The events held on 2 and 3 June 2026 in Canet-en-Roussillon and Thuir (Occitanie), were organised by the Iter Vitis, European Route of Historic Pharmacies and Medicinal Gardens, and the Huguenot and Waldensian Trail Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, with the support of the French Ministry of Culture.

Organised around the theme ‘From Apicius to Vermouth: plants, gastronomy and wine – a living heritage’, these events aimed to promote the appeal of the regions and their local heritage, cultural and tourist resources.

Driven by three Cultural Routes linked by a shared focus and common objectives (25 Council of Europe member states represented by the three routes), they brought together around sixty participants: representatives of national and European institutions, elected representatives from local, departmental and regional authorities, representatives of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, academics, students, researchers, and professionals from the heritage, culture and tourism sectors, and received support from the Ministry of Culture.

This innovative and interactive symposium facilitated the sharing of best practices bridging tradition and modernity, covering a variety of themes: local produce versus European gastronomy, traditional skills and practices, wine tourism and sustainable tourism strategies, rural tourism and itinerant travel, etc.

The main objectives of the symposium were:

• To enhance awareness and visibility of the Cultural Routes at regional and national levels and to forge links based on the common European values championed by the Council of Europe
• To build bridges between the heritage, culture and tourism sectors in order to engage with public and private policy issues, such as the preservation of tangible and intangible heritage, the transmission of knowledge and skills, the attractiveness of regions and sustainable tourism
• To highlight the bonds that unite the peoples of the Mediterranean through shared values to be passed on to future generations, underpinned by the principles of hospitality, intercultural dialogue, respect for diversity and the safeguarding of traditional skills – all of which are symbols of culture and sustainability.
• To provide an analysis of the diversity of community-based initiatives and local offerings, thereby highlighting the potential for economic development
• To promote Occitanie as a border region with significant potential, conducive to cooperation and collaboration with the countries of the Mediterranean arc within a framework of multicultural exchange and transnational synergy.

You can find the event programme (in French) here: RENCONTRES 2026 - CARREFOUR des ITINERAIRES CULTURELS.