The Transylvania Trust Foundation, responsible for the restoration and revitalisation of Bánffy Castle, Bonțida, Romania, is launching an invitation to take part in a “hands-on” learning experience in the field of historic building conservation in August of 2025.
The Foundation has been organising practical trainings since 2001 to address the lack of craftsmen and professionals in the field ofhistoric building conservation as well as to promote the preservation and transmission of traditional building crafts to young people. Sofar, the castle has welcomed more than 3000 participants from Romania and abroad.
Duration:
Module 1: 3-16 August 2025
Module 2: 17-30 August 2025
Structure:
• Theoretical training on the first day. The lectures delivered by qualified professionals from Romania and abroad will be translated simultaneously, as required, to Romanian, Hungarian or English.
• Practical training in one of the following domains:
1. Masonry, vault restoration, mural decorations and specialised techniques (fresco, secco, sgraffito, stucco marmorino – 2 days),
2. Traditional joinery and furniture restoration,
3. Stonemasonry (available only in Module 1)
Who can apply?
The training programme is aimed especially at undergraduate students in architecture, structural engineering, landscape architecture, archaeology, art history and other related fields, who wish to gain practical experience in the field of built heritage conservation and learn about traditional building techniques. It can also be attended by craftsmen who seek to specialise in the restoration of historic buildings, but our training is open to anybody interested in this field.
Why apply?
The two-week training programme offers the opportunity:
• to learn about the theoretical principles and methodology of built heritage conservation from qualified lecturers from Romania and abroad, as well as traditional building craft skills through direct, “hands-on” learning from a team of experienced craftsmen,
• to work on a real restoration site and to contribute to the restoration of Bánffy Castle, Bonțida,
• to meet people from a variety of professional and cultural backgrounds, widening one’s understanding of the field through interdisciplinary and intercultural dialogue.
At the end of the trainings, participants will receive a certificate of achievement.
Practical information:
The trainings take place on the grounds of Bánffy Castle, Bonțida, Romania; their duration is 14 days.
Registration details:
participants can register online or through e-mail, by sending the completed form to the address: bhct@transylvaniatrust.ro.
Note: The number of available places is limited.
The registration fee is 450 euro per student (if payment is made prior to 20 February 2025, a 10% discount will be applied, reducing the registration fee to 405 euro.) This fee represents the participants’ contribution towards tuition, accommodation and catering costs, all of which are provided on the castle grounds.
The deadline for application is 15 March 2025.
For further information, visit:
Full details of our training programmes and our work can be found at transylvaniatrust.ro. For further details please contact us at bhct@transylvaniatrust.ro.