The fortifications of Pamplona in Spain are the winner of the public choice award of the 2012 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards. In addition, the six Grand Prix winning projects were also announced at a ceremony celebrated on 1st of June at the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon.

The fortifications of Pamplona in Spain are the winner of the public choice award, chosen in an online poll from among the 28 overall laureates for 2012 announced last March. The jury commented that the restored fortifications are no longer a defensive wall, but a meeting place and a symbol of unity for the citizens and for the town.

The six Grand Prix winning projects of the 2012 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards are:

• Averof Building - School of Architecture, National Technical University, Athens, Greece
• Number 2 Blast Furnace, Sagunto, Spain
• Poundstock Gildhouse, Bude, Cornwall, UK
• Study on the Augustus Botanical code of Ara Pacis, Rome, Italy
• Dedicated service to heritage by Paraschiva Kovacs, Satu Mare, Harghita County, Romania
• An educational programme for a heritage site developed by the Norwegian Heritage Foundation, Vågå, Norway

These awards are supported by the Culture programme of the European Union, which has invested €30 million in co-financing heritage projects since 2007. According to the European Commission, cultural heritage brings a significant – and often underrated – contribution to growth and job creation. It represents a significant part of the cultural and creative sectors, which provide jobs for 8.5 million people in the EU and contribute up to 4.5% of Europe's GDP.