The Reinvention of Architectural Tradition: The Case of a Transylvanian Saxon Community

Gyöngyi Pásztor and Izabella Buzogány
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Gyöngyi Pásztor: Babe?-Bolyai University, Dept. of Sociology, Cluj
Izabella Buzogány: Babe?-Bolyai University, Dept. of Sociology, Cluj

Academica Turistica - Tourism and Innovation Journal, 2015, vol. 8, issue 1, 35-45

Abstract: The average Transylvanian Saxon village is a forgotten one. Having lost their Saxon populations, most of them have disappeared from the tourist map. However, there are a few successful cases where specific local features and German identity have been rediscovered, and the architectural heritage is well-marketed as a backbone for new, post-modern forms of tourism. An iconic case is that of Viscri (Weisskirch/Szászfehéregyháza), a globally famous site, due to the efforts of the Prince of Wales. The village is proud to have a UNESCO-listed fortified church built in the 13th century, along with dozens of local Saxon peasant houses and guild mansions (some of which now belong to Prince Charles of Wales). All these and the history built around the heritage of stone combined with the natural environment makes Viscri a very attractive rural tourist venue. This study focuses on the role of architectural heritage in the development of local tourism, based on the practice of reinventing traditions. Thanks to tourism, not only have several guesthouses been started, old types of craftsmanship have reappeared, and the social ties between the Roma and ethnic Romanian populations have even been tightened, but some abandoned – otherwise valuable – houses have been renovated and connected to the branded housing stock.

Keywords: tourism; architectural heritage; story; Saxon village; Transylvania; history (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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