The Government today, 18 April, approved Estonia’s accession to the Council of Europe’s Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes. Cultural Routes are thematic cultural tourism routes that pass through at least three European countries, encourage people to discover Europe’s rich heritage and the historical connections between different regions, and promote sustainable cross-border cultural tourism.
“Estonia’s cultural diversity is one of our strengths internationally. The Cultural Routes criss-crossing Europe help to showcase our shared European cultural heritage and attract visitors interested in heritage and culture to Estonia, thereby generating significant economic added value. Cultural Routes also help shape the story we tell about Estonia,” said Minister of Culture Heidy Purga.
The Cultural Routes programme is a Council of Europe cooperation programme in the fields of culture, heritage and tourism. It was established in 1987 to strengthen a shared European identity and cultural cooperation. By 2023, 47 Cultural Routes had been established, extending across 60 countries both within and beyond Europe and illustrating the closely intertwined histories of European countries, as well as Europe’s shared heritage and cultural diversity.
The Cultural Routes programme provides Estonia with an opportunity to participate in an international network and cooperate with similar sites and organisations across Europe. Five Cultural Routes currently pass through Estonia: the Hansa Route, the Viking Route, the European Cemeteries Route, the St. Olav Way, and, most recently, the Alvar Aalto Route, initiated by Finland in 2021. A Cultural Route of Lighthouses is currently being developed with Estonian participation, while Finland and the Baltic States are jointly preparing a Cultural Route dedicated to the heritage of song.
Further information
Liina Jänes
International Cooperation Adviser, Ministry of Culture
628 2326
liina.janes@kul.ee
Foto: Wikimedia Commons. Villa Tammekann