Subotica Synagogue among Europe's 7 most endangered

VIENNA - The Subotica Synagogue has been included in the list of seven most endangered monuments in Europe, the leading European organisation for heritage protection Europa Nostra released.

According to the statement made at the organisation's annual congress in Vienna, also listed as most endangered are the historic stage machinery of the Bourla theatre in Antwerp in Belgium, the neighbourhoods of Dolcho and Apozari in Kastoria in Greece, the citadel of Alessandria in Italy, the carillons of the Mafra National Palace in Portugal, the wooden churches in southern Transylvania and northern Oltenia in Romania and the Colour Row Settlement in Chernyakhovsk in Russia.

The monuments are in serious danger, some due to lack of resources or expertise, others due to neglect or inadequate planning, officials of the Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank Institute (EIB-I) stated at the congress.

Urgent action is therefore needed, and rescue missions will be organised during and after the summer while feasible action plans will be proposed by the end of the year, the officials stated at the congress.

The seven most endangered monuments for the year of 2014 were selected by the Europa Nostra panel among 11 monuments that made it to the shortlist. The monuments were proposed by international advisory panels, historians, archaeologists, architects, conservatoires and financial institutions.

The Jakab and Komor Square Synagogue in Subotica is one of the finest surviving pieces of religious architecture in the art nouveau style. It was built in 1901-1902 during the administration of the Kingdom of Hungary (part of Austria-Hungary) according the plans of Marcell Komor and Deszo Jakab, replacing a smaller and less elaborate...