In 2025, the annual theme of the Fédération Européenne des Cités Napoléoniennes focuses on landscapes, an essential element of Napoleonic heritage that deserves special attention. The landscapes shaped under the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte, whether urban or rural, continue to influence the identity of many European cities, from Paris to Ierapetra, via Jena and Torres Vedras.
Under Napoleon, large-scale projects transformed the landscape, from Parisian boulevards to emblematic squares, from road infrastructure to administrative buildings that still mark urban development today. These developments redefined urban architecture and left a landscape legacy that can be seen throughout Europe, symbolising both the grandeur of the Empire and advances in urban planning.
Through these transformations, the Federation and its members have become witnesses to the evolution of European landscapes. But today, these landscapes face contemporary challenges: increasing urbanisation, climate change, and the need to enhance these historic sites in a landscape that has been adapted to modern needs.
This year, the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Council of Europe's European Landscape Convention adds an important dimension to the reflection led by the Fédération Européenne des Cités Napoléoniènne accés on landscape. Adopted in 2000, the Convention established a European framework for the management and conservation of landscapes, highlighting their central role in our culture and quality of life.
With this year's theme, Destination Napoleon is reminding us that landscapes are much more than mere backdrops: they are living witnesses to our past and the challenges we face to protect them in the long term.
