Ethical Guidelines for the Protection of Cultural Artifacts
Respecting the Cultural Heritage of Harghita County as the Basis for Sustainable Tourism
Harghita County has a rich historical and cultural heritage – including monuments, archaeological sites, folk objects, religious relics, and other cultural assets. It is the shared responsibility of visitors, local residents, and tourism providers to preserve, respect, and authentically present this heritage.
We expect all our visitors and partner organizations to follow the ethical guidelines below:
1. Do not buy, sell, or give away historical or archaeological objects
- The trade, gifting, or export of archaeological finds, folk items, or religious relics from Harghita County is strictly prohibited and illegal.
- Always be cautious, and if you buy a craft item, make sure it is a contemporary creation or a certified replica.
2. Do not remove anything from monuments or sites
- When visiting historical sites, it is forbidden to take any objects, stones, pottery shards, or wooden or metal remains.
- If you notice anything like this, do not touch it; instead, notify the local museum, information center, or the Visit Harghita team.
3. Respect intangible heritage as well
- Traditional clothing, crafts, music, dance, and culinary traditions are part of Harghita County’s living heritage. These are not souvenirs but forms of community identity – please treat them respectfully.
- Always ask for permission before taking photos, especially during religious ceremonies, at artisan’s workshops, or at heritage events.
4. Support local museums, public collections, and exhibition spaces
- Museums in the county play a key role in protecting and promoting cultural values.
- When buying souvenirs, prefer museum shops or certified artisans, whose revenue also supports the maintenance of community values.
5. Lead by example – report any violations
- If you observe misuse of antiques, unauthorized excavations, illegal artifact sales, or damage to cultural assets, please inform the Visit Harghita team.
Thank you for contributing to the preservation of Harghita County’s cultural heritage!
These ethical guidelines are based on the principles of Green Destinations, the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, and Romanian cultural heritage protection laws (182/2000 and 422/2001).