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INTO Bavaria: Places with purpose
Community, connection and the case for heritage
1 – 4 November 2026

This INTO conference will bring together our global family of National Trusts to explore how heritage can serve communities, foster connection and shape a sustainable future.

Hosted in Freising and Munich by Kultur Erbe Bayern, this conference offers opportunities for learning, networking and experiencing how different trusts protect places with meaning.

a dark grey and white logo for Kultur Erbe Bayern with a rhombus shape containing a lea motif

As we celebrate Kultur Erbe Bayern’s remarkable growth over the past decade, we also look ahead, asking how heritage sites can deliver the greatest benefit to people and planet.

We will explore how identity is built through place and how communities can best take responsibility for safeguarding heritage for generations to come.

As soon as I arrived, I realised it wasn’t a typical conference, it was more a gathering of approachable well-informed, inquisitive and dynamic professionals all passionately looking to share and develop practices for protecting and promoting cultural heritage
- Jordan conference speaker, Frazer McDonald Hay

Ticket and bursary information

We’re pleased to share that tickets are now available, and our conference bursary scheme is open for applications. We can also offer green travel bursaries – please use the link below to find out more.

Please note there is a separate application process for delegates from the National Trust (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) – please visit this link before making any bookings.

Early bird booking rates are available now – please book before 31 May for the best rates.

To secure your place or apply for support, please use the links below:

👉 Book your conference ticket
👉 Apply for a bursary
👉 Apply for a green travel bursary

Community, connection and the case for heritage

INTO Bavaria brings together colleagues from across the global National Trust family to explore how heritage can strengthen communities, inspire deeper engagement, and shape a more sustainable future for us all.

As Kultur Erbe Bayern marks its first decade as the Bavarian National Trust, we are proud to partner with them in celebrating this important milestone. INTO Bavaria will be a special moment to reflect on how identity is rooted in place – and how communities everywhere can play an active part in safeguarding heritage for generations to come.

Programme

Hosted by Kultur Erbe Bayern at the Diözesanmuseum in Freising – just outside Munich – this four‑day gathering offers a vibrant mix of discussion, discovery and hands‑on learning shaped by the priorities of our global movement.

Our four keynote speakers will explore big, future‑facing questions:

  • What does it mean to be a National Trust today? Lessons from Kultur Erbe Bayern’s first ten years.
  • How can heritage organisations plan for the long term in an increasingly polarised world?
  • How can we build deeper, more meaningful connections between people, heritage and nature – benefiting both communities and the planet?
  • How can we better understand the needs of the communities we wish to welcome?

Panel discussions will build on these themes, offering real‑world insights from international case studies on climate adaptation, youth engagement, religious heritage, and futureproofing organisations for the decades ahead.

©Diözesanmuseum Freising, Foto Dirk Daniel Mann

Practical workshops and collaborative learning

Delegates will have opportunities to join smaller breakout sessions – interactive, practical workshops led by participants themselves. These sessions span a wide range of topics including property acquisition, membership growth, community regeneration, disappearing heritage skills, policy engagement and creative responses to climate adaptation.

A signature highlight of every INTO conference is the chance to learn directly from live case studies. INTO Bavaria delegates will visit inspiring sites across the region and take part in workshops helping to shape Kultur Erbe Bayern’s developing visitor offer.

Locations include:

Connecting a global community

Most importantly, INTO Bavaria offers space to connect – with peers from every corner of our international network, sharing ideas, building partnerships and discovering new approaches to support your work at home.

Bergghastof Streichen

Judengasse 10

The INTO conference is hands-down the best investment I make in my own personal and professional development, and in finding new ideas for my National Trust
- Natalie Bull, National Trust for Canada

Frequently asked questions

Tickets

Early bird prices will be available until 31 May.

  • INTO member early bird – €200
  • INTO member full price – €240
  • Non-INTO member early bird – €260
  • Non-INTO member full price – €300

Included:

  • Day 1: Opening reception with drinks and small food
  • Day 2/3: 2 full days conference including keynote speakers, in-conversation sessions, panel discussions and break out workshops
  • Lunches and tea/ coffee during conference sessions
  • 1 evening Celebration dinner
  • Day 4: Site visit, including transport to the venue and refreshments

Not included: transportation to Freising, hotels, breakfasts and other meals not listed in the conference package.

Bursary information and criteria

We are delighted with the strong interest in INTO Bavaria from colleagues at the National Trust (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Colleagues from this member trust will need to secure their place through an internal process, led by INTO Trustee John Orna-Ornstein. Please find more information here

INTO attendance bursary

Criteria: We welcome bursary applications from our smaller and lesser-resourced members and those who can demonstrate a clear socio-economic need. If your organisation has a budget for training or travel, please consult with your leadership team for assistance to fund your conference place in advance of applying for a bursary. Apply here.

Green travel bursary

Criteria: We will be awarding Green travel bursaries up to the value of £250 for eligible delegates who travel to the conference by train and/ or bus. Apply here.

Visa information for international arrivals (Germany)

Schengen (Short‑Stay C) Visa required for stays ≤ 90 days for those not visa-exempt.

How to apply:

Transport from Munich Airport (MUC) to Freising

All information correct at time of writing (February 2026)

Train:
Direct service from Flughafen München station to Freising
~11 minutes, €6–10 per trip.

Bus:
Regular direct bus every ~15 minutes
~16 minutes, €3–5.

Taxi / Private Transfer:
~12 minutes, €29–35 for conventional taxi
Private 24/7 transfer available (e.g. via Sixt).

Shuttle Service:
Shared airport shuttles: ~20–30 minutes, €10–20 per person.

a section of a wooden cabin building in traditional Bavarian alpine style
a dark room in an historic building with a patterned wooden floor and dramatic drapes at the window
a dark stone interior with a curved ceiling like a cave, with a projection on the end wall in blue giving the impression of water and ripples
people working in the garden of a historic artists home in Bavaria, Germany

Want to know more about INTO conferences?

The INTO conference is at the heart of everything we do.

Born in the 1970s as the International Conference for National Trusts (ICNT), this brilliant event gathers people from across the globe to collaborate for the protection of cultural and natural heritage.

It is an opportunity for our network to meet and discuss collective goals and challenges. Each biennial conference is hosted by a member of our global family in partnership with INTO.

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