Romanian Roma Restore Saxon Village

After the collapse of communism in Romania in 1989, many historical monuments were partially destroyed and abandoned. This was the Saxon village of Viscri in Transylvania, located 61 kilometers from Brasov. Romanian Roma decided to breathe new life into this place. Having settled into abandoned houses, they teamed up with a small number of remaining Saxons to rebuild the village. In 2009, the village was visited by more than 10,000 tourists from all over the world. Miniature houses, made in pastel colors, and the church, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, did not leave many indifferent. 20 years ago, only 300 people lived in Viskri, a year later there were 68. The village now has more than 400 residents, mostly Roma. They revived handicrafts forgotten in the village, such as tiling and blacksmithing.