The “Konaki of Yiddish” in the 11 endangered monuments of Europe – Where is it in Greece?

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the “7 Most Endangered” program, Europa Nostra – the European voice of civil society dedicated to cultural and natural heritage – and the European Investment Bank Institute have announced the 11 most endangered cultural heritage sites in Europe as shortlisted for this year’s programme.

As the Hellenic Society for Environment and Culture (official representative of Europa Nostra in Greece) informs, among them is the “Konaki of Yiddish” in the small town of Alexandria, near Thessaloniki, which is a special example of the late Ottoman architecture of Northern Greece.

In the past it was the country house of the local landowner (farmstead), administrative and social center of the landholding (farmstead).

The name “Konaki of Gidas” is composed of the Turkish term “konak”, which can be translated as mansion, and the toponym “Gidas” refers to the village that was the current city of Alexandria.

The “Jida’s Horse” was probably built at the beginning of the 20th century. Its style can be included in the Ottoman Modernization era and demonstrates the skills of Balkan itinerant craftsmen. These characteristics lie in the closed exterior (sakhnisi) and the symmetrical structure of the facade and the floor plan. Construction techniques are also very important to the history of South-Eastern European building art, as konak applied a complex combination of materials and techniques, such as raw bricks, bricks, wooden frames covered with boards or plaster.

The “Konaki of Yida” is an example of the legacy of the Ottoman Empire in south-eastern Europe, connecting the past of many Ottoman and European settlements and rural communities.

That is why the restoration and utilization of the Konaki of Gida can be a center for the development of this rural town and an example of “activation” of other rural monuments, as noted by the European program “7 Under Threat”.

The monuments and places of cultural heritage under threat in Europe for 2023 are, apart from the “Konaki of Yiddish”, the following:

• Kortrijk Train Station, Kortrijk, BELGIUM

• Mariemont Estate and Royal Museum, Morlanwelz, BELGIUM

• Partisan Memorial Cemetery, Mostar, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

• Tchakvinji Fortress, Zugdidi, GEORGIA

• Complex of the House of Brothers Monks, former Moravian settlement Kleinwelka, GERMANY

• Herman Ottó Museum, Miskolc, HUNGARY

• Memento Park, Budapest, HUNGARY

• Paštrovska Gora Cultural Landscape, MONTENEGRO

• Cultural Landscape Sveti Stefan, Paštrovići, MONTENEGRO

• Watermills of Bistrica, Petrovac na Mlavi, SERBIA

The selection was made on the basis of the exceptional importance and cultural value of each of the sites as well as on the basis of the serious danger they face today. The level of involvement of local communities and the commitment of public and private actors to save these places were seen as critical added values. Another selection criterion was the potential of these places to act as a catalyst for sustainable socio-economic development and as a means of promoting peace and dialogue locally, but also in the wider region.

The 11 Endangered cultural heritage sites were shortlisted by an international Advisory Committee, made up of experts specializing in history, archaeology, architecture, conservation, project analysis and financing. Nominations for the “7 Under Threat 2023” Program were submitted by member organisations, partner organizations or individual members of Europa Nostra from all over Europe, as well as by members of the European Heritage Alliance.

The “7 Under Threat” program, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, is organized by Europa Nostra in collaboration with the Institute of the European Investment Bank. It is also supported by the Creative Europe program of the European Union. Since 2013 the program has been part of the civil society campaign to save endangered European heritage. Raises awareness, prepares independent assessments and proposes recommendations/actions for action. It also provides a grant of 10,000 euros to each selected site to help implement an agreed action that will contribute to saving the threatened site. The listing of a place as endangered often acts as a catalyst and incentive to mobilize the necessary public or private support, including funding.

The final list of “7 Under Threat” monuments and cultural heritage sites in Europe for 2023 will be announced in April.

RES-EMP

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