Image
EuroVelo 13 Iron Curtain Trail - New Council of Europe Culture Route
Published on 31 May 2020
Latvia
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
EuroVelo 13 - The Iron Curtain Trail - is one of the long-distance cycling routes of the EuroVelo network, and stretches from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea coast, covering over 10,400 km in 20 countries, both EU (14) and non-EU (6) states. The trail seeks to commemorate the political division of Europe to West and East before 1989 and promotes collective memory , as former border between the East and the West of the Warsaw-pact states , through cycling tourism, cultural and heritage tourism, and sustainable development.
To further promote the cycling route, because of the significant historic value, it was decided to apply for the official Council of Europe CoE Culture Route status in 2018, and following a thorough evaluation and field visits, the route has been certified as official CoE Culture Route in 2019.
To further promote the cycling route, because of the significant historic value, it was decided to apply for the official Council of Europe CoE Culture Route status in 2018, and following a thorough evaluation and field visits, the route has been certified as official CoE Culture Route in 2019.
Resources needed
The route application costs are estimated at 20 000 EUR, which includes the expert fees for drafting application, as well as expert participation at the relevant Council of Europe Culture Routes meetings, as well as the field visits, while the route is being evaluated.
Evidence of success
During the 9th Council of Europe Cultural Routes Annual Advisory Forum, which took place in Sibiu, Romania, on October 2, 2019, the EuroVelo 13 culture route was awarded the official Council of Europe Culture Route Status. The certification “Cultural Route of the Council of Europe” is a guarantee of excellence.
The route offers sustainable model for inter-regional and transnational cultural and tourism management and allows synergies between the authorities, SMEs, associations and other actors.
The route offers sustainable model for inter-regional and transnational cultural and tourism management and allows synergies between the authorities, SMEs, associations and other actors.
Potential for learning or transfer
The Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe are an invitation to travel and to discover the rich and diverse heritage of Europe by bringing people and places together in networks of shared history and heritage. They put into practice the values of the Council of Europe: human rights, cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and mutual exchanges across borders.
A minimum of 3 European countries can apply for the CoE Route status, thus, besides the current and certified routes, there is a vast potential for European regions to recognize a common historic landmarks, and further enhance the cooperation, covering a range of different themes, from architecture and landscape to religious influences, from gastronomy and intangible heritage to the major figures of European art, music and literature.
A minimum of 3 European countries can apply for the CoE Route status, thus, besides the current and certified routes, there is a vast potential for European regions to recognize a common historic landmarks, and further enhance the cooperation, covering a range of different themes, from architecture and landscape to religious influences, from gastronomy and intangible heritage to the major figures of European art, music and literature.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Vidzeme Tourism Association
Latvia
Latvija
Contact
Project Finance Manager