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Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes | 32 Member States, 33 Cultural Routes
Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Newsletter November 2018

The Holy See: Conference on Cultural Routes as "journeys of faith and encounter"
To highlight the accession of the Holy See to the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA), the Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the Council of Europe and the Council of Bishops' Conferences of Europe (CCEE) co-organised a conference entitled "The Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe: Journeys of faith and encounter”, in cooperation with the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes. The event took place at the Palais de l’Europe, at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, on 27 November 2018.

The programme of the conference is available online here.
Spain: The European Institute of Cultural Routes receives the 2018 Iberian Biennial of Cultural Heritage Award
The European Institute of Cultural Routes (Luxembourg) was awarded the 2018 XI Iberian Biennial of Cultural Heritage award for its contribution to European values and longtime support to the Cultural Routes of the Council Europe Programme. This prestigious award and its bronze sculpture was presented in Valladolid (Spain) on 10th November by the regional Minister of culture of Castilla-León, Ms Josefa García Cirac, to Mr Eladio Fernández-Galiano, member of the Board of the Institute.
Poland: Cultural Routes programme presented at the Baltic Sea States Forum
Organised by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the National Maritime Museum in Gdansk, the Baltic Sea State Forum “Cultural Heritage in Promotion and Development of the Baltic Sea Region” took place from 28 to 30 of November in Gdansk, Poland. The meeting identified examples of sustainable use of heritage leading to socio-economic development of the region and explored the development of transborder projects in the domain of protection and promotion of cultural heritage, including examples of innovative transnational Cultural Routes.
Croatia: International Conference on the “Cultural Routes of the Olive Tree”
In the framework of the Croatian Chairmanship of the Council of Europe and of the Central European Initiative, in cooperation with the Croatian Ministry of Tourism and the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes, the international conference “Cultural Routes of the Olive Tree as a model for Europe’s values, heritage and sustainable development” was held in Mali Losinj, Croatia on 14-16 November 2018.

The programme of the conference is available online here.
Russian Federation: Cultural Routes presented at the VII St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum
The Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme was presented at the second International conference “Cultural Routes of the Slavic world on the map of Europe” held in Saint-Petersburg on 15 November 2018, within the framework of the VII St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum programme. The conference became one of the key events in the ‘Tourism’ section of this Cultural Forum. The event shared experiences about cooperation among countries for the purpose of creating Cultural Routes as well as discuss potential projects.
Luxembourg: meeting of the Board of Directors of the European Institute of Cultural Routes
On 22 November, the Board of Directors of the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR) held its meeting in Luxembourg, at the Cultural Centre of Neumünster Abbey. On this occasion, participants discussed the activities carried out by the EICR in 2018, the 2019 calendar of activities, the Cultural Routes Evaluation Cycle 2018-2019. Mr. Matjaz GRUDEN, Director of Democratic Participation at the Council of Europe, as well as Mr. Christian BIEVER, EICR President, participated in the meeting.
European Route of Cistercian Abbeys: 3rd international meeting in Alcobaça (Portugal)
Jointly organized by the Directorate General of Cultural Heritage of the Monastery of Alcobaça and by the municipality of Alcobaça, the 3rd edition of this meeting, entitled « Beyond borders: the Cistercian heritage and the European cultural identity today », took place in Portugal on 23-24 November 2018.

In the framework of the European Year of Cultural Heritage, the conference focused on the role of Cistercian sites in the knowledge and promotion of European cultural identity. Representatives of Cistercian Abbeys belonging to the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe (Clairvaux, Herkenrode, Loegum…) from 8 European countries participated in the meeting.

The programme is available online here.
Impressionisms Routes: official launch of the Renoir year 2019
In addition to six already existing thematic Routes, the Impressionisms Routes, certified by the Council of Europe in 2018, recently launched a new Route dedicated to Renoir, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Painter’s death (to be commemorated in 2019). The Renoir Route brings together 12 different European sites and museums related to Renoir’s life and work while organizing specific events and activities. This initiative is supported by the French Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Réseau Art Nouveau Network: General Assembly in Szeged (Hungary)
On the occasion of the second General Assembly, the members of the Réseau Art Nouveau Network (RANN) met from 22 to 25 November 2018 in Szeged (Hungary), member city of the Network since 2016. Besides the discovery of the impressive Art Nouveau heritage in Szeged, the RANN members had the opportunity to exchange good practices developed in the different member cities of the Network related to the enhancement of the Art Nouveau heritage and pursue the development of ongoing and future activities; they especially focused on the celebration of the RANN’s 20 years anniversary that will take place next year.
European Cemeteries Route: launch of dedicated cemetery guides
To connect the visitors with qualified guides, the European Cemeteries Route, certified by the Council of Europe in 2010, launched a new system of dedicated ambassadors for the Cemeteries belonging to their Network. The guides will be presented with their picture and brief biography to be displayed on the website of the Route as well as on their ARTOUR App. The motto of the initiative: “Connecting the cemetery story tellers with stories lovers”.
Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe and their virtual stands at the EU-China Virtual Travel Fair
In the framework of the 2018 China-Europe Tourism Year, the European Commission organised the first EU-China Virtual Travel Fair on Cultural Tourism, in cooperation with Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China. This futuristic Fair hosted virtual booths for each Cultural Route of the Council of Europe willing to participate in the project: each stand displayed various material on the Cultural Routes such as pictures, videos, brochures and links; the creation of avatars also enabled networking through chats and exchanges of business cards.
Cultural Routes under development: Via Romea Germanica; les Chemins des Cathares
The European Association of the Via Romea Germanica, Cultural Route project applying for the certification label of the Council of Europe, was officially established on 22 November 2018. The ceremony took place in Bolzano, Italy, in the presence of Barbara Toce, Vice-President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.

Another conference focusing on the certification label of the Council of Europe was hosted in Carcassonne (France) on 12-13 November 2018, presenting the Cultural Route project “les Chemins des Cathares”. Mr. Eladio Fernández-Galiano, special advisor of the Cultural Routes programme and member of the EICR Governing Board, provided expertise about the certification process for Cultural Route projects.
Routes4U publication: Roadmap for the Adriatic-Ionian Region
The "Roadmap for the Adriatic-Ionian Region" provides background information and recommendations for stakeholders working in the field of sustainable tourism, cultural cooperation and social participation. It contains guidelines for national, regional and local authorities in the Adriatic-Ionian Region on the certification and management of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.
Cultural Routes in the press
EPA on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe
European Institute of Cultural Routes
Abbaye de Neumünster, 28 rue Münster
L-2160 Luxembourg
Tel. +352 24 12 50

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