From 18 to 20 June, representatives of the Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes, the French Ministry of Culture, the French Federation of European Cultural Routes (FFICE), local, departmental and regional authorities, as well as relevant stakeholders, gathered in Châteauroux, in central France, for the annual meeting of the Cultural Routes running through France.
These meetings were organised by the European Federation of Cluniac Sites and the Indre department, with the support of the French Ministry of Culture and in partnership with the French Federation of European Cultural Routes. Held in a spirit of cooperation, the event highlighted the unifying and innovative role of cultural routes in raising public awareness of European history, heritage and values.
Particular attention was paid to activities for young people organised by the Cultural Routes:
- Clunykids, set up by the European Federation of Cluniac Sites,
- The ‘child mediators’ scheme, coordinated by the Saint James Way,
- Activities for schoolchildren and teenagers centred on Robert Louis Stevenson,
- Puzzle games on Le Corbusier Destinations: Architectural Walks,
- The “Therma and Bath Culture 1 & 2” event organised by the European Route of Historic Thermal Towns,
- “Work it out” organised by the European Route of Industrial Heritage,
- Exchanges, visits and performances organised by the European Route of Jewish Heritage, etc.
The routes represented at these meetings also presented their best practices, projects and recent experiences regarding youth engagement, exchanging ideas and sharing their knowledge. A further presentation focused on educational and digital outreach tools.
The French Federation of European Cultural Routes also held its annual general meeting on the sidelines of the gathering, thereby strengthening cooperation between all stakeholders of the Cultural Routes at national level.
Participants enjoyed a local cultural programme and discover the local treasures of the Indre department, notably through guided tours of Notre-Dame de Déols Abbey, Raoul Castle, Valençay Castle and the Church of Saint-Étienne in Neuvy-Saint-Sépulchre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated on the Way of St James.
France has been a member of the Enlarged Partial Agreement since 2011 and currently has 36 Cultural Routes within its territory.
