Residents of Reșița and the surrounding areas are invited, on the weekend of August 6-7, 2022, to “Bârzava: The Wealth of Water”, an event for exploring and discovering a unique heritage in Romania, “hidden” in the forests around Reșița: the network of canals, tunnels, aqueducts, accumulation lakes, and hydroelectric power plants in the upper basin of the Bârzava River, which flows through the city.

These hydraulic engineering structures, developed over more than a century, played an essential role in serving local industry and community with energy and water. Being spread over large, wooded areas, some difficult to access, the canal network – of which over 60 km are still in operation – is little known in Romania.

The program of activities for the weekend of August 6-7 includes guided tours, on foot or by bicycle along the Bârzava canals, a photography exhibition and an interactive installation in the Reșița Civic Center, a guided tour of the Grebla Hydroelectric Power Plant, and a lecture with historian Mircea Rusnac about the history and development of this hydraulic heritage.

Access to all activities is free. For better organization and to get a realistic estimate of the number of participants, some activities require prior registration - details below, in the program for the two days.

PROGRAM

>> Saturday, August 6

10:30 AM – 2:30 PM: Guided bicycle tour along the canals, with Bike Attack / Ro Mountain Bike.

Spaces are limited. For registration, access the link here: https://forms.gle/AKybtnz5hHVF...

5:00 PM: Conversations about the history of the development of the structures on the Bârzava river course, with historian Mircea Rusnac

4:00 PM, 5:00 PM & 6:00 PM: Guided tours of the Grebla Hydroelectric Power Plant.

Meeting point, at the entrance to the power plant courtyard: https://bit.ly/3bj2urT. Those interested will be met by an organizer's volunteer and taken over by a plant employee who will accompany the group throughout the visit.

>> Sunday, August 7, 2022

10:30 AM – 2:30 PM: Hike – guided tour along the canals and stories about the hydraulic network, with Sandu Borza (Mountains Friends Association).

Spaces are limited. For registration, access the link here: https://forms.gle/3ByrLREx5N68...

>> Saturday & Sunday, August 6-7, 2022

10:00 AM – 8:00 PM: Photography exhibition and interactive installation on the development of the water network and its use for industry in the Reșița Civic Center, the square next to the West Theater.

The above actions are preceded, on August 5, by a round table and institutional debate that will take place at the Reșița County Council and will bring together institutional actors, representatives of the private and civic sectors. The purpose of this meeting is to mobilize joint actions and a sustainable vision regarding the valorization, preservation, and promotion of this industrial heritage unique in the country.

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The event Bârzava: The Wealth of Water is part of the project “The Invisible City. Part 1: The Story of Water”, implemented by the Make Better Association, co-financed by the National Cultural Fund Administration (AFCN) and the Reșița City Hall, in partnership with the Amateur Filmmaker Museum and Modulab, and with the support of CEZ Romania, the Banat Mountain Museum, the Mountains Friends Association, and Bike Attack / Ro Mountain Bike.

The project's goal is to reveal and promote the material heritage consisting of the hydraulic engineering system in the upper basin of the Bârzava River through awareness actions, institutional debates, and the collection and digitization of multimedia archives that will be made available on the Virtual Museum Reșița platform, www.muzeulvirtualresita.ro (a platform currently under development).

“The Invisible City. Part 1: The Story of Water” is a project co-financed by the National Cultural Fund Administration. The project does not necessarily represent the position of AFCN. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or how the project results may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the funding beneficiary.