European Heritage Days

A joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission

Once a year, citizens in 49 countries celebrate Europe’s cultural heritage. This initiative of the European Heritage Days, launched by the Council of Europe in 1991, has been since 1999 a joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, putting new cultural assets on view and opening up historical buildings normally closed to the public.

The cultural events highlight local skills and traditions, architecture and works of art, but the broader aim is to bring citizens together in harmony even though there are differences in cultures and languages.

Each year, national and regional events are organised around a special theme. These themes vary in each country from year to year. They include such topics as:

specific forms of heritage (e.g. farmhouses, musical instruments, culinary traditions, garden architecture);
specific periods in history (e.g. the Medieval heritage, the Baroque heritage);
society’s approaches to heritage (e.g. heritage and citizenship, heritage and youth).

The Council of Europe and the European Commission encourage the selection of trans-national themes which can be illustrated by cross-border activities that are jointly set up by the different countries. (more...)

Events

European Events
Events by country
Young People and Heritage

Publications

"Open doors and open minds": report by François Matarasso

Handbook on the European heritage days - a practical guide - by Michel Kneubühler

Information for National Coordinators

We would like to inform you that meetings are being held on 18 and 19 March 2010 in Paris for the preparation of the 3rdEuropean Heritage Forum organised in the framework of the European Heritage Days to be held on 1-2 October 2010 in Istanbul, Turkey and the 3rdEuropean Heritage National Coordinators meeting to be held on 3 October 2010 in Istanbul, Turkey. We will keep you informed of the outcome of the meetings.

Circular Letters

Annual meetings

EHDs annual Evaluations