Kortrijk’s Beguinage: towards the interpretation of a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Kortrijk's Beguinage (beguine convent) was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List on 2 December 1998, along with 12 other, representative, Flemish beguinages. The inscription gave the Flemish beguinages international recognition as world heritage sites because of their 'outstanding universal value'.
This worldwide recognition supposes that efforts be made to make these sites more easily accessible for the general public. To do so, the Ename Center works closely with the owner of the beguinage in Kortrijk, which is the local Centre for Social Welfare (OCMW).
A Sino-European project for underground museums and conservation “in situ”
How does one exhibit 30 wrecked ships from the Roman period on the site where they were found? How does one conserve centuries-old impressive terracotta statues in an underground museum that is built on the site where the archaeologists worked? Various European and Chinese partners join hands and exchange their expertise. The Ename Center for Public Archaeology and Heritage Presentation takes part in the dialogue, which proves to be a special occasion to apply the principles of the Ename Charter to the “in situ” conservation of fragile archaeological finds.
“For the greater share of honour”: Project Casus Belli
Battles often change the course of history. Yet, there is little interest for the investigation, the management and the opening-up of battlefields dating from before World War I. Mostly no visible traces of the battle have been left behind, apart from possible memorials. Therefore this kind of heritage is highly threatened. The Ename Centre for Public Archaeology and Heritage Presentation is a co-founder of the European network ESTOC and starts up an investigation of the 300 years old battlefield of Oudenaarde. Thus is focusses on the plight of premodern battlefields.
Integral heritage approach in a city context: Ronse
Preservation, management and durable heritage presentation in a city context can only be successful if the heritage is approached from a global perspective. The heritage value of monuments, landscapes and traditions then fits into the environmental planning and visions concerning city development, renewal and identity. This approach is used in our cooperation with the East Flemish town of Ronse.
Dealing with difficult war heritage: the execution yard in Oostakker-Rieme
Both World Wars left deep scars on the European continent. More and more people, however, know this war past only from hearsay. Direct witnesses have become older and rare. This also has consequences for the way in which we deal with the relics of war. The challenges in interpreting and commemorating this past also have become greater. This is also the case for the execution yard in Oostakker-Rieme. The province of East-Flanders therefore asked the Ename Center for Public Archaeology and Heritage Presentation to develop a plan for opening-up this site. This made us think about the proper way to deal with such a delicate heritage.
Factories in town: living today with yesterday’s industry
The care for the industrial heritage is a major challenge. All too often the complexes are vast, the sites are contaminated by pollution or it is difficult to find a new purpose for the buildings. Ronse in East Flanders has a totally different problem.
Face to face with the past? Living history and heritage interpretation
Experiencing the Battle of Waterloo once more, trade markets, archeoparks, old-military parades, … “Living History” is hot in today’s heritage landscape. Of course, this evolution raises a number of questions about the desirability, the credibility and the advantages and disadvantages of this approach. As co-organizer of the historical re-enactment of the Battle of Oudenaarde the Ename Center for Public Archaeology and Heritage Presentation ended up in this peculiar world.
Oudenaarde 1708: a city, a king, a general
On 11 July 1708 Oudenaarde was the battlefield for the major European powers. The confrontation meant the definite end of the power of the French Sun King. The town of Oudenaarde and the Ename Center for Public Archaeology and Heritage Presentation cooperated to mark this important event with a re-enactment (further information on this site) and two exhibitions to bring the Battle of Oudenaarde to life again.
