Introduction

In many European countries, places of worship and the movable goods they contain traditionally constitute a significant part of cultural heritage,1 as well as being familiar landmarks reflecting the role of religions in national histories. As they embody public interest, we might hope that religious buildings and cultural heritage do not succumb to economical considerations. Be it for the sake of religious freedom or in the name of common good, both should be protected and are expected to be funded accordingly, hopefully from public resources. A more realistic approach entails taking into account the challenges facing both religious assets and cultural heritage, in the knowledge that the specificity of religious heritage stems from its dual dimension – religious and cultural. In both cases, these valuable assets have undergone in-depth changes that call into question the long-established schemes.