Czech villages in Romania vanishing

Abandoned church, Svatá Helena village

Ana Roşu, one of the last remaining settlers, Gernic village

Abandoned factory north-east from Moldova Nouă

Jan Piečec, a local vendor, Gernic village

Svatá Helena village

Svatá Helena village

Rovensko village

Rovensko village

Romania, July, 2010,- Generations ago, Czechoslovaks relocated to Banat, which is a province of Romania in the western part of the Transylvanian Alps. This area is located between the Danube and Muresul rivers and is situated more than 1000 km from Prague. The vitality, zest for living and individuality attract our attention, admiration and esteem. In truth, they are living in this forsaken part of Romania as in on a deserted island. Although the number is rather small, they have been keeping up their Czech language, culture and customs. They have also been maintaining their contacts with their native country. Unfortunetly, these isolated Czech villages in Romania are lie outside popular tourist routes. The Czech minority in Romania contains six original villages: Gernik, Rovensko, Bigr, Eibenthal, Svatá Helena, Šumice. According to the census of population made in 1992 there were – in whole Romania - 5 800 individuals regarding themselves as Czechs. According to the census made in 2002 there were 3 938 individuals.The Czech minority has decreased by more than 30 % in those ten years. Looking for better life, many people have left for the Czech Republic since they joined European Union in 2004. causing severe village vanishing. (Credit Image: © Sasha Colic/ZUMA Press)