Over 100 Historic Buildings Saved by 'Ambulance for Monuments' Project

Since its launch in 2016, the "Ambulance for Monuments" project has successfully secured over 100 historical buildings across Romania that were at risk of decay.

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If we don't act, extremely valuable things are lost.

Eugen Vaida, an architect and the project's initiator, described the urgent need to save Romania's architectural heritage. The project, operating under the Monumentum Association, has grown into a national network. This network comprises volunteers, craftsmen, architects, local communities, authorities, and donors who contribute through documentation, permits, materials, labor, technical expertise, and logistics.

These interventions have protected diverse structures, including traditional Romanian houses (cule), wooden churches, fortified churches, manors, medieval towers, and other heritage buildings. Notable projects include the Cioabă-Chințescu Cul in Șiacu, the wooden church in Noțig, the church in Gurasada, the fortified evangelical church in Beia, and a tower of the Dacian fortress Costești-Cetățuie.

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Ten years ago, we embarked on a race against time for historical monuments in danger.

To commemorate a decade of activity, an exhibition titled "10 years. 100 monuments saved" is open at the Ursuline Monastery in Sibiu until August 16, 2026. The exhibition highlights the collaborative spirit behind the project, emphasizing that historical monuments can be saved when individuals contribute their skills and resources. The exhibition is complemented by "Transilvania | Extravaganza," an art exhibition by painter Ștefan Câlția, offering a dual perspective on heritage through architecture, craft, art, and imagination.

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Today, this story can be seen in an exhibition about local communities, volunteers, artisans, specialists, authorities, philanthropists, donors, and partners who chose not to remain spectators in the face of heritage degradation.