Heritage sites across Europe received accolades at the 2005 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra awards at the Håkonshallen in Bergen, Norway. A total of 38 laureates from 21 countries received awards. The top five E10,000 (£6,659, US$12,179) monetary prizes were given to The Hill Church of Sighs, Romania; Norway’s Heathland Centre; Varusschlacht im Osnabrücker Land Museum und Park Kalkriese, Germany; Italy’s Strategies for Environmental Quality and Energy Efficiency in Museum Buildings and Malta’s Judge Maurice Caruana Curran, for dedicated service to heritage conservation.

As well as these, a total of 13 medals and 20 diplomas were also given for ‘exemplary achievements’ within the heritage sector in Europe. These included four UK heritage properties – The Historic Dockyard, Chatham; The Landmark Trust; London’s Cadogan Hall and Ightham Mote in Sevenoaks. Details: www.europanostra.org