Monastery of San Jerónimo de Yuste and Almadén Mining Park lead European dialogues on women, sustainability and heritage
Two European Heritage Label sites, the Monastery of San Jerónimo de Yuste and Almadén Mining Park and Royal Miners’ Hospital of San Rafael recently hosted landmark European meetings that reinforce how heritage, gender equality and sustainability go hand-in-hand.
Women leading the way in rural territories
On 2–3 October, the Yuste Monastery and the neighbouring town of Pasarón de la Vera welcomed over 40 participants(predominantly women) from municipalities, institutions and universities across Europe as part of the Her Voice: Her Power, Our Future! Erasmus+ project. Partners from Slovenia, France, Italy, Romania, Poland, Latvia and Spain gathered under the theme “Not Letting None Behind: The Challenge of Rural Areas”. Together with the local hosts — the European and Ibero‑American Academy of Yuste Foundation, the Association for the Integral Development of the La Vera Region (ADICOVER), the Town Council of Cuacos de Yuste and the La Vera Region Women’s Association — these sessions placed a spotlight on the essential role of women for the sustainable development of rural communities.
Women mayors of Robledillo de la Vera, Guijo de Santa Bárbara, Torremenga, Valverde de la Vera, Gargüera and Tejeda Tiétar shared their first-hand experiences: the challenges of depopulation, female emigration, gender equality and crafting local strategies for sustainable development in peripheral territories. These testimonies helped to anchor high-level project dialogues in the lived reality of rural Europe.
Integrating European values into cultural heritage
Following shortly after, on 16–17 October, the Rio Tinto region’s Almadén Mining Park and the Royal Miners’ Hospital of San Rafael hosted the meeting of the Integrating European Values into Cultural Heritage (IVEPC) project, co-funded by the Creative Europe programme and supported by the EHL Bureau. Site managers, heritage professionals, academics and policy-makers explored how to build stronger visibility and cooperation among EHL Sites. The agenda included reflections on territorial identity, sustainable cultural tourism, governance and new digital tools for engaging citizens in heritage-based values. Guided visits to the mining park and hospital archives allowed participants to identify the European dimension of these sites and share good practices across the network.
Looking Forward with the EHL Community
Both gatherings reflect how heritage places are more than destinations: they are platforms for dialogue, inclusion and change. At Yuste, we witnessed how women in rural areas are leading the sustainability agenda. At Almadén, we explored how heritage institutions can evolve to meet new European challenges. More than ever, the #EHLCommunity stands as a space for innovation, cooperation and shared values.
