FORTE CULTURA Network

Fortifications at Risk Conference, Portsmouth (UK)
2025-09-05 00:00 - 23:59 (Europe/Berlin) | Fort Brockhurst, Gosport, Gunners Way, Gosport, PO12 4DS, United Kingdom
As part of FSG’s 50th anniversary programme, we are hosting a one-day conference in Portsmouth to explore the challenges and opportunities for the conservation and sustainable re-use of forts and related ex-military sites. We will be seeking to highlight and celebrate UK and international success stories and best practice in conservation and re-use of fortifications to encourage those responsible for sites at risk.

FORTIC International Scientific Conference - NP Brijuni (HR), 15 - 17 September 2025
2025-09-15 00:00 - 2025-09-17 23:59
Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, in cooperation with the FORTIC partnership consortium and international expert networks, is organising an international scientific conference entitled “FORTIFIED ARCHITECTURE FOR THE CULTURE OF PEACE – EUROPEAN BEST PRACTICE IN FORTIFIED HERITAGE MANAGEMENT”, which will take place in Brijuni National Park from 15 to 17 September 2025.

The organisers, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula in cooperation with the FORTIC partnership consortium and the international networks FORTE CULTURA and EFFORTS, are seeking abstracts of papers (max. 500 words) on the above or similar topics that are clearly related to the overall theme and objectives of the conference. You are invited to submit your proposals in English, including the name(s) of the author(s), professional affiliation, contact information, title of the paper, abstract and up to eight keywords (via the submission form).

Deadline for extended abstracts: 30 April 2025Deadline for full papers: 1 September 2025

Further information and the full text of the call for papers can be found on the organiser’s website.

DGF Conference 2025, Stade (DE)
2025-09-19 08:00 - 2025-09-21 17:00 | Festung Grauerort, Schanzenstraße 52, Stade, 21683, Germany
The German Society for Fortress Research (DGF) will meet in Stade from 19 to 21 September 2025. The theme of this year’s conference is: Coastal fortifications on the North and Baltic Seas until 1918.

All further information can be found on the organiser’s website.

VII International Congress on Fortification. Valdepeñas 2025 (ES)
2025-11-05 00:00 - 2025-11-08 23:59 | Valdepeñas, Valdepeñas, 13300, Spain
The National University of Distance Education (UNED) at its provincial center in Ciudad Real and the Association of Friends of Montjuïc Castle (AACM) / Reforte are calling for inviting for the VII International Congress on Fortifications and Military Heritage to celebrate in Valdepeñas, November 5-8, 2025.

The conference will be held at the UNED Associated Center of Ciudad Real in Valdepeñas. The topics are the usual ones related to fortification and military heritage, included in different historical chronologies and within both national and international geographical frameworks. More information you will find on the event website.

Key dates:

Abstract submission: until July 31

Acceptance of abstracts: August 15

EFFORTS Europe Congress 2025 'Inspiring across borders'
2025-12-02 00:00 - 2025-12-04 23:59 | Brussels
We invite you to the first cross-border annual EFFORTS travelling network congress: meet three cities in three countries and their fortified city development :

Arras (member of the UNESCO Réseau des Sites majeurs de Vauban – FR),

Bergen op Zoom (member city of Zuiderwaterlinie and Vereniging van Nederlandse Vestingsteden – NL)

Oudenaarde (member city of Vlaamse Vestingsteden and the Wellington Barrier City Cooperation, BE).

Connecting the three cities in a two-day travelling congress departing from Brussels, participants are invited to interact with city-planners and heritage experts working on a sustainable reuse of their fortified heritage and this in a European cross-border project space.

REGISTER NOW

The congress is free of charge for EFFORTS Europe members, courtesy of the participating cities and regional partners. Evening dinners are at own expense and participants are to organise hotels in Brussels themselves.

In cooperation with the cities of Arras (FR), Bergen op Zoom (NL) and Oudenaarde (BE)

FORTE CULTURA Online Member Meeting 2025 (OMM)
2025-12-16 09:30 - 13:00 | Online
The OMM is an opportunity for our members to connect with each other and get to know each other better. It serves to give you a platform to present your current activities and upcoming challenges to our network. Each registered network member will have a maximum of 10 minutes to do so. You are welcome to use videos and other presentation formats.

Take advantage of this opportunity to find ideas and partners for your projects. Do you have specific questions? Address them directly to our members, the network board or the scientific advisory board.

To ensure that everything runs smoothly, please register by email by 15 December at the latest, providing the following information:

Name

Institute

Would you like to present your fortress monument? Yes / No.(The presentation should be in English)

The first-come, first-served principle applies for the approx. 20 presentation slots.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

FORTMED 2026, Rome (IT)
2026-02-19 00:00 - 2026-02-21 23:59
FORTIFICATIONS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN COASTInternational Conference – Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

FORTMED 2026_Roma is the ninth edition of the Conference Fortications of the Mediterranean Coast. The Conference, organized by the Department of History, Representation and Restoration of Architecture at Sapienza University of Rome, will take place on February 19, 20, and 21, 2026, at the new location of the Faculty of Architecture in Via Mariano Fortuny, in the Borghetto Flaminio area.

CALL FOR PAPER FORTMED_2026 ENDownload

Seminar "Cold War Bunkers – fortress heritage of the 20th century"
2026-03-21 09:30 - 16:00 | Culture Bunker Strausberg, Garzauer Str. 20, Strausberg, 15344, Germany
After the Cold War, it seemed that a number of structures might become redundant. These included various types of bunkers, particularly government and state bunkers. Not only were they expensive to build, but their maintenance also cost millions. Due to the new geopolitical situation, it was believed that these structures could be dispensed with – especially in formerly divided Germany, where protective structures had been built for the same purpose, but in duplicate.

In the past, the state and subordinate authorities disposed of this burden in a variety of ways. If buyers could be found, the bunkers were sold. Those that could not be sold were stripped and sealed. The former government bunker in the Ahr Valley was converted into a tunnel; part of it was preserved as a museum. The Soratte bunker north of Rome suffered a similar fate. Once built to house the Italian government, it faced an uncertain future after its abandonment until it was purchased by the neighbouring municipality of St. Oreste with the aim of turning it into a museum.

However, with the outbreak of Russia’s war of aggression and the experience gained so far, a new debate has flared up as to whether dealing with this bunkered heritage is still appropriate in today’s world. Once again, the question of protection and security for human survival arises.The seminar will use four examples to illustrate the conversion of state-relevant bunker structures and the problems associated with them.

Programme:

The role of 20th-century fortifications in the European Cultural Route FORTE CULTURA

Federal Bank Bunker, Cochem (DE)

Ahrtal Government Bunker Documentation Centre (DE)

Soratte Government Bunker St’Oreste (IT)

Post Office Bunker Strausberg (DE)

Lunch

Tour of the Strausberg postal bunker

INTERFEST Annual Congress 2026, Dresden (DE)
2026-04-15 00:00 - 2026-04-19 23:59 | Dresden, Brühlsche Terrasse, Dresden, 01067, Germany
Jahrestreffen des Studienkreises für internationales Festungs-, Militär- und Schutzbauwesen (INTERFEST).

7th International Biehler Fort Conference, Berlin-Kostrzyn-Międzyrzeck (DE-PL)
2026-04-19 00:00 - 2026-04-25 23:59
We are pleased to invite you to the seventh Biehler Forts Conference, which will be held from 19–25 April 2026.

This year, we will meet in three locations:

19. – 21.04.2026 – Berlin (DE)

21. – 23.04.2026 – Kostrzyn nad Odrą (PL)

23. – 25.04.2026 – Międzyrzecki Rejon Umocniony (Oder-Warthe-Bogen Fortress Front), PL

We will arrive in Berlin on Sunday, 19 April 2026, beginning our program with a tour of Spandau (Spandau Zitadelle). In the evening, we will meet for informal networking and a shared dinner. The conference will conclude on Saturday, 25 April 2026. However, for those interested, an optional additional program will be organized for Sunday, 26 April 2026.

In Berlin, among other activities, we plan to visit Flakturm Humboldthain, with two route options:

Advanced tour – approx. 4 hours

Standard tour – approx. 2 hours

Due to limited capacity, advance registration is required by 31 January 2026 (strict deadline).

Registration

Conference registration deadline: 8 February 2026

Submission of presentations: 8 February 2026

Detailed program and logistical information will be provided on the event website: https://biehlerforts.pythonanywhere.com/

We have tentatively arranged accommodation options in each location at a cost of 100–150 PLN per person per night (approx. 25 EUR).

With warm regards,Biehler Forts Conference Organizing Committee 2026

FORTE CULTURA Congress 2026, La Línea de la Concepción (ES)
2026-04-21 00:00 - 2026-04-24 23:59 | La Línea de la Concepción, La Línea de la Concepción, Spain
FORTE CULTURA General Assembly 2026

FORTE CULTURA Congress 2026 “From La Línea to Europe: Fortifications and Sustainable Tourism” (see the Concept Note)

Excursions to La Línea de la Concepción, Cádiz, Tarifa and probably Gibraltar

Exchange and get together

International Conference - Fortified Heritage for Tourism and Leisure, Valetta (MT)
2026-09-02 00:00 - 2026-09-04 23:59 | Fort St. Elmo, Valetta, Valetta, Malta
The Department of Tourism Management of the University of Malta is pleased to announce that it will host the FORTE CULTURA Malta Symposium 2026.

Dates: 2 to 4 September 2026.

Venue: Fort St. Elmo, Valletta, Malta

The Symposium will look at the conservation, architecture, management and tourism aspects relating to the rehabilitation and sustainable reuse of fortified heritage.

Tentative programme:

Day 1: Presentations by international delegates, including parallel workshops

Day 2: Visits to Fort St. Elmo, Fort St. Angelo and other fortified heritage sites around the Grand Harbour.

Day 3: – Morning: Presentations on Malta’s fortified heritage. – Afternoon: Visits to the fortified historic town of Mdina.

Managers of fortified heritage, tourism practitioners, conservation architects, urban planners, environmentalists, academics and others are invited to present their own experience and knowledge relating to the rehabilitation and management of fortified heritage.

So pencil the dates in your diary: 2 to 4 September 2026.

There will be no registration fee. Further information will be made available early in 2026.

If you are considering attending the FORTE CULTURA Malta Symposium or, better still, if you wish to give a presentation write to: john.ebejer@um.edu.mt or to office@forte-cultura.eu.

We welcome the submission of a paper in conjunction with your Symposium presentation. It is intended to produce a publication. Note however that this will not be peer reviewed.
