URBACT City Festival: how European cities are reinventing their city centres… together!
From April 8 to 10, 2025, the city of Wrocław, Poland, hosted over 600 participants from across Europe for the URBACT City Festival, a flagship event of the URBACT programme celebrating urban innovation and the exchange of best practices. An inspiring gathering in the UNESCO-listed Centennial Hall, full of connections, ideas, and enthusiasm. So, what exactly is URBACT? URBACT is…
PORTUGAL – Guimarães, European Green Capital 2026: An Opportunity for the City Center
Guimarães, in northern Portugal, has been named European Green Capital for 2026, a recognition that could transform its city center into a model of urban sustainability. This award, granted by the European Commission, aims to encourage cities to adopt eco-friendly practices while improving citizens’ quality of life.A Historic City Center at the Heart of the Challenge Guimarães, often called the…
FRANCE – Examples of territories implementing actions before signing the LUD charter: Three contexts illustrated through the cases of Bordeaux Métropole, the Valenciennes Métropole Urban Community, and the Le Havre Seine Métropole Urban Community.
The number of territories supported by the InTerLUD+ program currently stands at 58. While 10 new territorial and concerted urban logistics charters were signed in 2024, this foresees the launch of several actions in 2025. In this article, we will focus on three territories already taking action, each with an evolving charter that has not yet been signed. Bordeaux Métropole,…
EUROPE – Revitalizing City Centers in Line with the European Green Deal: Interview with Dominique Consille, Director of Action Cœur de Ville
During the seminar “Environmental Transitions and Territories,” organized by the National Agency for Territorial Cohesion and the ESPON program, Dominique Consille, director of the Action Cœur de Ville program, shared her expertise on transforming medium-sized urban centers. Through an approach aimed at reducing land artificialization, promoting soft mobility, and revitalizing central areas, her intervention highlighted the link between local urban…
EUROPE – European Cities Leading the Way in Gender Equality
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, cities across Europe are taking center stage in the fight for gender equality. In a context where feminist achievements are increasingly challenged, these urban initiatives serve as a powerful reminder that local policies play a crucial role in advancing women’s rights. Cities as Key Actors for Women’s Rights According to Eurocities, European cities…
Trenčín: Placemaking as a Compass for City-Wide Cultural Activation
This shift began when Trenčín included placemaking as part of its bid to become the European Capital of Culture 2026. From the outset, the city recognized the importance of placing communities at the center of its vision, embedding culture into the urban fabric using placemaking principles. This commitment brought Trenčín to the Cities in Placemaking programme, where the city learned…
EUROPE – Town Center Management in Europe: Tools and Strategies
On February 4, 2025, the European Town Center Observatory held a session dedicated to town center management and the tools available to enhance their attractiveness. International experts and practitioners shared their experiences on governance models, revitalization strategies, and best practices across Europe and beyond. An Observatory to Compare Best Practices Launched in February 2024, the European Town Center Observatory aims…
GREECE – Accessible City for All: How Komotini is Leading the Way
Involving Disabled People in Creating a City Accessible for All Komotini, a city in northeastern Greece, has become a shining example of how accessibility and social inclusion can transform urban life. By actively involving disabled people in the city’s development, Komotini has created a model that inspires other cities across Europe. Let’s explore how this remarkable transformation unfolded. A Multi-Phase…
EUROPE – How Guimarães is Transforming ‘District C’ into a Net-Zero, Culturally Rich Neighbourhood
Recognised by the European Heritage Hub among its call for 10 Local Good Practices, the District C Project in Guimarães, Portugal, exemplifies a unique approach to urban regeneration and sustainability, serving as a testing ground for zero-carbon policies. “District C began in 2020, with the vision of creating a cultural and knowledge-based neighbourhood in an area of the city recognised…
EUROPE – Mobility as a Service: A Revolution for Urban Mobility?
On February 6th, our European Observatory on City Centers focused on a key topic: “The Importance of Emotions in Urban Mobility,”. This discussion on user experience aligns with another major mobility challenge in Europe: the development of Mobility as a Service (MaaS), a concept that is reshaping how people access transportation services. MaaS: A Lever for More Sustainable MobilityMaaS aims…
