The Secretariat of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme has been working on the coordination of the 2021-2022 Certification Cycle since the first trimester of the year.

The current cycle focuses on the regular evaluation of twelve certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe and the evaluation of seven candidate networks applying for the “Cultural Route of the Council of Europe” certification, as well as the exceptional evaluation of two certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.

Certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe under regular evaluation:

1. ATRIUM
2. European Cemeteries Route
3. European Route of Historic Thermal Towns
4. Saint Martin of Tours Route
5. Phoenician’s Route
6. Prehistoric Rock Art Trails
7. Reseau Art Nouveau Network
8. Route of Saint Olav Ways
9. Impressionisms Routes
10. Via Charlemagne
11. Via Habsburg
12. European Route of Cistercian Abbeys

Certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe under exceptional evaluation:

1. European Route of Ceramics
2. Fortified Towns of the Grande Region

Candidates to the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe certification:

1. Women Writers Route
2. European Fairy Tale Route
3. Historic Cafes Route
4. European Network of Holy Week and Easter Celebrations
5. Holy Places of Undivided Christianity
6. The Chocolate Way
7. In the footsteps of Saint Paul, the Apostle of the nations – Cultural Route

Independent experts have been selected and contracted to conduct the independent evaluation of each route, including the preparation of an evaluation report to be submitted in December 2021. The selection of experts was carried out on the basis of geographic and gender balance, academic background, professional experience as well as language requirements.

The results of the independent experts’ evaluations will be discussed during the meeting of the Bureau of the Enlarged Partial Agreement (EPA) in Luxembourg on 24-25 February 2022, where the independent experts will be interviewed. Final decisions regarding the renew and award of the “Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe” certification will be made by the EPA Governing Board at its annual meeting in Luxembourg on 28-29 April 2022.