Paris hosts European Cultural Heritage Summit from 27-30 October
The 2019 European Cultural Heritage Summit / Assises Européennes du Patrimoine Culturel will be held from 27 to 30 October in Paris under the High Patronage of Mr Emmanuel MACRON, President of the French Republic.
Our Summit will offer an inspiring platform for networking and debating about the latest European challenges and developments related to cultural heritage. In addition to a large attendance by our French members and partners, over 400 participants from all over Europe are expected to attend the Summit. These are heritage professionals and volunteers from France, the rest of Europe and beyond. They are members of Europa Nostra and the European Heritage Alliance 3.3, partners from the wider fields of culture and economy, and representatives from various European Institutions and networks.
The Excellence Fair with presentations by our 2019 Award laureates will be held at the impressive historic Salons of the Paris Town Hall on 28 October. The highlight of the entire programme is the Grande Soirée du Patrimoine Européen in the evening of 29 October at the historic Théâtre du Châtelet which has re-opened its doors on 13 September after more than two years of major renovation. This special heritage evening will start with our European Heritage Awards Ceremony, co-hosted by Tibor Navracsics, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, and Maestro Plácido Domingo, President of Europa Nostra, and will be embellished by an impressive musical programme featuring Maestro Teodor Currentzis and his ensemble MusicAeterna as well as the Choir of the Notre-Dame Cathedral.
The French Minister of Culture, Franck Riester, is expected to attend both the Awards Ceremony and the opening session of the European Policy Debate “Cultural Heritage at the Heart of the Revival of the European Project” on 30 October which will be organised at the Collège des Bernardins, the exemplary restoration and revival of which was awarded a Grand Prix of the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Award in 2010.
The new President of the European Parliament, David Maria Sassoli, is expected to send a special video message for the attendees of the Grande Soirée du Patrimoine Européen and the European Policy Debate.
The Visit of the Chocolate Factory Menier in Noisiel is organised by the Industrial and Engineering Heritage Committee of Europa Nostra on 29 October. Built to dazzle its visitors, the Menier chocolate factory is one of France’s most remarkable industrial heritage sites, featuring on the country’s tentative list for world heritage inscription.
A high-level delegation of Europa Nostra will visit Bougival to launch the restoration of the Villa Viardot, listed in 2018 among the iconic heritage sites in danger in the frame of the special mission that was granted by the French President to Stéphane Bern. As such, its restoration will benefit from the funds raised by the very first Heritage Lottery, held during the European Heritage Days in France. Once restored the Villa Viardot will be home to the future European Music Centre.
The closing Excursion visiting the unknown gems of the City of Versailles on 31 October requires a minimum number of 40 participants and therefore can only be confirmed after 14 October.
The Paris Summit is jointly organised with the support of the European Commission (the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union), the EC Representation in France, the French Government (the French Ministry of Culture and the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs), AXA France and Fondation Total, as well as in partnership with the Fondation du Patrimoine and Stéphane Bern, who has been entrusted by the President of the French Republic with a special Mission for endangered heritage and who shall be present at the welcoming reception and also at the Grande Soirée du Patrimoine Européen at the Théâtre du Châtelet.
Registrations are now closed.
