On 17th June in Paris, the exhibition on cultural routes of the Council of Europe was inaugurated at the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture, where the Via Francigena, certified in 1994, stands out.
The event has been organised within the French Presidency of the Council of Europe in partnership with the European Institute for Cultural Routes in Luxembourg.
The Minister of Culture, Franck Riester, recalled that “Tangible and intangible heritage is one of the founding elements of the construction of European culture. The 38 cultural routes of the Council of Europe cross borders and unite countries around common themes, promoting intercultural dialogue”.
The exhibition, open until 17th July, is a great opportunity to explore the European routes and to take an imaginary journey through Europen culture, from the Via Francigena to historic spa towns, from Cluniac sites to the Stevenson path, from the tour of the Impressionists to the Via di Carlo Magno.
The Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme was launched in 1987 and is today experiencing a phase of great revival through the Extended Partial Agreement (APA) which adds 33 countries to the network (including Italy, Switzerland, France) supporting the promotion of the same routes that cover a number of themes: heritage, landscape, music, art, pilgrimage, literature, architecture, peace and dialogue.
The routes, through a journey that combines space and time, material and immaterial culture, allow us to unite Europe, starting from its most important common denominator: namely the plurality of cultures that distinguish and unite it. They recall the founding values ​​of the Council of Europe: human rights, cultural democracy, intercultural dialogue, access to heritage, but they also become important vectors for the sustainable development of territories, 90% of which are included in rural areas and less known to the general public.
The European Association of Via Francigena Ways (EAVF) participated in the inauguration of the exhibition with Vice-President Martine Gautheron. The EAVF role, réseau porteur of the Via Francigena for the protection and enhancement of the route, is expanding in France thanks to the work of the Champlitte headquarters working with local authorities, tourist information offices, local associations and the French Federation of the Via Francigena. With regard to the path, a decision was made with the agreement between the EAVF and the Federazione Francese della Randonnée Pedestre with which they joined initiatives for the development of the route.
On the sidelines of the inauguration, the EAVF President, Massimo Tedeschi and Director Luca Bruschi, had an informal meeting with Isabelle Hurdubae, official of the Ministry of Culture and French delegate within the APA, to present the good practices of the Via Francigena , share the route development strategies in France and the UNESCO application dossier.
Info: 17th June-17th July 2019, from Monday to Friday 8:30 am – 8:00 pm
Where: Ministry of Culture, 182 rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
AEVF press release