EBS continues its initiative to support the restoration and conservation of the castles churches from Durles and Schmie-gen which already started last year.

After the emigration of saxons in the 1970s and 1990s, there were approximately 250 castle churches left which today are very deteriorated and require immediate and comprehensive restoration work. A financing contract in 2009 between the church district in Medias and EBS, facilitated the start of major renovation and preservation work for the churches in Durles and Schmiegen. Most of these improvements are meanwhile in place:

The Church in Durles:

• Exposing and preservation of outdoor and wall paintings from the 15th Century
• Paintings Preservation from the west portal outdoor window

The Church in Schmiegen:

• Plaster removal inside the apse
• Preservation of outdoor paintings on the east side of the apse
• Preservation and restoration of several Gothic church chairs from the 15th, 16th and 17 Century
• Restoration of the church’s roof

Beside these activities further conservation work is intended in 2010. It includes etching and preservation work on the apses, planed for both churches. The church´s floor in Schmiegen will also be replaced. Furthermore there will be renovation work planned for the wall paintings and church benches. Through it’s involvement, EBS contributes to the conservation of Transylvanian unique Saxon culture, which otherwise is to be threatened by extinction.

Here the entire picture selection.