The Estonian smoke sauna of Võromaa
On 26 November 2014, the Smoke Sauna Tradition in Võromaa (the smoke-sauna tradition of the Võromaa region of Estonia) was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It is the first "banya" tradition to receive UNESCO status.
ich.unesco.org · Smoke sauna tradition (00951)
The smoke sauna (suitsusaun) is a wood-fired banya without a chimney. The wood burns down, the smoke fills the room and settles on the walls and ceiling as soot; then the room is aired, rinsed down, and only then do people steam. A session can last 4–6 hours and is experienced as a spiritual practice.
The link to Krasnaya Polyana: the neighbouring village of Estosadok was founded by Estonian settlers in 1886. This is a historical link to Estonian culture, but Estosadok is not part of the UNESCO element: the inscription covers the practice of the Võro community in south-east Estonia.
The Western Caucasus
In 1999, the territory of the Kh. G. Shaposhnikov Caucasus State Natural Biosphere Reserve was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the name "Western Caucasus". Krasnaya Polyana and BANSKЪ are outside the inscribed property: the village lies in the Sochi National Park, which borders the reserve.
The reserve was established on 12 May 1924 as the "Caucasian Bison Reserve" — on the site of the former hunting grounds of the Romanovs (recall: the Imperial Hunting Lodge is 1–2 km from BANSKЪ).
Populations of European bison, Caucasian tur, bears and Persian leopards have been restored here. From the summit of Achishkho (2391 m) there is a view of Chugush (3238 m), Aibga (2509 m) and Pseashkho. The Black Sea is 32 km away as the crow flies.
whc.unesco.org · Western Caucasus (900), kavkazzapoved.ru, Wikipedia · Caucasus Nature Reserve
What this means for BANSKЪ
Neither of the two UNESCO listings covers Krasnaya Polyana itself. The link to Estonia is historical: neighbouring Estosadok was founded by Estonian settlers. The link to the Western Caucasus is proximity: the Sochi National Park, where the village lies, borders the Caucasus Reserve.
This is not a UNESCO status for the banya — it is the history of the place. Three cultures meet in Krasnaya Polyana: the Russian banya (BANSKЪ), the story of the Estonian settlers of Estosadok (since 1886) and the Circassian heritage of the Caucasus (1864).
Finnish UNESCO since 2020
On 17 December 2020, Sauna culture in Finland was inscribed on the same Representative List. Six years after the Estonian one. The Russian steam banya is not on the list. New nominations to it are submitted by States Parties to UNESCO's 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, and Russia is not a party to the Convention.
ich.unesco.org · Sauna culture in Finland (01596), ich.unesco.org · Russian Federation