News 2026
Three newly certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe!
The Governing Board of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) awarded the "Cultural Route of the Council of Europe" certification to the European Paganini Route, the Singing Heritage Route and Via Querinissima at its 2026 meeting (5-7 May,...
The Routes at the 2026 Europe Day in the Castle of Wiltz
On 10 May, the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme participated at the 2026 Europe Day in Wiltz, Luxembourg with a dedicated stand. More than 4 000 people took part in the event. Each year, "Europe Day" pays tribute to Robert Schuman's declaration in 1950 by highlighting the...
2026 Yerevan Forum: Signature of the Memorandum of Understanding
At the meeting of the Governing Board of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA), held in Luxembourg in May 2026, Rui GOMES, EPA Executive Secretary, and Alfred KOCHARYAN, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia,...
The EPA Governing Board holds its 2026 annual meeting in Luxembourg
The Governing Board of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) held its annual meeting on 5-7 May 2026 in Luxembourg. The Board, consisting of representatives of 43 member states, serves also as the authoritative body responsible for granting the "Cultural...
Training candidates for Cultural Route certification
On 28 and 29 April 28 2026 the European Institute of Cultural Routes hosted a training seminar for candidate routes interested in the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe certification. The programme of the seminar focused on the criteria, requirements and procedures for certification and...
Universitat de València joins the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies
The Universitat de València is now officially a member of the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies, as of April 2026. The university signed a general framework cooperation agreement with the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR) and joins 40+ other universities in the...
Moldova State University joins the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies
On 17 April 2026 in Chișinău, Moldova State University (MSU) officially joined the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies after signing a general framework cooperation agreement with the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR). The Moldova State University (MSU) demonstrates strong...
The Republic of Moldova in the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe
The Republic of Moldova in the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe The seminar Republic of Moldova in the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe took place from 15 to 17 April in Chișinău, bringing together 10 Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe and more than 70 local participants....
Nordic–Baltic Working Group Publishes New Practical Materials to Support Development of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe
A Nordic–Baltic working group on cultural routes has completed a project “Cultural Routes for Heritage Cooperation and Capacity Building” that delivers practical materials to strengthen cultural route of the Council of Europe work across the region. A newly released practical guidebook introduces...
Megalithism in Portugal
The Megalithic Routes held their General Assembly in Viseu Portugal, from 31 March to 3 April 2026. The assembly accepted new members and elected a new president, professor António Faustino Carvalho (Portugal). The meeting was enriched with presentations on megalithic monuments in Portugal,...
Cultural Routes and the New Democratic Pact
At the initiative of Ambassador Patrick Engelberg, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the Council of Europe, a briefing session about the Cultural Routes programme was organised for the permanent representatives of the members states of the Council of Europe and observers. The session was...
Meeting of Routes Managers in Spain
The fifth meeting of managers of Council of Europe Cultural Routes in Spain was held in Huelva, Spain, from 23 to 25 March. Organised by the Ministry of Culture of Spain, in cooperation with the province of Huelva (Andalucia), the meeting brought together a very representative group of cultural...
Opening Doors to Youth Participation in the Cultural Routes
The Cultural Routes programme assigns an important role to young people and youth participation. For example, themes and activities of the routes must facilitate cultural and educational exchanges for young Europeans. The call of the Reykjavík Declaration for the inclusion of a youth perspective...
Rural Culture and Heritage
The Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is currently preparing a report on preserving European rural culture and heritage During its session in Paris on 12 March, the Secretariat of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe...
Call for applications for certification as “Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe”: 2026-2027 cycle
Each year, the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme sees several cultural route networks applying for certification. To be eligible for certification by the Council of Europe, candidate routes must comply with the certification criteria established in Resolution CM/Res(2023)2. The...
Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas) joins the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies
In March, the Breda University of Applies Sciences officially joined the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies after signing a general framework cooperation agreement with the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR). The university has been actively involved in different research...
Spring Meeting of the EPA Bureau
The Bureau of the Governing Board of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) met in Luxembourg to prepare the upcoming Governing Board meeting and review ongoing activities and programme developments. Chaired by Sergio ORTEGA MUÑOZ, the members of the...
Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) joins the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies
In February, the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) officially joined the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies after signing a general framework cooperation agreement with the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR). Through its Institute of Landscape...
University of Split joins the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies
In February, the University of Split, Catholic Faculty of Theology became a member of the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies after signing a general framework cooperation agreement with the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR). The Catholic Faculty of Theology in Split is...
National coordination meeting of Cultural Routes crossing Germany in Lübeck
On 28 January 2025, the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe crossing Germany gathered in Lübeck at the invitation of The Hansa, certified as a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe in 1991. The meeting enabled representatives of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe crossing Germany to...
