The European Commission together with Europa Nostra have announced the winners of the European Heritage Awards 2025! The Europa Nostra Award is the most important European award for the protection and promotion of heritage in Europe. In this year's edition, 30 laureates from 24 countries were awarded, and two awards went to institutions from Poland. Among the distinguished group were the Malopolska Cultural Heritage Days and EC1 Łódź - City of Culture. What made the decision to award them the prizes?
The Europa Nostra Award is one of the most important international honors in the field of heritage, awarded since 1978. This year, the national ceremony announcing the winners took place in the cool halls of the Krakow Heritage Hub at 12 Św. Jana Street in Krakow. Guests were welcomed by the President of the Society of Lovers of Krakow History and Monuments, Rev. Dariusz Ras, and the entire event was coordinated by Katarzyna Jagodzinska, Head of the Krakow branch of Heritage Hub for Central and Eastern Europe. In turn, the laureates were introduced by Professor Jacek Purchla, Chairman of the International Jury of the Awards and Vice President of Europa Nostra.
EC1 in Lodz
Photo: employees of EC1 in Lodz - City of Culture © Europa Nostra
The energy of culture, or EC1 in Lodz with the Europa Nostra Award!
The prestigious award went to two Polish institutions. In the Conservation and Adaptation category, the revitalization of the Łódź thermal power plant EC1 Łódź - City of Culture was awarded:
EC1 in Łódź has been transformed from a historic power plant into a vibrant cultural and educational complex. With a science and technology center, planetarium, cinema, comic book center, film culture center and public space operating in the complex, EC1 offers a powerful model for the revitalization of industrial heritage throughout Europe.
-reads the rationale behind the selection.
EC1 in Lodz
Photo: employees of EC1 in Lodz - City of Culture © Europa Nostra
EC1 was once the first thermal power plant in Lodz, located at 7 Targowa Street and powering Lodz's manufactories, infrastructure and homes for nearly a century. With the first day of 2000, its operations were extinguished and the entire complex began to slowly fall into disrepair. That was until 2008, when a decision was made to try to revitalize the site, which eventually, after a decade of intensive work, became EC1.
EC1 in Lodz
Photo: employees of EC1 in Lodz - City of Culture © Europa Nostra
The architectural design for the revitalization of the Łódź thermal power plant was prepared by the Home of Houses studio from Poznań, as well as the Investment Realization Office "Fronton" and the Mirosław Wiśniewski Urbanistyka i Architektura company from Łódź. As a result of their work, the renovated interiors of the old CHP plant included a planetarium, a Science and Technology Center with an interactive exhibition "Energy Processing, a Center for Comics and Interactive Narration and an educational space "Street of Elements." The main role went to the recently completed National Film Culture Center.
EC1 in Lodz
Photo: employees of EC1 in Lodz - City of Culture © Europa Nostra
All this fit into almost 18,500 square meters of space, of which more than 11,000 square meters was revitalized space. As part of the construction, not only repairs and modernization of historic buildings were carried out under conservation supervision, but also the restoration of the historic street layout and building density.
Malopolska Days of Cultural Heritage with Europa Nostra 2025 - Luslawice 2023 award.
Photo: K. Schubert, Malopolska Institute of Culture © CC BY-SA 4.0 | Europa Nostra
Malopolska Days of Cultural Heritage - a classic with an award
The second of the Europa Nostra awards given to Polish initiatives went to Malopolska Days of Cultural Heritage!
For more than two decades, Malopolska Cultural Heritage Days have been inviting residents and tourists to discover heritage sites from a new perspective. With original thematic programs, films, research and a digital platform, this popular event throughout the region and beyond broadens the knowledge of thousands of participants about the rich heritage of Malopolska every year.
-was the justification for the award, read by Prof. Jacek Purchla.
The first edition of Malopolska Cultural Heritage Days took place as early as 1999 - since then, every year in May, guided tours and walks, workshops for adult heritages or lectures, exhibitions and artistic events are held, centered around Malopolska's heritage. The objects presented at the events are both "icons" known to all, as well as less recognizable monuments.
Each edition of the Malopolska Cultural Heritage Days has a different theme, which gives space for interpreting local stories, discovering forgotten historical contexts, creating sightseeing programs tailored to different audiences [...].
Malopolska Days of Cultural Heritage in Czchow, 2019
Photo: K. Schubert, Malopolska Institute of Culture © CC BY-SA 4.0 | Europa Nostra
Awards granted, time for the gala
The selection committee evaluated 251 entries, awarding a total of 30 prizes in the categories Conservation and Adaptation, Research, Education, Training and Skills, Civic Engagement and Awareness Raising, and Champions of Heritage.
The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards give us the opportunity to recognize how cultural heritage is deeply valued in Europe. This year's winners embody ongoing efforts to preserve and promote our rich cultural heritage for future generations. We congratulate the winners on their outstanding achievements and valuable contributions.
-said Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Justice, Youth, Culture and Sports.
Malopolska Cultural Heritage Days in Krakow, 2024
Photo: D. Scigalski, Malopolska Institute of Culture © CC BY-SA 4.0 | Europa Nostra
I warmly congratulate this year's [winners - ed.] of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards on their well-deserved recognition. These inspiring initiatives demonstrate how cultural heritage can be a powerful force for positive change in Europe - strengthening communities, promoting well-being, fueling creativity and contributing to economic resilience. Cultural heritage connects people across generations and borders. It brings Europe's citizens closer together, united in our rich diversity. It brings beauty and meaning to our daily lives and shows how it can help shape a more sustainable and inclusive future.
-highlights Cecilia Bartoli, world-renowned mezzo-soprano and President of Europa Nostra
Malopolska Days of Cultural Heritage in Krakow, 2023
Photo: L. Jaworska, Malopolska Institute of Culture © CC BY SA 4.0 | Europa Nostra
The winners will be honored at the European Heritage Awards 2025 ceremony on October 13, to be held at the Flagey building in Brussels. In addition to the selection of Grand Prix winners, the Public Choice Award will also be presented - selected winners can be voted for until September 12 via the Europa Nostra website. The winners of the Public Choice Award 2025 will receive a prize of 10,000 euros. You can also think about next year's edition - applications are accepted through the entry form for the Europa Nostra Award 2026.
