CULTURAL ROUTES OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

The Cultural Routes programme (DG of Democracy) was initiated by the Council of Europe in 1987 with the Santiago de Compostela Declaration.

The Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes are an invitation to travel and discover Europe’s rich and varied cultural heritage. Their aim is to create a network of people and places linked together by a common history and heritage. The Cultural Routes put into practice the values of the Council of Europe: human rights, cultural diversity, dialogue, and intercultural exchange.

The Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes offer a wide range of recreational and educational activities for all citizens, both European and non-European, thus representing a key resource for responsible tourism and sustainable development. The itineraries cover a range of different themes, from architecture and landscape to religious influences, from gastronomy and intangible heritage to the great masters of European art, music, and literature.

The “Council of Europe Cultural Route” certification is a guarantee of excellence. The networks carry out innovative activities and projects within the framework of five priority areas of action: cooperation in research and development; the promotion of memory, history, and European heritage; cultural and educational exchanges for young Europeans; contemporary artistic and cultural practices; cultural tourism and sustainable cultural development.

Through this programme, the Council of Europe offers a model for transnational cultural and tourist management and encourages synergies between national, regional, and local authorities and a wide range of associations and socio-economic actors.