The Assessment of the Authenticity and Conservation Status of Cultural Landscapes in Southern Transylvania (Romania)

A critical assessment reveals that the vernacular architectural heritage of Hărman, Transylvania, is at risk due to depopulation and migration, threatening its authenticity and conservation. The study evaluates Hărman's eligibility for UNESCO World Heritage status under the Cultural Evolutive Landscape Category, applying rigorous criteria for tangible (form, materials, use, location) and intangible (traditions, techniques, language) heritage. Findings underscore the need for urgent intervention to preserve this unique expression of Saxon culture and its territorial relationships, while adhering to international legal frameworks like the Convention on Vernacular Architectural Heritage.

Pascu, M., & Pătru-Stupariu, I. (2021). The Assessment of the Authenticity and Conservation Status of Cultural Landscapes in Southern Transylvania (Romania). Geographies, 1(1), 3–21. https://doi.org/10.3390/geographies1010002