Snežana Samardžić-Marković, Director General of Democracy, Council of Europe noted that the European Heritage Days exemplifies much of what is central to the Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society – mainly the sense of cultural belonging and connection to heritage at a local level, whilst also understanding it as part of the wider European story.  The focus this year on industrial heritage provides a timely opportunity to consider the economic links of Europe’s history as experienced by communities. From exploring the historic shipyard of Belfast’s Titanic quarter to participating in an archaeological dig in Dublin’s Swords Castle; from climbing the lighthouses of Normandy to descending an iron ore mine in Portugal’s Torre de Moncorvo; from sending a telegram in Slovenia to touring a traditional olive oil mill in Spain’s Senia territory, or a textiles factory in Switzerland, or an ironworks furnace in Finland.  It is the perfect time to find out more about this fascinating, but often neglected, aspect of our past.

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