castle. This constitutes a serious breach of the rule of law since it transgresses the decision of a relevant public body having judicial authority.

Nominated by the association “Kultur & Arv” with the support of other important organisations and experts.

Castle of Monemvasia, GREECE

The Castle of Monemvasia is perched on a massive limestone rock with steep cliffs, projecting from the south-eastern coast of the Peloponnese. The rock is connected to the mainland by an isthmus and a bridge. With structures from the Byzantine to modern times, this unique site has attracted visitors from all around the world.

The main threat for Monemvasia lies in a plan for a cable car promoted by the Ministry of Culture and the local municipality. The cable car project clearly risks diminishing the environmental and cultural value of the overall site, depreciating the experience of visitors, and threatening the visual integrity of the landscape.
Nominated by ELLINIKI ETAIRIA – Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage, which proposes to substitute the plan for a cable car with a plan for a passenger lift to improve the accessibility of the Upper Town.

Blower Hall, Esch-sur-Alzette, LUXEMBOURG

Built in 1910, the Blower Hall (Gebléishal or Halle des Soufflantes) is an exceptional industrial heritage monument in what was a major steel production site in Luxembourg throughout most of the 20th century. The building spans 160 metres in length, over 72 metres in width, and 28 metres in height, effectively forming two interconnected halls. It preserves unique technical elements essential for understanding historic steel production systems.

The Blower Hall has been under national protection since 2000. Despite its heritage status, the building was closed in 2019, due to structural instability and contamination risks, and is in an advanced state of deterioration.
Nominated by the NGO Centre national de la culture industrielle (CNCI), which developed a sustainable concept for transforming the Blower Hall into a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and tourism.

Railway Bridges and Embankment Baardwijkse Overlaat, THE NETHERLANDS

The Railway Bridges and Embankment that cross the Baardwijkse Overlaat are an important testament to the intensive leather and shoe industry of the 19th-20th centuries in the North Brabant province of southern Netherlands. The three Railway Bridges are listed as Dutch National Monuments. In the 1990s, the former railway bridges and embankment were transformed into a pedestrian and a cycling route.

This important industrial heritage is now threatened by a plan to modernise and widen the cycling path to accommodate increased volume and faster electric bikes. The proposed plan would not only damage 37 historic brick piers by using them as a foundation for the modern concrete bridge, but would also destroy 532 trees and 785 metres of shrubs on and along the embankment.
Nominated by the Foundation for the Preservation of the Langstraat Railway Bridges with Bond Heemschut.

National Theatre, Oslo, NORWAY

Located in the heart of Oslo, the National Theatre was built at the end of the 1890s in Neo-Renaissance and Baroque styles. It is the most important place in the country for the performance of classic theatre, and the leading exponent of the work of Norway’s eminent dramatist Henrik Ibsen.

However, the whole building needs urgent rehabilitation and renewal, including all its technical infrastructure. A number of costly and time-consuming measures have to be taken to upgrade the main stage. Furthermore, the theatre is situated in an area with a complex geology, requiring a refoundation of the building, so far postponed by the Ministry of Culture due to the high costs involved.
Nominated by the Oslo Society with the National Trust of Norway, and the Norwegian Federation of Cultural Heritage Organisations.

Great Synagogue in Orla, POLAND

Located in Orla, a village in Bielsk county on the eastern border of Poland, the Great Synagogue was founded in the second half of the 17th century. The building’s interior reflected Baroque and Renaissance influences, and its most distinctive feature used to be the Torah ark. As a result of the Holocaust, the building served as a storehouse for property stolen by the German soldiers, and the ark was destroyed.

The building is not used anymore as a synagogue, and suffers from a serious state of decay and structural deterioration. It is owned by the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland, which aims to create a multicultural and educational centre in the building after its full renovation. However, the local funding capacity is insufficient for that.
Nominated by Future for Religious Heritage, a member of the European Heritage Alliance.

Church and Convent of Paulistas in Lisbon, PORTUGAL

Located in the historic centre of Lisbon, the 17th-century Church and Convent of Paulistas is an impressive example of Baroque religious architecture and urban planning. It was listed as a National Monument in 1918.

Despite its important historical, architectural and artistic value, the Church and Convent of Paulistas is in urgent need of rehabilitation. The roof of the church is in a very bad condition due to several ingresses of rainwater, with the consequent loss of portions of the stucco ceiling. The Baroque upper choir stall, the organ in gilded wood carving, and many of the in-situ paintings (mostly from the 17th and 18th centuries) are in rapid decay.
Nominated by the civil society association Fórum Cidadania Lx, which advocates for the restoration of the monument and its great cultural, social, and economic benefits.

Generalštab Modernist Complex in Belgrade, SERBIA

The complex consisting of twin buildings, which served as the General Staff and Ministry of Defense, known locally as Generalštab, stands as an iconic symbol of Belgrade’s modernist architectural heritage. Designed by Nikola Dobrović, it was built between 1953 and 1964. Damaged during NATO airstrikes in 1999, significant parts of the building lie in ruins.

Recent announcements of demolition of the complex to make space for a large-scale real-estate redevelopment project by private investors have sparked public outrage. The proposed redevelopment would have a massive detrimental impact on the cityscape. Moreover, such a redevelopment would be in breach of the legal protection of this architectural and urbanistic ensemble, which was introduced in 2005 but very recently removed by the Government of Serbia in violation of the provisions of the National Law on Cultural Heritage.
Nominated by Europa Nostra Serbia with the support of 22 organisations and academic institutions, which champion the restoration and possible adaptive reuse of the Generalštab Modernist Complex for public purposes.

Church of Santo Estevo de Pousada, SPAIN

The once parochial Church of Santo Estevo de Pousada, in the Diocese of Lugo, is today a chapel. Most of the existing structure dates from the 12th to the 13th centuries. Both sides of the arch and the presbytery walls are covered with frescoes from 1582.

The building is under increasing threats. As the roof is damaged, weather phenomena become increasingly impactful on the inside and notably on the frescoes; water leakages are also noted in the foundations. Invasive vegetation contributes to the rising risk of collapse, while the isolated location contributes to vandalism and theft risks.
Nominated by Future for Religious Heritage and Diocese of Lugo, which advocate for the restoration of the Church of San Estevo de Pousada with the aim of renewing its religious use and fostering cultural tourism development.

Valhalla Swimming Hall, Gothenburg, SWEDEN

The Valhalla Swimming Hall in Gothenburg stands for both a significant expression of the 1950s’ pioneering architecture and artistic decoration, and a breakthrough for a new public health responsibility. It is one of the largest indoor swimming facilities in Scandinavia, and attracts nearly half a million visitors every year.

The Valhalla Swimming Hall has been recognised as a culturally and historically valuable building in the city’s preservation programme, which means that its preservation is considered of public interest. However, it is threatened with demolition due to the Municipality of Gothenburg’s plans to build a new, larger sports and entertainment arenas.
Nominated by Europa Nostra Sweden, which champions the preservation of the building for architectural, cultural, social, economic, and environmental reasons.

Victoria Tower Gardens, London, UNITED KINGDOM

Victoria Tower Gardens is a small public park partly situated within the World Heritage Site of the Palace of Westminster in London. For over 150 years it has provided a quiet oasis for parliamentarians, local residents, and tourists alike. It is often used for public events, demonstrations and art installations.

Victoria Tower Gardens is severely threatened by the proposed construction of a national Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre, which would dominate the whole southern half of the gardens. Tall metal and concrete fins representing the memorial would span the width of the gardens. If constructed at this location, the memorial would irreversibly transform the character and uses of the gardens’ civic space, as well as decrease the resilience of the park to changes in the climate and rainfall levels.
Nominated by by Europa Nostra UK with London Parks & Gardens which together with other heritage organisations advocate for an alternative location for this important project.

 

7 Most Endangered Programme

The 7 Most Endangered Programme forms part of a civil society campaign to save Europe’s endangered heritage. It raises awareness, prepares independent assessments and proposes recommendations for action. It also provides a grant of €10,000 per listed site to assist in implementing an agreed activity that will contribute to saving the threatened site.
Launched in 2013, this innovative programme is run by Europa Nostra in partnership with the European Investment Bank Institute. It also has the support of the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.
To mark the 10th anniversary of the 7 Most Endangered Programme in 2023, the EIB released the brochure ‘Saving the Past – Shaping the Future’ , which highlights some of the success stories and the importance of community engagement.  Since the launch of the programme, 63 threatened monuments and heritage sites (from castles to bridges, factories and churches) from 31 countries across Europe have been selected.

 

Find out more

Photos & e-banners │ Video

Press releases
Press release about the 14 sites in English
Tailor-made press releases in the languages related to the shortlisted sites:

• Arakelots Monastery and Settlement: Armenian │ German
• Railway Station of Mixnitz-Bärenschützklamm: German
• Iron Castle of Ath: French
• Nyborg Castle: English
• Castle of Monemvasia: Greek
• Blower Hall, Esch-sur-Alzette: French │ Luxembourgish
• Railway Bridges and Embankment Baardwijkse Overlaat: Dutch
• National Theatre, Oslo: English
• Great Synagogue in Orla: Polish
• Church and Convent of Paulistas in Lisbon: Portuguese
• Generalštab Modernist Complex in Belgrade: Serbian
• Church of Santo Estevo de Pousada: Galician │ Spanish
• Valhalla Swimming Hall, Gothenburg: Swedish
• Victoria Tower Gardens, London: English

 

Websites
www.7mostendangered.eu
https://institute.eib.org