Mosul to Chambord: Conference on UNESCO’s Flagship Initiative “Revive the Spirit of Mosul”

On the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the Chambord Chateau, UNESCO and the United Nations University are organizing a Round Table with eminent personalities from the realms of Middle Eastern political history, social sciences, history of art and architecture, literature, as well as a young citizen of Mosul, who will deliberate on the rebirth of Mosul and its return as the living symbol of Iraqi’s pluralistic identity. The event is in the framework of the UNESCO flagship initiative “Revive the Spirit of Mosul”.
In 1519, François 1er decided to build the Château de Chambord, which soon became the new "wonder of the world". Inscribed since the year 2000 on the UNESCO World Heritage list, Château de Chambord celebrates the 500th anniversary of its founding this year. On the occasion of this Jubilee, UNESCO, the National Domain of Chambord, and the United Nations University invite to the Château of François 1er the men and women who, in Mosul (ancient Nineveh), work to rebuild monuments and libraries destroyed by Daesh, thereby consoling wounded hearts and returning freedom to their country.
UNESCO's flagship initiative “Revive the spirit of Mosul” includes the reconstruction of the Al-Nuri mosque, a monument that symbolizes the role of a crossroads of cultures that the city of Mosul has played in history.
This Round Table will give the floor to the Iraqi actors of the spirit of Mosul (politicians, academics, everyday champions), as well as writers, diplomats and great witnesses. A series of four talks by eminent personalities in the fields of Middle Eastern political history, social sciences, history of art and architecture, literature, as well as a young citizen of Mosul, a direct witness of life in the city during the occupation by Daesh and who now works for the rebirth of Mosul to become again the symbol of Iraqi’s plural identity.