Best Heritage Sites

Živa Award 2019

Brest Hero Fortress, Brest/Belarus

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Jury justification
“The entire site is a huge, major war memorial distinguished by architectural constructions, a powerful ensemble of fortifications and stunning concrete statues, commemorating thousands of lost lives and men’s bravery in fighting against wartime aggression and horrors, while defending their liberty, homeland, nation and national identity. The heroic deeds of World War 2 transformed this site into a unique monumental complex of the country’s strength and pride – a ‘sacred land of memory’. Its conservation is advocated holistically, retaining its cultural significance as a reliable witness to the past, fostering its safeguarding and supporting its sustainable use as the responsibility of current generations, and the privilege and right of future generations.”

Živa Award 2018

Kizhi Museum, Kizhi/Russian Federation

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Jury justification
“The Museum is one of the largest open air museums in the North of the Federal State. It is situated on an island of a vast lake of rare biodiversity and natural beauty and represents a unique heritage site with an impressive group of timber architectural monuments, of historical wooden village houses and ethnographic collections that have survived for centuries. It is a place of signification that inspires and attracts innumerable audiences from all over the world. The Museum greatly contributes to the conservation and restoration of wooden vernacular heritage on the island and to the study and presentation of their tangible and intangible assets as powerful cultural expressions of human creation of historic importance. Its multi-layered array of functions on the island, combined with those in the city, and its inventive activities have led to a wealth of interpretations and have promoted research, learning, better knowledge of, and reflection on traditions. The Museum is also a major source of employment, revenue and sustainable development as it invests extensively in various educational, outreach and socially relevant projects engaging the local community. It has an active Children’s museum and strong links with schools. The institution has thus become one of the country’s leading centres and an international reference for restoration of wooden monuments, and for education and training in this field, as well as an example of best practice in the management of a World Cultural Heritage Site, and of comprehensive cultural heritage valorisation.”
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