Luxembourg, 6-7 May 2025 - In its annual meeting for 2024-2025, the Governing Board of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on the Cultural Routes of Europe granted three new certifications, growing the total of Cultural Routes awards to 49.
The Pyrenean Freedom Routes include 12 routes across ten countries: Andorra, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom. They symbolise “resistance, solidarity and courage” for the 55,000 women and men crossing the Pyrenees during World War II.
The Romea Strata is a network of routes in seven countries: Austria, Czechia, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland. They promote sustainable travel and connect sacred sites, cultural landmarks and rural communities, as a legacy of centuries of cultural exchange forging a shared European identity, from the Baltic Sea and Central Europe to Rome.
The Saint Francis Ways expand through 13 countries: Croatia, France, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Malta, Palestine, Portugal, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Spain and the United States of America. The network connects paths walked by Saint Francis himself with a wide range of universities and cultural sites linked with the Franciscans, transforming "a spiritual legacy into a shared European heritage".
The Board congratulated eight existing Cultural Routes for renewal of their certification:
- European Route of Megalithic Culture
- Alvar Aalto Route – 20th Century Architecture and Design
- Huguenot and Waldensian trail
Certification was withdrawn for the Routes of the Olive tree and the Via Romea Germanica due to lack of compliance with the relevant certification criteria.
Find more here
Image featuring Saint Francis Ways © Council of Europe 2025
