Audio tour of the village of Biertan

14.11.2024

The Designers, Thinkers, Makers Association continues its complex, long-term program dedicated to cultural revitalization in 2024, realizing together with the National Cultural Fund Administration and the Biertan Municipality City Hall the project "Culture&Cultures. Connecting the dots", focused on highlighting the cultural value of the villages of Biertan and Chirpăr. The project aims to highlight the rich cultural heritage of the region, focusing on the promotion of UNESCO sites and local values, often unknown to the general public. One of the main objectives is to raise the awareness of tourists and locals on the importance of UNESCO heritage through audio tours in Biertan and Chirpăr. These tours provide digital information accessible via QR codes, which include text, images and audio guides designed to highlight the value of traditional architecture and local culture.

The inauguration of the audio tour of Biertan will take place on November 16, 2024, UNESCO World Heritage Day in Romania. A concert on the organ of the Fortified Church by Liv Müller will mark the official opening of the cultural tour. More details about the event are available here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1084950186152982/

"Together with the many flags of the guilds that silently tell their stories in the interiors of fortified churches, we fly the flag of our audio tour, meant to enrich the village streets with a cultural layer, bringing locals and tourists closer, physically and emotionally, enhancing their reading of the place, the architecture, deepening their understanding of the importance of the tangible and intangible heritage, making them appreciate and enjoy, stay and come back.

The aim of the Culture&Cultures program is to put to work as many means as possible towards building a good climate. Good for culture, but ultimately for quality of life. A living world for today's world". (Alexandra Mihailciuc, Project Coordinator of the Designers Thinkers Makers Association).

The audio tour is conceived as a treasure hunt, supported by a digitally illustrated map in A2 format, which interweaves detailed descriptions with questions and challenges designed to arouse interest and curiosity, including a presentation of the seven fortified churches in the hills of Transylvania, which are part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

A description of the audio tour will be available on the organization's websitehttps://designersthinkersmakers.org/heritage-lab from 16 November, but information about each site will not be accessible by walking the route on site, thus encouraging local tourism.

The information will be available in Romanian and English and can be accessed by scanning QR codes strategically placed in the locality, near the sites included in the tour. Going far beyond the superficial level of understanding that comes with a non-guided tour, the audio tour reveals captivating stories of details ranging from the medieval sacristy door with its elaborate wrought iron lock, an international award-winning wrought iron lock more than a century ago, to the first rural pharmacy in Transylvania, not forgetting the towers, bastions and traditional Saxon houses in the village.

The "Culture & Cultures. Connecting the dots" project also included a number of educational initiatives, including an architectural summer school for students, focusing on various heritage education activities, including practical sessions on traditional plastering and stone masonry techniques. In addition, workshops were organized for children from the communities, and fact sheets for students, families and tourists to explore historical monuments and an illustrated map of UNESCO fortified churches in the region were created.

"Culture&Cultures" is a program designed to create a beneficial climate not only for culture but also for quality of life. The activities are supported by the manual "UNESCO Cultural Landscape. Transylvania," which serves both as educational material and as a guide for locals in heritage management. In collaboration with artists, illustrators and writers, the "Culture&Cultures" program aims to build a living and accessible cultural world for present generations.

Culture & cultures. Connecting the dots is a project realized by Designers Thinkers Makers Association, co-financed by AFCN and Biertan Municipality, realized in partnership with Ambulance for Monuments - South Transylvania, Piscu School, Nod Makerspace, Chirpăr Municipality & Chirpăr Secondary School.

The project does not necessarily represent the position of the National Cultural Fund Administration. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or how the project results can be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the grant beneficiary.