The Innocastle Baseline Survey has been published on 24.09.2020 during the Innocastle Mid-Term Conference. Two options are available: a full version and a short version containing only part II (shared characteristics and policy recommendations). Both versions can be downloaded here.

The survey is divided into three parts:

  1. IN SEARCH OF… In the first part a comparison is made between the regions by looking at the data and knowledge collected during the project. The first chapter is structured along the four strands of the methodology and analyses the regions, rural estates, policy instruments and stakeholders. The second chapter explores the challenges and potentials of rural estates by looking into the three themes of the project: ‘governance & partnerships’, ‘economic development’ and ‘promotion & visibility’.
  2. …COMMON GROUND In the second part a common ground is developed. In chapter three the different historical castles, manors and estates in the participating regions are defined as one type of heritage with specific characteristics. It is a tentative proposal intended to open the debate on the shared qualities of these sites across Europe. In the fourth chapter the common ground is made explicit by translating the needs of the different sites into 13 shared policy recommendations. These recommendations are intended to help increase the development possibilities of this European heritage type on a national and international level.
  3. FOUR REGIONAL ZOOMS The third part of this document collects the four chapters drafted by the different regions as part of the baseline survey. Each chapter within this section groups basic information along the four strands of the baseline methodology as well as information on the learning cases and first thoughts on the development of the local action plans. Together, they form the solid base for the comparison between the different regions found in section one and for the development of the action plans to improve the preservation, transformation and exploitation of rural estates in each region.

This document and the baseline survey has been drafted by the School of Arts - KASK of HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts, one of the five partners in the Innocastle project. Part 1 and 2 draw from the baseline survey of each partner as well as the study visits, thematic seminars and different discussions. In part 3 each partner developed their own chapter, based on the framework of the baseline survey.