Novartis announced today that its Abadia Retuerta Abbey property, which has been under restoration since 2006, was recognized as one of the 15 best building conservation projects by the prestigious European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra. Architect Marco Serra led the project which has restored the cultural heritage site to its glory.

“Novartis is proud to have helped bring this important historic and cultural site back to active use in such a striking way. We celebrate innovation in all areas and have long believed that function plus beauty is the ideal environment,” said Jesus Acebillo, Head of Novartis Spain. “We congratulate Marco Serra and the whole team on being named a laureate of the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards 2013.”

The investment by Novartis in Abadia Retuerta LeDomaine demonstrates the Company’s continued commitment to preserving this cultural heritage while creating employment opportunities in the region. One of the main purposes of the renovation project was to preserve and enhance the workspaces within the abbey as well as restore an important historic regional monument.

Owned by Novartis, Abadia Retuerta LeDomaine was the first Spanish Premonstratentian abbey, founded in 1146, and one of only two such abbeys to have survived destruction. It was designated a Spanish cultural heritage site in 1931 but nonetheless fell into grave disrepair. Extraordinary baroque-romanesque architecture and almost 1,000 years of religious cultural heritage demanded careful consideration in its delicate restoration. Almost lost to the past, it was given vivid new life in the present, and transformed from a local treasure into an international one. To mark the beginning of a new era, the property has renamed as Abadia Retuerta LeDomaine and is now transformed into a new exclusive hotel giving the abbey a vital new role and ensuring and securing its future. 

The EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra 2013 jury noted that they appreciated the remarkable restoration of this monument of the twelfth century as a model for reuse of a major building that lost its original function and has been carefully adapted to new and sustainable features. The three main Premonstratensian principles - work, peace and hospitality - have been carefully transferred to the present, highlighting at the same time the meaningfulness of the values and "spirit of place." The historical and technical research carried out in fields as diverse as architectural style, the old system of Roman hypocaust warming, the noninvasive energetic technologies used, and the artistic restoration of the historical landscape were also noted as part of the laureate award.

The Grand Prize winner of the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra 2013 will be announced at the European Heritage Awards Ceremony on Sunday 16 June 2013 in Athens.  Please vote at: www.europanostra.org/public-choice-award for your favorite!

About Novartis

Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines and diagnostic tools, over-the-counter and animal health products. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2012, the Group achieved net sales of USD 56.7 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.3 billion (USD 9.1 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 129,000 full-time-equivalent associates and operate in more than 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit www.novartis.com.

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Novartis

Novartis

Novartis is an innovative medicines company. Every day, we work to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives so that patients, healthcare professionals and societies are empowered in the face of serious disease. Our medicines reach more than 250 million people worldwide.

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