Cultural Route of the Council of Europe

A Culture Route of the Council of Europe, sometimes referred to as a European Cultural Route, is a certification awarded by the Council of Europe to networks promoting the European shared culture, history and memory. These routes must also match some fundamental values promoted by the Council of Europe such as democracy, human rights and intercultural exchanges in the framework of cultural tourism.^[1]

A Cultural Route of the Council of Europe is not necessarily a physical path to be walked through and can be made up of cultural stakeholders such as museums, municipalities or local governments clustered into one umbrella association. Being awarded the title Cultural Route of the Council of Europe opens the way to a larger visibility, network of cultural stakeholders or even funding.^[2] The programme was launched by the Council of Europe and not the European Union, even though it contributes to it.^[3] As a result, the programme goes beyond the borders of the EU, and even Europe in general - as some Routes go as far as North Africa or the Middle East.^[4]

The programme was launched by the Council of Europe in 1987. It is based since 1998 in Luxembourg, at the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR). Since 2010, the evaluation and certification-awarding process is managed by the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes (EPA).^[5]

In 2022, 48 Cultural Routes were certified as listed below.^[6][7][8]