The fourth selection year of European Heritage Label has put a spotlight on 25 sites whose history speaks about Europe’s culture, traditions and development. The beautiful little Village of Schengen in Luxembourg, the Historical Centre of Turaida in Latvia and the fascinating Imperial Palace Innsbruck, Austria, are just some of the sites pre-selected for this prestigious acknowledgement.

With 29 heritage sites having been designated since 2013, European Heritage Label highlights the remarkable cultural and historic treasures of Europe. Enlisting the fascinating and often endangered monuments, historic objects and cultural landscapes, this recognition is one of the most important means of protecting and promoting European culture and shared values.

In April, 2017, 25 outstanding sites have been pre-selected to be added to this diverse list. The final selection will be made in 2018 by a European Panel of independent experts and under the responsibility of the European Commission. Commenting on this year’s selection, Tibor Navracsics, commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, reminded of the role these sites have in promoting shared European values: 

"The celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome last month were a powerful reminder that the European Union is built on values such as peace, freedom, tolerance, solidarity. These values must not be taken for granted, we have to work for them every day. All the sites on the European Heritage Label list promote these values and remind us of all those who fought to establish and preserve them. I look forward to celebrating the sites that will be added to the list during the European Year of Cultural Heritage in 2018."

The full list of pre-selected websites can be found here.

More information about European Heritage Label and the application process can be found on the official website of European Commission.