The study visits of the Interreg Europe-RFC project partners, even though mostly still taking place virtually, arouse the partner’s interest in the various exciting fortress sites across Europe. In many fortification projects already presented, thematic connections have been identified that can now be worked through together in the project. For example, the concept of Magdeburg’s ‘Festung Mark’ (Germany), presented as a part of the study visit in Magdeburg (PP7) in March 2021, was particularly interesting to participants from Dendermonde (Belgium PP2 Antwerp Region). As a previous defensive barrack and part of the Prussian fortress of Magdeburg, it has been developed into a place for culture and various events in the early 2000s. Dendermonde, a city in the Belgian province of East Flanders, has similar barracks still looking for a suitable use. For this reason, another virtual meeting was held at the beginning of June between the Belgian and German project coordinators and involved partners to explicitly exchange ideas on the possibility of cultural use of such barracks. Among the participants was also Dendermonde’s mayor Piet Buyse.
Joris Velleman, department of spatial planning and urban development in Dendermonde, presented the Dendermonde barracks, their starting situation and gained experiences so far to the virtual participants. Christian Szibor, managing director of the ‘Festung Mark’ in Magdeburg, then took the partners along the path of project implementation and answered questions.
A short discussion about possibilities of learning and further cooperation between the regions followed. Face-to-face visits between RFC-project partners are hoped to be taking place as soon as possible.
