General information

The aim of the conference is the consolidation and impact assessment of results achieved in EU research projects related to movable and immovable cultural heritage. There will be a special focus on exploitation and spin-offs of cultural heritage research results and testing of the acceptability of new sustainability approaches and new technologies by the user community, SMEs, and owners, managers, restorers and conservationists of cultural heritage.

Its main objectives are further to:
• Highlight the role of European cultural heritage research within international activities and co-operation.
• Assess the impact of EU policies on the conservation of European cultural heritage and evaluate the positive contribution of cultural heritage research for competitiveness and job creation.
• Disseminate the results of EU cultural heritage research acquired at large research facilities and discuss new development and innovations in research infrastructure.
• Discuss and consolidate co-ordination of national research into and educational programmes for cultural heritage within the enlarged Europe.
• Refine, amend and publish main ideas and visions of technological platforms opened to cultural heritage issues in the context of preparation of the 7th Framework Programme. 

Language

The official language of the conference is English

Venue
The conference will be held in Prague. The conference sessions will take place at Prague Congress Centre for the first two days (May 31^st and June 1^st) and at Prague Castle on Friday, June 2^nd. The plenary session will be followed by study visits and technical excursions on Saturday, June 3^rd.

Prague Congress Centre (PCC) (May 31st and June 1st)
The Congress Centre is a well-equipped, modern conference facility. It enjoys a unique location with a panoramic view of Prague. 

The Prague Congress Centre is on metro line C, right next to Vyšehrad metro station (see the map of the PCC). Instructions on how to get to the Prague Congress Centre are included in the hotel description section on the conference Internet site. The route from the metro station to the conference rooms will be clearly marked. Delegates will be informed about the exact locations of the sessions and social events during the event. 

Spanish Hall, New Palace, Prague Castle (June 2nd)
The Spanish Hall is one of the most representative Ceremonial State rooms at Prague Castle. It was constructed in the 16th century to house the collections of Emperor Rudolph II.

Travel
Prague International Airport has direct daily links to many cities in Europe and handles flights from many places all over the world. The airport is located 30 - 40 minutes by car from the centre of Prague. There are good connections between the airport and Prague city centre by public transport or by taxi. A taxi ride from the airport to the city costs about 25 EUR.

Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic. Its historic centre has been listed in UNESCO’s World heritage list since 1992. Prague has been attracting more and more visitors and currently is one of the most popular tourist city destinations in Europe. The main attraction is its architecture, consisting of both monuments and a unique townscape. The historic centre of Prague still keeps its mediaeval appearance and illustrates urban development in Central Europe between the 14th and 20th centuries. There are a number of architectural monuments of worldwide significance, such as Charles Bridge, Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral. For more information about Prague please visit http://www.pis.cz/en.

Hospitality desk
Our staff at the conference Hospitality Desk in the Arrivals Hall of Terminal North 2 will be happy to assist you on your arrival at the airport.

click to enlarge

Registration desk
The registration desk will be open from midday on Wednesday May 31st, 2006 until the end of the conference. Please allow sufficient time (at least 30 minutes) for registration before the programme begins at 3 p.m.

Plenary Session - Overview of poster presentations (General Reports)
The plenary session consisting in three General Reports reviewing the displayed poster contributions will be held on Wednesday May 31st.

Parallel and Plenary Sessions
The main sessions of the conference will be held on Thursday, June 1st and Friday, June 2nd, starting on both days at 9 a.m. and running till late afternoon (6 p.m.).

Invited lectures
The plenary session (Friday, June 2nd) on European Research within the International Context comprises invited lectures from important European and international bodies supporting cultural heritage research (European Commission DG Research, UNESCO, Council of Europe, ICOMOS, ICCROM, ICOM, Europa Nostra, Organisation of World Heritage Cities, Getty Conservation Institute and Japan National Research Institute for Cultural Properties).

Poster Exhibition and Demonstration Salon
The Poster Exhibition and Demonstration Salon will be officially opened by Václav Jehlička, member of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, during the Welcome reception. The posters will be displayed at the Prague Congress Centre. The set-up time for posters begins with registration at midday on Wednesday, May 31st. The Poster Exhibition ends at 6pm on Thursday, June 1st.

Study visits
The following sites, all of which served as test sites or investigation sites for EC-funded projects in the 4th to the 6th Framework Programmes, have been selected for study visits.
Prague Castle
Meeting point: 9.00 at Prague Castle, at the main entrance to St. Vitus’ Cathedral.
The castle and especially St. Vitus’ Cathedral (14th century) were used as a model site for a study of the deterioration of typical historic materials in a polluted environment. Its structures have been studied in several EC projects (COPAL, REACH, CULTSTRAT, PICTURE).
Strahov Monastery
Meeting point: 9.00 at the main entrance to Strahov Monastery.
A National Heritage Monument, which contains a rich collection of books of the National Library in its Baroque rooms. A part of the LIDO project was carried out in the monastery museum.
Charles Bridge
Meeting point: 9.00 at the top of Malostranska metro station, line A (at street level).
One of the oldest Gothic stone bridges in the world and one of the most beautiful, with its collection of Baroque sculpture decoration, which is being carefully studied within the framework of several national research projects and also in the EC-funded NOAH’S ARK project. The bridge has suffered several times from flooding, and it is substantially impacted by the microclimate.
Wallenstein Palace
Meeting point: 9.00 at the top of Malostranska metro station, line A (at street level).
The second largest historical complex of buildings in the centre of Prague, and the seat of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. It has been recently restored and granted a Europa Nostra Heritage Award Diploma. Its bronze sculptures have been investigated under the COPAL and WET-CORR projects.

Technical Excursions
There is a choice of four technical excursions, offering a wide range of interesting experiences for conference participants. The options can be chosen according to participants’ research interests in movable heritage, immovable heritage, urban heritage and gardens.
Meeting point: 14.00 at the Strahov Monastery Brewery restaurant. For the exact position of the meeting point, please consult the map enclosed in the conference programme. 
Litoměřice + Terezín – two contrasting examples of urban heritage. Litoměřice had a very rich and dramatic history from medieval times to its High Baroque period, and was one of the cities where a special ARCCHIP EC programme took place, in which the urban fabric was studied. Terezín is composed of two interesting parts – a typical military town from the 18th century and the WWII concentration camp, which is a National Monument. Both suffered in recent extensive flooding and have experienced significant interest from abroad.
The châteaux of Veltrusy, Nelahozeves and Liběchov – these are examples of traditional Czech châteaux of different architectural styles (Baroque and Renaissance) in the Vltava valley. They are in different types of ownership (state or private) and house important art and museum collections. Veltrusy Château was heavily flooded in 2002, and it has been studied in EC-supported projects (ON SITE FOR MASONRY, NOAH’S ARK).
Karlštejn Castle – the most important and most fortified medieval royal castle, which was heavily restored at the end of 19th century. Some of its interiors, which have precious decorative work, require the application of special visitor management and maintenance of a controlled interior environment. Several national research projects and one US/CZ project have helped to safeguard this important National Heritage Monument.
Prague Gardens – one special technical excursion will be devoted to visits to the recently restored gardens in the vicinity of Prague Castle, with marvellous views over the Prague townscape.

Optional excursion to Brandýs Castle, Friday June 2^nd, 2006
Meeting point: 18.50 outside Lví dvůr restaurant. For the exact position of the meeting point, please consult the map enclosed in the conference programme. 

An optional excursion has been prepared by the organizers and the Municipality of Brandýs nad Labem for the evening of Friday June 2^nd. Important restoration works of the remarkable medieval and renaissance castle at Brandýs nad Labem have been carried out in a joint Czech- Italian project. Participants will have an opportunity to visit the restored part of the castle. Transport will be organized from the Prague Castle (departure 19.00) to the Brandýs Castle and back (arriving in Prague around 22.30). Participants will be able to have dinner in the Castle winery. The bus tour and the guided tour of the castle are free of charge. The dinner is not included.

Welcome reception, Wednesday 31^st May
Following the welcome addresses and the opening of the poster display, refreshments and a light buffet will be served to welcome the conference participants.

Conference Gala Dinner, Thursday 1^st June
The main social event, the Conference Gala Dinner, will be held on Thursday evening in Vikárka restaurant at Prague Castle. The dinner is not included in the conference fee and entrance is with tickets only. The dinner starts at 20.00 with a short performance by a jazz band. For the exact position of the Vikárka restaurant, please consult the map enclosed in the conference programme. 

Replica of a Medieval Crane, Thursday 1^st June
Conference participants have the opportunity to see a replica of a medieval wooden crane from the period of years 1390 – 1400, which will be exhibited at Prague Castle. Meeting at 19.30. For the exact meeting point, please consult the map enclosed in the conference programme.

Lunch on Friday 2^nd June
Lunch for conference participants will be served in three local restaurants: Tosca, U labutí and U Sv. Jana Nepomuckého. Participants will obtain their lunch vouchers during registration for the conference.

Lunch on Saturday 3^rd June
Lunch on Saturday will be served at the Strahov Monastery Brewery restaurant. Participants will obtain their lunch vouchers during registration for the conference.

Events, Concerts, Sightseeing
The 61^st Prague Spring International Music Festival is on during the conference, and many other cultural events can be found on the Internet.

http://www.festival.cz/indexa.htm (Prague Spring Music Festival)            http://www.pragueexperience.com/events/events.asp

The Conference Secretariat will be pleased to advise you.
Contact: Kateřina Adášková, adaskova@cbttravel.cz

May Cassar
Michel Chapuis
Elin Dahlin
Miloš Drdácký (Chairman)
Roman Kozlowski
Linda Krage
Paulo Lourenco
Johanna Leissner
André Loits
Adele Lydon
Claudio Modena
Ioanna Papayianni
Jean-Marc Vallet
Takayoshi Yamamura
 

Cristina Sabbioni (immovable heritage)
Matija Strlič (movable heritage)
Jacques Teller (cities, villages & landscape)

Kateřina Adášková
Natalia Cavina
Jitka Drdácká
Eliška Fučíková (Chairperson)
Zuzana Tesařová
Šárka Tittlebachová
Jan Válek (Secretary)

Dr. Jan Válek
Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Academy of Sciences CR
Prosecka 76, 190 00 Prague 9, Czech Republic.
Phone: +420 283880458
Fax: +420 286884634
E-mail: ecconference@arcchip.cz
E-mail: valek@itam.cas.cz
www.arcchip.cz/ecconference

 

Maps

Prague Congress Centre Area (Download map - pdf)

Prague Castle Area (Download map - pdf)