The recently restored synagogue of Trenčín was the venue for the conference about the European Routes of Jewish Heritage held on 21 October 2026. The conference brought together over 50 international and Slovak experts active in the fields of cultural heritage, cultural routes, memory work and local development. The conference was integrated in the “incubator” training programme set up by the European Route of Jewish Heritage for new and potential members of the Route.

In his address to the conference, Rui Gomes acknowledged the work and achievements of the route in restoring European Jewish heritage and, with it, the history and dignity of local communities. He also praised the Incubator programme as an excellent example of how Cultural Routes can support their members in understanding and promoting the values and principles underpinning the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Programme.

Trenčín is European Cultural Capital in 2026 and illustrates well the role that Cultural Routes have in supporting local development and shedding light on local heritage as essential components of shared cultural identity across Europe.