The first conference devoted to Napoleonic museums and battlefields was held at the Sorbonne University, Paris (FR), on 20 June 2024.
Celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the European Federation of Napoleonic Cities gave rise to the European conference: "Museums and Battlefields. Challenges and opportunities in the transmission of Napoleonic history in Europe", which was held on 20 June 2024 in the Milne-Edwards amphitheatre at the University of London.Sorbonne University in Paris, France.
The conference, supported by the French Ministry of Culturewas organised by the FECN-Destination Napoleon in close collaboration with the University of Paris-Sorbonne and Professor Jacques-Olivier Boudon, President of the Scientific committee the FECN-Destination Napoleon and theNapoleon Institute.
For the first time, small and large museums, battlefields, universities, research centres, Council of Europe Cultural Routes and members of the FECN-Destination Napoleon have come together to discuss the methodologies adopted for the transmission of Napoleonic heritage and history, through a European and multi-perspective approach.
Participants were welcomed by official greetings from Vincent Chauvet and Charles Bonaparte, respectively President and Honorary President of the FECN-Destination Napoleon, followed by a keynote speech from Professor Jacques-Olivier Boudon.
The five sessions were moderated by leading academics and experts from the cultural sector, including: Sandro Debono from the University of Malta, Patrizia Battilani from the University of Bologna, Eleonora Berti, Director of FECN-Destination Napoleon, Josip Belamarić from the University of Split, Luigi Mascilli-Migliorini from the University of Napoli Orientale and Michel Thomas-Penette, members of the FECN-Destination Napoleon Scientific Committee.
The conference brought together some of Europe's most important cultural institutions, from the Château de Fontainebleau (FR) to the El Prado Museum (ES), from the Palazzo Reale in Milano (IT) to the Musée du Louvre (FR), from The Box Museum in Plymouth (UK) to the Battle of Waterloo 1815 Estate (BE), from the Ceramics Museum in Bolesławiec (PL) to the Linhas de Torres Vedras Historic Route (PT), from the Musée de l'Armée - Hôtel national des Invalides (FR) to the Musée national des châteaux de Malmaison et de Bois-Préau (FR).
There are also two cultural routes certified by the Council of Europe, Iter Vitis - The Paths of the Vine and theEuropean Route of Jewish Heritage took part in the conference, sharing their experiences.
