Traditional Building Crafts and Historic Building Conservation

Transylvania Trust, 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 fields of traditional building crafts and historic building conservation in August of 2025. Transylvania Trust has been organising practical trainings since 2001 to address, on the one hand, the lack of craftsmen and professionals in the field of historic building conservation, and, on the other hand, to promote the preservation and transmission of traditional building crafts to young people. So far, the castle has welcomed more than 3000 participants from Romania and abroad. Duration: Module 1: 3–16 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 with the guidance of specialised craftsmen, focusing on 3 main domains:

1. Masonry, vault and arch restoration, mural decorations and specialised techniques (fresco, secco, sgraffito, stucco marmorino – 2 days)
2. Traditional joinery and furniture restoration, carpentry
3. Stonemasonry

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. 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 the field of historic building conservation, or who wishes to acquire practical knowledge related to traditional building crafts. 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, as well as traditional building craft skills through direct, “hands-on” learning,
• to work on a real restoration site along with a team of craftsmen experienced in this field 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 workshop, participants will receive a certificate of achievement. Practical information: The training takes place on the grounds of Bánffy Castle, Bonțida, Romania. Its 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. 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. The training programme is co-funded by the National Cultural Fund Administration (AFCN).

  “The project does not necessarily represent the position of the National Cultural Fund Administration. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or how the results of the project may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the beneficiary of the funding.”