Focus
The Prince of Wales's properties in Romania
5th August 2007
In 2006, The Prince of Wales bought and renovated two houses in rural Romania to help protect the unique way of life that has existed for hundreds of years through the promotion of sustainable tourism.
His Royal Highness has a long-standing interest in Romania and has visited the country regularly since his first visit in 1998.
The Prince has said that he was particularly moved by the plight of the remarkable fortified Saxon villages in Transylvania which were built centuries ago by German settlers, who were encouraged to go there to help withstand Tartar and Turkish invasions.
Sadly, due to mass migration, many of these villages have ageing populations and are in decline.
On his first visit to Transylvania, The Prince was immediately struck by the precious legacy of this area and said he was “totally overwhelmed by its unique beauty and its extraordinarily rich heritage.”
The Prince of Wales is well-known for his commitment to preserving traditional rural communities and their way of life, both in the UK and overseas.
Last year, The Prince of Wales decided to buy and restore two 18th Century Saxon houses in the Transylvanian villages of Malancrav and Viscri, the latter a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
His Royal Highness said: “Ever since I first visited Romania in 1998, I have been doing my utmost to ensure a sustainable future for the Saxon villages of Transylvania and their people. Tourism clearly has a vital role to play in this.”
The buildings have been sensitively restored, and have a number of Transylvanian antiques. They remain very much in keeping with the surrounding architecture, but with modern facilities where possible for the comfort of tourists who wish to explore the unique culture of this forgotten part of Europe.
Through the renovation of these buildings His Royal Highness aims to help provide a sustainable future for the people of rural Transylvania whilst enabling residents to maintain their traditional way of life.
The properties will be available to let next year. Click here for further information.
Click here to see a gallery of the house at Viscri, with pictures from before and after the restoration.