Rehabilitation/ preservation program at Roșia Montană

From an architectural and urban planning viewpoint, Roşia Montană should be treated as a whole. Its value consists of two essential elements: the unique character of a rural mining settlement with a millenary and continuous activity and a mountainous settlement of “moti” (name of the local inhabitants) from the Apuseni Montains. Roşia is the outcome of the mutual influences between these two elements.

All the urban planning and architectural characteristics have been analyzed within the studies conducted for the Zonal Urban Plan of the central area. Given the fact that the industrial area does not overlap the Protected Area of the locality, the idyllic landscape of a rural mountainous settlement may be fully preserved. The basic principles of leveraging any settlement are obvious.

1. Accessibility. Ariesului Valley has always been one of the most picturesque areas of Apuseni Mountains. The development and maintenance of the road network would facilitate tourists’ access not only to Rosia Montana, but throughout the area. In order to mitigate the unwanted impact of tourism, the access of cars in the historical centre of Rosia would be limited. Parking places would be foreseen for cars and buses outside the borders of the locality. Possible pedestrian routes for visitors would be displayed in the access points, including tourist hiking routes in the area.

2. Infrastructure. The development of the settlement will be achieved according to European regulations, which include the endowment of the locality with performing infrastructure. According to them, all the networks will be located underground, offering the possibility to create an image which is not visually polluted. The original paving (made of river stone) will be restored, proper architectural lighting will be adopted, while public areas will be equipped with urban furniture harmonized in terms of shape and material. Buildings and annexes will be rehabilitated through traditional techniques and materials, households will be delimitated by characteristic fencing (walls, wooden fences, support walls made of stone), gardens will have a clean and neat aspect.

3. Endowments. As any tourist site, Roşia Montană will have to be endowed with performing equipment to meet contemporary comfort requirements – of course, within the limits of rural development. However, it is indispensable to provide for sanitary comfort and communication networks (phone, internet, television). In addition to tourist boarding houses, restaurants will be needed, as well as information points, souvenir stores, etc.

4. Points of attraction. Some of the tourists will come to admire the landscape or vernacular architecture of the settlement. A Mining Museum will definitely be a unique point of attraction, which would increase the number of visitors by promoting thematic tourism.

5. Aspect of the buildings. The image each and every building offers should be original and untouched. Consequently, they will be valorized by both traditional and modern methods, developed with the aim to preserve a “rustic” image. Their endowment may vary (depending on the building exterior) from totally traditional (with traditional pieces of furniture, household objects etc.) to contemporary.

6. Control. The sound functioning of a tourist settlement must be ensured first of all by the inhabitants. If there is a functioning strategy for various seasons, various categories of tourists, if the landscape is developed under specialist supervision, if the development is planned on the long-term, Roşia Montană will have a chance to sustain tourism without impairing the character of the village that draws tourist interest longer-term. 

Examples of preservation works done to date: