diff --git a/code/ryzom/client/src/continent_manager.cpp b/code/ryzom/client/src/continent_manager.cpp
index fe9067a4f..56a11cf63 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/client/src/continent_manager.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/client/src/continent_manager.cpp
@@ -488,8 +488,177 @@ CContinent *CContinentManager::get(const std::string &contName)
 	return NULL;
 }
 
-void CContinentManager::serialUserLandMarks(NLMISC::IStream &f)
+void CContinentManager::writeTo(xmlNodePtr node) const
 {
+	// <landmarks continent="bagne" type="user" />
+	// <landmarks continent="tryker" type="user">
+	//    <landmark type="0" x="0" y="0" title="landmark title"/>
+	//    ...
+	// </landmarks>
+	for(TContinents::const_iterator it = _Continents.begin(); it != _Continents.end(); ++it)
+	{
+		std::string name = it->first;
+		xmlNodePtr contNode = xmlNewChild(node, NULL, (const xmlChar*)"landmarks", NULL);
+		xmlSetProp(contNode, (const xmlChar*)"continent", (const xmlChar*)name.c_str());
+		xmlSetProp(contNode, (const xmlChar*)"type", (const xmlChar*)"user");
+
+		if (it->second && it->second->UserLandMarks.size() > 0)
+		{
+			for(uint i = 0; i< it->second->UserLandMarks.size(); ++i)
+			{
+				const CUserLandMark& lm = it->second->UserLandMarks[i];
+
+				xmlNodePtr lmNode = xmlNewChild(contNode, NULL, (const xmlChar*)"landmark", NULL);
+				xmlSetProp(lmNode, (const xmlChar*)"type", (const xmlChar*)toString("%d", (uint32)lm.Type).c_str());
+				xmlSetProp(lmNode, (const xmlChar*)"x", (const xmlChar*)toString("%.2f", lm.Pos.x).c_str());
+				xmlSetProp(lmNode, (const xmlChar*)"y", (const xmlChar*)toString("%.2f", lm.Pos.y).c_str());
+
+				// sanitize ascii control chars
+				// libxml will encode other special chars itself
+				std::string title = lm.Title.toUtf8();
+				for(uint i = 0; i< title.size(); i++)
+				{
+					if (title[i] < ' ' && title[i] != '\n' && title[i] != '\t')
+					{
+						title[i] = '?';
+					}
+				}
+				xmlSetProp(lmNode, (const xmlChar*)"title", (const xmlChar*)title.c_str());
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+void CContinentManager::readFrom(xmlNodePtr node)
+{
+	CXMLAutoPtr prop;
+
+	// <landmarks continent="bagne" type="user">
+	//   <landmark type="0" x="0" y="0" title="landmark title" />
+	//   ...
+	// </landmarks>
+	std::string continent;
+	prop = xmlGetProp(node, (xmlChar*)"continent");
+	if (!prop)
+	{
+		nlwarning("Ignore landmarks group 'continent' attribute.");
+		return;
+	}
+	continent = (const char*)prop;
+
+	TContinents::iterator itContinent = _Continents.find(continent);
+	if (itContinent == _Continents.end() || !itContinent->second)
+	{
+		nlwarning("Ignore landmarks group with unknown 'continent' '%s'", continent.c_str());
+		return;
+	}
+
+	std::string lmtype;
+	prop = xmlGetProp(node, (xmlChar*)"type");
+	if (!prop)
+	{
+		nlwarning("Ignore landmarks group without 'type' attribute.");
+		return;
+	}
+	lmtype = toLower((const char*)prop);
+	if (lmtype != "user")
+	{
+		nlwarning("Ignore landmarks group with type '%s', expected 'user'.", lmtype.c_str());
+		return;
+	}
+
+	node = node->children;
+	while(node)
+	{
+		if (stricmp((char*)node->name, "landmark") != 0)
+		{
+			nlwarning("Ignore invalid node '%s' under landmarks group", (const char*)node->name);
+
+			node = node->next;
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		bool add = true;
+		CUserLandMark lm;
+
+		prop = xmlGetProp(node, (xmlChar*)"type");
+		if (prop)
+			fromString((const char*)prop, lm.Type);
+		else
+			nlwarning("Using default value for landmark type");
+
+		prop = xmlGetProp(node, (xmlChar*)"x");
+		if (prop)
+		{
+			fromString((const char*)prop, lm.Pos.x);
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			nlwarning("Landmark missing 'x' attribute");
+			add = false;
+		}
+
+		prop = xmlGetProp(node, (xmlChar*)"y");
+		if (prop)
+		{
+			fromString((const char*)prop, lm.Pos.y);
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			nlwarning("Landmark missing 'y' attribute");
+			add = false;
+		}
+
+		prop = xmlGetProp(node, (xmlChar*)"title");
+		if (prop)
+		{
+			lm.Title.fromUtf8((const char*)prop);
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			nlwarning("Landmark missing 'title' attribute");
+			add = false;
+		}
+
+		if (add)
+		{
+			// before adding, check for duplicate
+			// duplicates might be read from .icfg before .xml is read
+			add = true;
+			for(uint i = 0; i< itContinent->second->UserLandMarks.size(); ++i)
+			{
+				const CUserLandMark& test = itContinent->second->UserLandMarks[i];
+				uint xdiff = abs(test.Pos.x - lm.Pos.x) * 100;
+				uint ydiff = abs(test.Pos.y - lm.Pos.y) * 100;
+				if (xdiff == 0 && ydiff == 0)
+				{
+					add = false;
+					break;
+				}
+			}
+
+			if (add)
+			{
+				itContinent->second->UserLandMarks.push_back(lm);
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				nlwarning("Ignore landmark with duplicate pos (continent:'%s', x:%.2f, y:%.2f, type:%d, title:'%s')", continent.c_str(), lm.Pos.x, lm.Pos.y, (uint8)lm.Type, lm.Title.toUtf8().c_str());
+			}
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			nlwarning("Landmark not added");
+		}
+
+		node = node->next;
+	}
+}
+
+uint32 CContinentManager::serialUserLandMarks(NLMISC::IStream &f)
+{
+	uint32 totalLandmarks = 0;
+
 	f.serialVersion(1);
 	if (!f.isReading())
 	{
@@ -502,6 +671,7 @@ void CContinentManager::serialUserLandMarks(NLMISC::IStream &f)
 			if (it->second)
 			{
 				f.serialCont(it->second->UserLandMarks);
+				totalLandmarks += it->second->UserLandMarks.size();
 			}
 			else
 			{
@@ -522,6 +692,7 @@ void CContinentManager::serialUserLandMarks(NLMISC::IStream &f)
 			if (it != _Continents.end() && it->second)
 			{
 				f.serialCont(it->second->UserLandMarks);
+				totalLandmarks += it->second->UserLandMarks.size();
 			}
 			else
 			{
@@ -530,6 +701,8 @@ void CContinentManager::serialUserLandMarks(NLMISC::IStream &f)
 			}
 		}
 	}
+
+	return totalLandmarks;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/code/ryzom/client/src/continent_manager.h b/code/ryzom/client/src/continent_manager.h
index c51498967..1a0641627 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/client/src/continent_manager.h
+++ b/code/ryzom/client/src/continent_manager.h
@@ -109,8 +109,13 @@ public:
 
 	const std::string &getCurrentContinentSelectName();
 
+	// load / save all user landmarks in xml format
+	void writeTo(xmlNodePtr node) const;
+	void readFrom(xmlNodePtr node);
+
 	// load / saves all user landMarks
-	void serialUserLandMarks(NLMISC::IStream &f);
+	// \return number of landmarks loaded or saved
+	uint32 serialUserLandMarks(NLMISC::IStream &f);
 
 	// rebuild visible landmarks on current map
 	void updateUserLandMarks();
diff --git a/code/ryzom/client/src/far_tp.cpp b/code/ryzom/client/src/far_tp.cpp
index 577477ea2..92a8bbe3a 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/client/src/far_tp.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/client/src/far_tp.cpp
@@ -1298,6 +1298,7 @@ void CFarTP::sendReady()
 				pIM->loadKeys();
 				CWidgetManager::getInstance()->hideAllWindows();
 				pIM->loadInterfaceConfig();
+				pIM->loadLandmarks();
 			}
 			else
 			{
diff --git a/code/ryzom/client/src/interface_v3/group_map.cpp b/code/ryzom/client/src/interface_v3/group_map.cpp
index 8831ba119..fc9963c60 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/client/src/interface_v3/group_map.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/client/src/interface_v3/group_map.cpp
@@ -2829,7 +2829,7 @@ CCtrlButton *CGroupMap::addUserLandMark(const NLMISC::CVector2f &pos, const ucst
 	addLandMark(_UserLM, pos, title, getUserLandMarkOptions((uint32)_CurContinent->UserLandMarks.size() - 1));
 
 	// Save the config file each time a user landmark is created
-	CInterfaceManager::getInstance()->saveConfig();
+	CInterfaceManager::getInstance()->saveLandmarks();
 
 	return _UserLM.back();
 }
diff --git a/code/ryzom/client/src/interface_v3/interface_manager.cpp b/code/ryzom/client/src/interface_v3/interface_manager.cpp
index 85b667194..c0184a55e 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/client/src/interface_v3/interface_manager.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/client/src/interface_v3/interface_manager.cpp
@@ -458,6 +458,7 @@ CInterfaceManager::CInterfaceManager()
 	parser->addModule( "command", new CCommandParser() );
 	parser->addModule( "key", new CKeyParser() );
 	parser->addModule( "macro", new CMacroParser() );
+	parser->addModule( "landmarks", new CLandmarkParser() );
 	parser->setCacheUIParsing( ClientCfg.CacheUIParsing );
 
 	CViewRenderer::setDriver( Driver );
@@ -982,6 +983,9 @@ void CInterfaceManager::initInGame()
 	// Interface config
 	loadInterfaceConfig();
 
+	//Load user landmarks
+	loadLandmarks();
+
 	// Must do extra init for people interaction after load
 	PeopleInterraction.initAfterLoad();
 
@@ -1217,6 +1221,22 @@ void CInterfaceManager::configureQuitDialogBox()
 	}
 }
 
+// ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+//
+std::string CInterfaceManager::getSaveFileName(const std::string &module, const std::string &ext, bool useShared) const
+{
+	string filename = "save/" + module + "_" + PlayerSelectedFileName + "." + ext;
+	if (useShared && !CFile::fileExists(filename))
+	{
+		string sharedFile = "save/shared_" + module + "." + ext;
+		if (CFile::fileExists(sharedFile))
+		{
+			return sharedFile;
+		}
+	}
+	return filename;
+}
+
 // ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void CInterfaceManager::loadKeys()
 {
@@ -1228,26 +1248,19 @@ void CInterfaceManager::loadKeys()
 	vector<string> xmlFilesToParse;
 
 	// Does the keys file exist ?
-	string userKeyFileName = "save/keys_"+PlayerSelectedFileName+".xml";
+	string userKeyFileName = getSaveFileName("keys", "xml");
 	if (CFile::fileExists(userKeyFileName) && CFile::getFileSize(userKeyFileName) > 0)
 	{
 		// Load the user key file
 		xmlFilesToParse.push_back (userKeyFileName);
 	}
-	else
-	{
-		string filename = "save/shared_keys.xml";
-		if(CFile::fileExists(filename) && CFile::getFileSize(filename) > 0)
-		{
-			xmlFilesToParse.push_back(filename);
-		}
-	}
+
 	// Load the default key (but don't replace existings bounds, see keys.xml "key_def_no_replace")
 	xmlFilesToParse.push_back ("keys.xml");
 
 	if (!parseInterface (xmlFilesToParse, true))
 	{
-		badXMLParseMessageBox();
+		createFileBackup("Error loading keys", userKeyFileName);
 	}
 
 	_KeysLoaded = true;
@@ -1260,10 +1273,7 @@ void CInterfaceManager::loadInterfaceConfig()
 	if (ClientCfg.R2EDEnabled) // in R2ED mode the CEditor class deals with it
 		return;
 
-	string filename = "save/interface_" + PlayerSelectedFileName + ".icfg";
-	if (!CFile::fileExists(filename))
-		filename = "save/shared_interface.icfg";
-
+	string filename = getSaveFileName("interface", "icfg");
 	loadConfig(filename); // Invalidate coords of changed groups
 
 	_ConfigLoaded = true;
@@ -1680,6 +1690,7 @@ bool CInterfaceManager::loadConfig (const string &filename)
 	uint32	nNbMode;
 	CInterfaceConfig ic;
 	bool	lastInGameScreenResLoaded= false;
+	uint32	nbLandmarks = 0;
 	try
 	{
 		sint ver = f.serialVersion(ICFG_STREAM_VERSION);
@@ -1775,7 +1786,7 @@ bool CInterfaceManager::loadConfig (const string &filename)
 		}
 
 		// Load user landmarks
-		ContinentMngr.serialUserLandMarks(f);
+		nbLandmarks = ContinentMngr.serialUserLandMarks(f);
 
 		CCDBNodeLeaf *pNL = NLGUI::CDBManager::getInstance()->getDbProp( "SERVER:INTERFACES:NB_BONUS_LANDMARKS" );
 		if ( pNL )
@@ -1809,10 +1820,9 @@ bool CInterfaceManager::loadConfig (const string &filename)
 	catch(const NLMISC::EStream &)
 	{
 		f.close();
-		string	sFileNameBackup = sFileName+"backup";
-		if (CFile::fileExists(sFileNameBackup))
-			CFile::deleteFile(sFileNameBackup);
-		CFile::moveFile(sFileNameBackup, sFileName);
+
+		createFileBackup("Config loading failed", sFileName);
+
 		nlwarning("Config loading failed : restore default");
 		vector<string> v;
 		if (!ClientCfg.R2EDEnabled)
@@ -1823,6 +1833,35 @@ bool CInterfaceManager::loadConfig (const string &filename)
 	}
 	f.close();
 
+	if (nbLandmarks > 0)
+	{
+		// use copy for backup so on save proper shared/player icfg file is used
+		createFileBackup("Landmarks will be migrated to xml", sFileName, true);
+
+		// if icfg is interface_player.icfg, then landmarks must also be loaded/saved to player file
+		if (nlstricmp(sFileName.substr(0, 12), "save/shared_") != 0)
+		{
+			string lmfile = getSaveFileName("landmarks", "xml", false);
+			if (!CFile::fileExists(lmfile))
+			{
+				// create placeholder player landmarks file so saveLandmarks will use it
+				// even if shared landmarks file exists
+				COFile f;
+				if (f.open(lmfile, false, false, true))
+				{
+					std::string xml;
+					xml = "<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n<interface_config />";
+					f.serialBuffer((uint8 *)xml.c_str(), xml.size());
+					f.close();
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		// merge .icfg landmarks with landmarks.xml
+		loadLandmarks();
+		saveLandmarks();
+	}
+
 	// *** If saved resolution is different from the current one setuped, must fix positions in _Modes
 	if(lastInGameScreenResLoaded)
 	{
@@ -1877,6 +1916,88 @@ public:
 	}
 };
 
+bool CInterfaceManager::saveLandmarks(bool verbose) const
+{
+	bool ret = true;
+
+	if (!ClientCfg.R2EDEnabled)
+	{
+		uint8 currMode = getMode();
+
+		string filename = getSaveFileName("landmarks", "xml");
+		if (verbose) CInterfaceManager::getInstance()->displaySystemInfo("Saving " + filename);
+		ret = saveLandmarks(filename);
+	}
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
+bool CInterfaceManager::loadLandmarks()
+{
+	// Does the keys file exist ?
+	string filename = getSaveFileName("landmarks", "xml");
+
+	CIFile f;
+	string sFileName;
+	sFileName = NLMISC::CPath::lookup (filename, false);
+	if (sFileName.empty() || !f.open(sFileName))
+		return false;
+
+	bool ret = false;
+	vector<string> xmlFilesToParse;
+	xmlFilesToParse.push_back (filename);
+
+	//ContinentMngr.serialUserLandMarks(node);
+	if (!parseInterface (xmlFilesToParse, true))
+	{
+		f.close();
+
+		createFileBackup("Error while loading landmarks", filename);
+
+		ret = false;
+	}
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
+bool CInterfaceManager::saveLandmarks(const std::string &filename) const
+{
+	nlinfo( "Saving landmarks : %s", filename.c_str() );
+
+	bool ret = false;
+	try
+	{
+		COFile f;
+
+		// using temporary file, so no f.close() unless its a success
+		if (f.open(filename, false, false, true))
+		{
+			COXml xmlStream;
+			xmlStream.init (&f);
+
+			xmlDocPtr doc = xmlStream.getDocument ();
+			xmlNodePtr node = xmlNewDocNode(doc, NULL, (const xmlChar*)"interface_config", NULL);
+			xmlDocSetRootElement (doc, node);
+
+			ContinentMngr.writeTo(node);
+
+			// Flush the stream
+			xmlStream.flush();
+
+			// Close the stream
+			f.close ();
+
+			ret = true;
+		}
+	}
+	catch (const Exception &e)
+	{
+		nlwarning ("Error while writing the file %s : %s.", filename.c_str(), e.what ());
+	}
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
 // ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 //
 bool CInterfaceManager::saveConfig (bool verbose)
@@ -1887,9 +2008,7 @@ bool CInterfaceManager::saveConfig (bool verbose)
 	{
 		uint8 currMode = getMode();
 
-		string filename = "save/interface_" + PlayerSelectedFileName + ".icfg";
-		if (!CFile::fileExists(filename) && CFile::fileExists("save/shared_interface.icfg"))
-			filename = "save/shared_interface.icfg";
+		string filename = getSaveFileName("interface", "icfg");
 
 		if (verbose) CInterfaceManager::getInstance()->displaySystemInfo("Saving " + filename);
 		ret = saveConfig(filename);
@@ -2004,8 +2123,13 @@ bool CInterfaceManager::saveConfig (const string &filename)
 		CTaskBarManager	*pTBM= CTaskBarManager::getInstance();
 		pTBM->serial(f);
 
-		// Save user landmarks
-		ContinentMngr.serialUserLandMarks(f);
+		//ContinentMngr.serialUserLandMarks(f);
+		// empty landmarks block for compatibility
+		{
+			f.serialVersion(1);
+			uint32 numCont = 0;
+			f.serial(numCont);
+		}
 
 		// Info Windows position.
 		CInterfaceHelp::serialInfoWindows(f);
@@ -2973,6 +3097,7 @@ class CAHSaveUI : public IActionHandler
 	{
 		CInterfaceManager::getInstance()->saveKeys(true);
 		CInterfaceManager::getInstance()->saveConfig(true);
+		CInterfaceManager::getInstance()->saveLandmarks(true);
 	}
 };
 REGISTER_ACTION_HANDLER (CAHSaveUI, "save_ui");
@@ -4136,3 +4261,40 @@ bool CInterfaceManager::parseTokens(ucstring& ucstr)
 	ucstr = str;
 	return true;;
 }
+
+std::string CInterfaceManager::getNextBackupName(std::string filename)
+{
+	std::string ts = getTimestampHuman("%Y-%m-%d");
+
+	if (!ts.empty())
+	{
+		std::string::size_type pos = filename.find_last_of('.');
+		if (pos == std::string::npos)
+			filename = filename + "_" + ts + "_";
+		else
+			filename = filename.substr(0, pos) + "_" + ts + "_" + filename.substr(pos);
+	}
+
+	// filename_YYYY-MM-DD_000.ext
+	return CFile::findNewFile(filename);
+}
+
+void CInterfaceManager::createFileBackup(const std::string &message, const std::string &filename, bool useCopy)
+{
+	std::string backupName = getNextBackupName(filename);
+	nlwarning("%s: '%s'.", message.c_str(), filename.c_str());
+	if (!backupName.empty())
+	{
+		if (useCopy)
+		{
+			nlwarning("Backup copy saved as '%s'", backupName.c_str());
+			CFile::copyFile(backupName, filename);
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			nlwarning("File renamed to '%s'", backupName.c_str());
+			CFile::moveFile(backupName, filename);
+		}
+	}
+}
+
diff --git a/code/ryzom/client/src/interface_v3/interface_manager.h b/code/ryzom/client/src/interface_v3/interface_manager.h
index 34dd9022e..2aafaf0e4 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/client/src/interface_v3/interface_manager.h
+++ b/code/ryzom/client/src/interface_v3/interface_manager.h
@@ -203,6 +203,19 @@ public:
 	/// Load a set of xml files
 	bool parseInterface (const std::vector<std::string> &xmlFileNames, bool reload, bool isFilename = true);
 
+	/// return new filename that can be used to backup original file
+	std::string getNextBackupName(std::string filename);
+	/// copy/rename filename for backup and show error in log
+	void createFileBackup(const std::string &message, const std::string &filename, bool useCopy = false);
+
+	/// select player/shared file name from 'save' folder'
+	std::string getSaveFileName(const std::string &module, const std::string &ext, bool useShared = true) const;
+
+	/// Load / save user landmarks in .xml format
+	bool loadLandmarks ();
+	bool saveLandmarks (bool verbose = false) const;
+	bool saveLandmarks (const std::string &filename) const;
+
 	// Load/Save position, size, etc.. of windows
 	bool loadConfig (const std::string &filename);
 	// Save config to default location, if verbose is true, display message in game sysinfo
diff --git a/code/ryzom/client/src/interface_v3/parser_modules.cpp b/code/ryzom/client/src/interface_v3/parser_modules.cpp
index b540900a4..2d2c7cb60 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/client/src/interface_v3/parser_modules.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/client/src/interface_v3/parser_modules.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "../commands.h"
 #include "interface_3d_scene.h"
 #include "nel/misc/i_xml.h"
+#include "../continent_manager.h"
 
 using namespace NLMISC;
 
@@ -31,6 +32,8 @@ using namespace NLMISC;
 #include "../client_cfg.h"
 #endif
 
+extern CContinentManager ContinentMngr;
+
 CIF3DSceneParser::CIF3DSceneParser()
 {
 	parsingStage |= ( Resolved | GroupChildren );
@@ -529,3 +532,21 @@ bool CMacroParser::parse( xmlNodePtr cur, NLGUI::CInterfaceGroup *parentGroup )
 	return true;
 }
 
+CLandmarkParser::CLandmarkParser()
+{
+	parsingStage |= Unresolved;
+}
+
+CLandmarkParser::~CLandmarkParser()
+{
+}
+
+bool CLandmarkParser::parse( xmlNodePtr cur, NLGUI::CInterfaceGroup *parentGroup )
+{
+	H_AUTO(parseLandmark)
+
+	ContinentMngr.readFrom(cur);
+
+	return true;
+}
+
diff --git a/code/ryzom/client/src/interface_v3/parser_modules.h b/code/ryzom/client/src/interface_v3/parser_modules.h
index 9a2bf76b9..f816f8d39 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/client/src/interface_v3/parser_modules.h
+++ b/code/ryzom/client/src/interface_v3/parser_modules.h
@@ -76,4 +76,13 @@ public:
 	bool parse( xmlNodePtr cur, CInterfaceGroup *parentGroup );
 };
 
+class CLandmarkParser : public CInterfaceParser::IParserModule
+{
+public:
+	CLandmarkParser();
+	~CLandmarkParser();
+
+	bool parse( xmlNodePtr cur, CInterfaceGroup *parentGroup );
+};
+
 #endif