On 16–17 October 2026, the Károlyi Mansion in Fehérvárcsurgó hosted the ninth edition of the international conference European Trends in Monument Protection, with Special Regard to the Carpathian Basin. The two-day programme brought together 28 speakers from seven countries (Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Romania, France, Ireland, Slovakia), underlining both the international character of the event and the broader European context of heritage conservation in the Carpathian Basin. The first thematic sections of the two-day event focused on the research and restoration of medieval ecclesiastical monuments, with case studies including Türje, Szilágy, Veszprémvölgy and medieval churches of the Upper Tisza region. A separate session addressed heritage interpretation, community engagement and cultural communication, with particular attention to the involvement of local communities and younger generations in heritage preservation. Methodological and technical issues in the conservation of historic buildings ranged from the preservation of modernist façades and the renovation of historic town halls to industrial heritage and the restoration of exceptional technical monuments.

One of the central themes of the second day was the renewal of historic monument complexes and mansion gardens, with special emphasis on the Károlyi heritage in Fehérvárcsurgó, Carei and Balc. A dedicated section examined the relationship between contemporary art, architecture and historic environments, ranging from the House of Music Hungary to contemporary artistic interpretations of the historic building of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Current issues in Hungarian monument conservation included the lessons of restoration projects at Fertőd and Vác Cathedral, new directions in monument topography, and reflections on the recent history of the profession. The final session explored theoretical and practical questions of rehabilitation, the importance of structural interventions, and the complex issue of authenticity in reconstruction. Taken together, the presentations demonstrated that contemporary heritage conservation is simultaneously a field of scholarly research, architectural and restoration practice, community responsibility and cultural dialogue. The academic programme was complemented by an exhibition opening, a guided tour of the mansion and a concert, further strengthening the professional and cultural community-building role of the Fehérvárcsurgó conference.

Anna Tüskés