ENCOUNTER

European Network
for Country House
and Estate Research

Research across Europe

European Network for Country House and Estate Research ‘ENCOUNTER’ is dedicated to the study and interpretation of manor and country house history across Europe. Established in 2015 at Gammel Estrup – The Danish Manor Museum, ENCOUNTER was founded by a group of scholars, curators, heritage professionals, and researchers with a shared interest in the historical, cultural, and architectural significance of this field.

The aim of the network is to establish interdisciplinary collaboration across history, archaeology, art history, architecture, and heritage management and bring together universities, museums, and cultural institutions to foster partnerships that bridge academic research and heritage management. 

Of current relevance

Network Activities

ENCOUNTER facilitates meetings, seminars and conferences about different themes on the field of manorial and country house studies.

The network produces applications for larger-scale activities such as common research and education projects, heritage projects, public initiatives and other common interests of the network.

Litterature and resources on manor house research

The ENCOUNTER site gathers information on publications, journals, conferences, and people researching the field of manor and country house history.

The Topicality of Ruins in the Past, Present and Future

From December 04–06, 2025, Europa-Universität Viadrina (Frankfurt/Oder) host the 32th Conference of the German-Polish Working Group for Art History and Monument Preservation. The titel of the conference is "The Topicality of Ruinsin the Past, Present and Future". The conference intent is to pursue a comparative objective in terms of time and space, illuminating connecting lines and ruptures in the reflection on ruins. 

 Conference languages will be German and English (without translation).

Call for Papers for the Conference

A Sense of Place: Interpreting Manorial Culture in Modern Tourism

The European Network for Country Houses and Estate Research (ENCOUNTER) and the Baltic Manor Route are going to organize a common conference at the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt/Oder (Germany) at 25.-27. June 2026.

This conference explores the intangible value of manor or country houses beyond the necessary monetary gains. Values that distinguish the manor house sector from all other tourist offerings.

Attingham Trust Courses in 2026

In 2026, the Attingham Trust will offer four courses, beginning with “Sweden: Stockholm and its Hinterland” (8–14 June). This course explores the rich artistic patronage of successive Swedish royal dynasties, as well as that of the nobility and wealthy merchant class in and around Stockholm.

Take a closer look at the rich programme here: Attingham Trust 2026