THE SITE
In 1979, the Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The site is characterised by an exceptionally rich and multi-layered history, reflected in a dense concentration of architectural monuments from different periods, as well as in the close and complex interaction between cultural heritage and the natural landscape. The Bay of Kotor is framed by fortified coastal settlements on the one hand, and by settlements located on steep mountain slopes on the other, which relied on their natural topography for protection.
Donji Stoliv, originally only a series of stone houses, is located at the foot of the slope of the Vrmac peninsula, which separates the Bay of Kotor from the Bay of Tivat. The name Stoliv today usually refers to Donji Stoliv because it is inhabited. In addition, Donji Stoliv is recognised by locally famous events, such as the Days of Camellias and the Days of Chestnuts which are held in this place. Most of the former inhabitants of Gornji Stoliv have moved during the last decades to Donji Stoliv.
Gornji Stoliv, located higher up the slope above the coast, has been settled since at least the Middle Ages and was for centuries one of the most important communities in the region, exerting influence far beyond the Bay of Kotor. Many of its families were engaged in seafaring and maritime trade, particularly during the Venetian period and continuing through the era of Austro-Hungarian rule. This prosperity is reflected in the village’s built heritage, including the imposing parish church of St. Elias with its wall paintings, two chapels, several formerly stately residential buildings, and numerous structures related to communal village life. Gornji Stoliv also played a formative role in the wider region, for instance as the first rural settlement to establish a school.
At its height, Gornji Stoliv was home to nearly one thousand inhabitants. Even at the beginning of the 1960s, the population still exceeded five hundred residents, before a gradual process of depopulation set in. The primary reason for this exodus was the village’s difficult accessibility: Gornji Stoliv was, and remains, reachable only via a footpath of almost one and a half kilometres. The settlement received electricity only relatively recently, and its sophisticated cistern-based water supply system, which had ensured drinking water for centuries in the absence of natural springs, became non-functional due to declining use and lack of maintenance. These structural challenges, combined with broader socio-economic shifts and migration to urban centres, were further intensified by the 1979 earthquake and, in later decades, by rising expectations regarding living standards and the expansion of national and international tourism.
Today, only three people reside in Gornji Stoliv on a more or less permanent basis, and even two of them maintain houses elsewhere. Although the village no longer functions as a living community, it continues to be cared for by former inhabitants and their descendants, many of whom are organised through the local association Kamelija Stoliv. The site stands as a silent witness to historical transformation, preserving the material traces of past communal life and functioning as a time capsule of regional history, albeit in an increasingly fragile state.
In recent years, the uniqueness of Gornji Stoliv has come under growing pressure. In addition to progressive decay, the site has been affected by inappropriate interventions linked to increasing tourist interest. Of particular concern are plans to construct a road providing direct access to the village. In 2022, a first preliminary unpaved gravel road was constructed without legal basis or formal permission. This intervention not only threatens the exceptional setting and integrity of Gornji Stoliv’s built heritage but also cuts through an area that is expected to receive protected status as a Natural Park in the future.
THE PROJECT
European Heritage Volunteers Projects in Gornji Stoliv began in 2022 and have continued through a series of activities in 2023, 2024, and 2025, forming part of a long-term effort to stabilise and conserve selected elements of the historic settlement. The 2026 autumn project will build upon the results achieved in previous years as well as in the preceding 2026 spring project, and will further advance the safeguarding of a former residential building and its architectural features within the village ensemble.
The two-storey stone building, characterised by a belvedere terrace, a cistern, and numerous original elements such as staircases, windows, doors, and a historic fireplace, forms part of a former residential complex whose auxiliary structure was conserved during earlier European Heritage Volunteers Projects. In contrast to many other houses in Gornji Stoliv, the building retains its roof, yet its structural condition before the start of the conservation interventions had been very poor. Most of the beams between the ground level and the upper level, as well as those between the upper level and the roof level, were damaged or decayed and required urgent intervention. During previous European Heritage Volunteers Projects, these beams were repaired or, where this had not been possible due to advanced decay, replaced. In addition, the original floor planks on both levels were repaired, reassembled, or replaced, thereby creating a safe working platform for the subsequent works on the roof structure.
The focus of the 2026 autumn project will be the repair of the roof structure and the roofing. As the building had remained without use since the 1970s, both the roof and the roof structure had suffered considerable damage. About twenty years ago, emergency repairs were carried out which prevented further deterioration of the building, but these interventions were not in line with heritage conservation principles. During the 2026 autumn project, damaged and weakened elements will be repaired, and inappropriate additions will be corrected or replaced using traditional carpentry techniques and historically appropriate materials. The roofing itself will be carefully revised, repaired, and completed in order to ensure adequate weather protection while maintaining full compatibility with the historic fabric of the building.
The works will include repairs of the upper sections of the stone masonry walls. Where necessary, the upper layers of stones will be repaired, re-set, and consolidated to secure the structural integrity of the walls and to ensure the proper load transfer from the renewed roof construction. In addition, the project will address the historic drainage system of the building, including carved stone elements designed to guide rainwater away from the roof and façade. These features will be replaced and repaired to recover their functional performance while preserving their historic character. In addition, interior works initiated during previous projects will be continued and completed.
The conservation works will be guided by a skilled carpenter from the European Heritage Volunteers Network, ensuring the application of traditional techniques and the professional supervision of all interventions.
All interventions will follow the principles of minimal intervention and maximum retention of original material. The conservation of the ensemble consisting of the residential and auxiliary buildings is intended to serve as a model for responsible interventions in the vernacular architecture of Gornji Stoliv. By applying traditional construction methods and following the principle of “Care and Repair,” the project seeks to demonstrate how conservation measures can strengthen the structural stability and long-term usability of historic rural buildings while respecting their authenticity and preserving their value as part of the cultural landscape.
The works will take place both inside and outside on a scaffolding. Therefore, participants shall be comfortable with working in around six metres height.
Due to the remote location of Gornji Stoliv, the transport of the scaffolding will form a relevant part of the project and will be carried out using the historic stone pathway connecting Donji Stoliv with the upper village, following the footsteps of the original constructors of the site.
As part of the educational programme, guided visits and excursions will be organised within the area of the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor. These activities will address the historical development of the cultural landscape as well as current challenges affecting the region, with particular attention to the pressure of uncontrolled tourism, the vulnerability of authentic rural settlements, and the necessity of careful conservation approaches.
An integral element of the educational programme will be the participants’ presentations. Each participant is required to prepare and deliver a presentation related to the thematic focus of the activities on site, introducing a case study from their country of origin. This component connects the practical work undertaken during the programme with comparable heritage practices in different cultural and institutional contexts. Through this structured exchange, participants reflect on conservation approaches, management frameworks, and current challenges, contributing to a broader comparative understanding of heritage preservation. The presentations are intended to encourage critical dialogue, intercultural exchange, and the articulation of informed professional perspectives within an international group of emerging heritage practitioners.
The project will take place from September 13th to September 26th, 2026, and is organised by European Heritage Volunteers in cooperation with the Kamelija Stoliv Association.
