The history of the Cultural Routes pogramme of the Council of Europe dates back to 1964 when the working group L'Europe continue in the Council of Europe took the cultural geography of Europe as starting point to develop a touristical network. This idea was then realised in the eighties of the 20th century as a “Council for Cultural Cooperation” defined European Cultural Routes officially: “By European cultural route one understands a trajectory covering one or more countries or regions, organised around topics whose historical, artistic or social interest proves to be European, either because of the geographical layout of the route, or due to its contents and significance.“
So the awareness for a common European culture should be raised through special places and routes. In 1987 on suggestion of the Council of Europe the pilgrimage pathes to Santiago de Compostela have been inaugurated as first European Cultural Route. In the meantime several projects have been awarded. Within the Council of Europe the Cultural Routes enjoy a special position. The affinity between space and memory is not only proclaimed but practical realised through the acknowledgement of Cultural Routes.