„Major Cultural Route of the Council of Europe“ is a title awarded by the Council of Europe to European initiatives focussing on locations and routes of immense historical significance, standing for the protection of cultural values and the exchange of information and experience, stimulating new forms of cooperation between different science research fields, promoting new forms of meetings of young Europeans, developing cultural tourism and enhancing unknown sites of cultural heritage by the development of interdisciplinary networks.

The revision of the regulations of the Cultural Routes program in 2007 require the foundation of organised networks even for projects already having been awarded the title ‘Cultural Route of the Council of Europe’.

The network ‘VIA REGIA - Cultural Route of the Council of Europe’ was founded formally at the end of 2009. Thus it meets the requirements of the Council of Europe concerning the structure of all cultural route projects. The network was approved by the steering committee of the Council of Europe in April 2010 thus being the sole holder of the title “VIA REGIA - Cultural Route of the Council of Europe”. Every member of the network is entitled to use the title for marketing and image advertising purposes and to make it clearly visible in its townscape or at its facilities.

In the actual development phase the network is active on the following levels:

  • the members realize VIA REGIA projects in own initiative and individual responsibility,
  • the members cooperate on the development of a knowledge, informations and service Internet portal including the following topics
    • history,
    • culture and art
    • leisure and recreation,
    • sights,
    • tourism
    in order to convey the special features of local cultural landscapes, thus enhancing the richness and diversity of the cultural area of Europe to a broad public.
  • Common sign-posting is in the phase of practical trial.

Membership is based on a written agreement.. Membership is for free.

Contact:

Europäisches Kultur- und Informationszentrum in Thüringen
European Centre for Culture and Information in Thuringia
Bahnhofstr. 27
D-99084 Erfurt
Germany

Caroline Fischer
(Managing Director)
fon: 0049/ (0)361/ 76 48 590
fax: 0049/ (0)361/ 26 57 564
mail: ekt@via-regia.org
skype: via_regia

Dr. Jürgen Fischer
(Project Manager/ Project Consultant)
fon: 0049/ (0)361/ 76 48 590
fax: 0049/ (0)361/ 26 57 564
mail: fischer@via-regia.org