Photo: European Heritage Days Belgium, Wallonia; credits: Vincent_Rocher©SPW-AWaP

Austria: 29th September

Taking place on the last Sunday in September, this year’s Monument Day in Austria, Tag Des Denkmals, will be celebrating craftsmanship and restoration skills through the theme ‘HAND//WORK thought+made’. A series of free events will open the doors to both well-known buildings and places normally closed to the public to raise awareness of sustainable monument preservation activities and traditional restoration techniques.

Armenia: 14th – 15th September

Events as part of this year’s Եվրոպական ժառանգության օրեր in Armenia will be taking part in the shared Routes, Networks and Connections theme. Involving over 100 cultural organisations, a varied programme will see events such as concerts and performances as well as walks and lectures. The launch event takes place at the ‘Areni Wine’ winery where visitors can get acquainted with the traditions and tastes of Armenian wine making. Another highlight is an exhibition of urban landscape paintings showcasing different graphic techniques and documenting Armenian and other European cities through the 20th century. 

Belgium: dates vary by area

Open Monumenten Dag on the 8th September in Flanders is inspired by the shared theme to explore how people and ideas are always in motion under the motto, ‘En Route!’. Highlights in the host city of Leuven include a visit to St. Jacob’s Church to discover its role as a pilgrim stop and as a community meeting place, as well as a tour of the architectural gems of KU Leuven which welcomes thousands of university students to the city each year. Other programmes will also be running in Wallonia and Brussels, with details expected soon.

Croatia: September – October

The theme ‘The Heritage that Connects - Cultural Routes and Networks!’ will be the basis of events for Dani europske baštine in Croatia. Taking place across two months, over 130 events are planned at 66 locations across the country, including a poetry route using QR codes around Donja Stubica and an escape-room activity for high school students using clues in the Museum of Slavonia’s artefacts to explore cultural exchange from the prehistoric to middle ages. This year, organisers are also particularly highlighting an exhibition about the impact of earthquakes on cultural heritage and the renovation of buildings in Sisak-Moslavina County which were damaged in 2020. 

Czech Republic: 7th – 15th September

Taking inspiration from the shared theme, this year’s European Heritage Days in the Czech Republic, Dny evropského dědictví will see events take place looking at how ‘Monuments Connect the World’. The programme is launching in Klášterec nad Ohří a day early with guided tours of the town’s architecture and history, while craft markets and an exhibition will put a special focus on the area’s tradition of porcelain production.

Estonia: 20th – 22nd September

For 2024, Muinsuskaitsepäevad in Estonia is taking part in this year’s shared Routes, Networks and Connections theme, with the motto ‘Let’s Keep in Touch’. Taking place across three days, events are focusing on historical roads, transport, communication and networks. Activities include a river trip along the Emajõi river in a newly built barge, a lecture about historical maps related to Lääne-Viru County, a behind-the-scenes tour at Narva Museum to discover communications related collections and a postcard writing activity at Varbuse post station.

Finland: September

The 2024 programme for Cultural Environment Days in Finland, Kulttuuriympäristöpäivät will be focusing on the shared theme. Visitors can expect to explore historic, cultural and tourist routes, discover nature trails and connect with networks of groups and communities, with events including a tour of a lighthouse ship and visits for children to learn about the history of communication technologies at the Radio and TV museum.

France: 21st – 22nd September

This year’s Journées européennes du patrimoine,  in France can take part in two themes, including Routes, Networks and Connections with activities about transport heritage, communication technologies and cultural practices such as transhumance routes. Other events will be exploring ‘Maritime Heritage’, with lighthouses, ports and boats set to take part, while visitors can also learn more about underwater archaeology, aquaculture and festivals relating to the sea.

Germany: 8th September

This year’s theme for Open Monument Day in Germany, Tag des offenen Denkmals is ‘True Signs. Witnesses of History’. Events across the country will focus on landmark buildings which represent historic events, shape city skylines or which have become an iconic representation of their location. The personal emotional meanings of places such as religious buildings and green spaces will also be explored, as well as the knowledge about the past which can be found in historic structures from industrial buildings to residences.

Greece: 27th – 29th September

Taking place across a long weekend, events for Ευρωπαϊκές ημέρες πολιτιστικής κληρονομιάς in Greece will be exploring the topic of ‘Tracing Routes, Networks and Links in Cultural Heritage’. Most events are in-person and will include free entry to all state archaeological sites, museums and monuments on the Saturday and Sunday. There will also be some digital events taking place at participating organisations and via the Greek European Days of Cultural Heritage social media pages.

Ireland: 17th – 25th August

Through the shared theme, events this year will be uncovering both physical and cultural connections to explore how we are connected to each other. Events include a walking tour tracing the footsteps of pilgrims and highlighting the series of holy wells in Kilkenny, while a family-friendly event at a model railway museum in County Dublin will see children creating their own dream railway using toy tracks and locomotives. 

Hungary: 21st – 22nd September

In Hungary, events for this year’s Kulturális Örökség Napjai are taking part in the shared annual theme. Over 450 events are planned across the country, including entry to the Underground Railway Museum in Budapest to discover the first underground railway built on the continent, an Iron Age archaeological walk in cooperation with the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe’s Iron Age Danube Route, and a visit to the Radio and Television Museum in Diósd to discover its collections of recording and transmission technologies. 

Iceland: September

Events for Menningarminjadagar Evrópu in Iceland are running throughout September. This year’s focus is on the shared theme of Routes, Networks and Connections with a focus on shared cultural heritage and communication between communities. Online projects include the Reykjavík Museum of Photography which will be publishing a daily photo relating to the theme on its social media platforms, while in-person events include a family-friendly craft workshop to create Viking ships and facemasks. Visitors can also enjoy a self-guided walk on the centuries-old footpath crossing the Vaðlaheiði mountain and a historian-led guided walk along an ancient road connecting local farms in Reiðskarð.

Italy: 28th – 29th September

Giornate Europee del Patrimonio in Italy will this year be exploring ‘Heritage on the Move’, with daytime and evening events taking place across the weekend, including entry to state museums at a reduced rate of €1 on the Saturday evening. Over 1,000 events are expected across the two days including an exhibition of cartographic documents from the State Archives of Alessandria, an educational gamified workshop based on the Appian Way and guided tours around the monumental garden of the National Archaeological Museum of Florence to show the journeys and travels which link the museum’s collections. 

Latvia: 6th – 8th September

The theme for this year’s Eiropas kultūras mantojuma dienas in Latvia is ‘Accessibility and Safety of Cultural Heritage’. The theme focusses on the accessibility and availability of cultural heritage, particularly for disabled people, as well as public awareness and responsibility for its preservation. Coordinated by the National Heritage Board of Latvia, events include a visit to the 19th century fire station building in Daugavpils, tours of the National Library of Latvia to hear about its architectural, accessibility and security aspects, and a tour of Dobele Castle to learn how conservation work has made the ruins accessible to the public. 

Lithuania: 6th – 15th September

During a ten-day long programmes of events, Europos paveldo dienos in Lithuania will be exploring the theme ‘Cultural Heritage: Connections, Influences, Paths’ by revealing heritage stories in their geographical and historical context. The launch event takes place in Vilnius Church of the Holy Spirit with a series of presentations including a look at the European influences of the building. More than 200 events are taking place this year including a 5km hike along a historic postal road, a tour of the tram routes in Klaipėda to learn about how this type of transport impacted the city’s development and an open day at the Vytautas Magnus University Botanical Garden which is part of the new European Route of Historical Pharmacies and Medicinal Gardens.

Liechtenstein: 7th September

This year will see the 32nd European Heritage Day in Liechtenstein, Europa-Tage des Denkmals. An itinerary of scheduled activities throughout the day will focus on the recent renovation and repair work undertaken at a 500 year old listed farmstead under the theme ‘Half a Millennium: Hofstätte Hintergass Vaduz’. Visitors will be able to take part in guided tours of the site to learn about the work from the project’s architect and monument preservation staff.

Luxembourg: 27th September – 6th October

Taking place from late September and into October, Journées européennes du patrimoine in Luxembourg’s European Heritage Days programme will be looking at the interconnections of European cultural heritage through the shared theme. The Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe are set to feature, as well as walks and guided tours exploring the routes, sites and links which have influenced tourist, regional, landscape and cultural heritage development. 

Malta: 4th - 14th October 

One of the highlights of Malta’s contribution to the European Heritage Days will be the Notte Bianca festival, organized by Festivals Malta. This annual event, which takes place on the first Saturday of October, is one of the country’s largest arts and culture celebrations. For one night, the entire city of Valletta transforms into a vibrant canvas of live performances, concerts, and art installations. The city’s streets, piazzas, churches, state palaces, and museums become dynamic venues, while cafés and restaurants extend their hours to accommodate the influx of visitors. From City Gate to Fort St. Elmo, Valletta comes alive in a spectacle that celebrates Malta's rich cultural heritage. As part of the European Heritage Days, Notte Bianca offers a unique opportunity to explore the cultural routes, networks, and connections that have shaped this historic city, all in an atmosphere of festivity and artistic expression.

Monaco: 14th – 15th September

The 29th edition of Journées Européennes du Patrimoine in Monaco will be exploring the shared Routes, Networks and Connections theme. Particularly highlighting its significance as a port and holiday destination, organisers plan to showcase Monaco’s role as a centre of cultural exchange through history and explore its architectural, artistic and religious heritage. Events include a historic train and bus excursion taking a cross-border route from France to Monaco, a look at the routes of marine currents and sea voyages at the Oceanographic Museum and a guided tour of the Audiovisual Institute of Monaco to discover its broadcasting spaces.

Montenegro: September

Dani evropske baštine in Montenegro will see 23 projects taking part in the programme this year, with a range of activities for both children and adults. Events exploring the shared annual theme, ‘Heritage that Connects – Cultural Routes and Networks’, will emphasise shared cultural and historic values and the connections between individuals and communities. Events include a library showcase of historical maps of Cetinje to explore the how the area’s cultural routes and networks evolved, a workshop for children to learn traditional fishing customs at the Maritime Museum of Montenegro and an event to connect new residents of Podgorica to share their cultural heritage stories through storytelling and making art.

Netherlands: 14th – 15th September

The slogan ‘On the Way!’ will be used by events taking part in the shared theme in the Netherlands this year during Open Monumenten Dag. Events will be looking at the idea of travelling and motion such as through time from the past to present, as well as the journeys visitors will be taking between monuments. The official opening will take place in Hilversum with a route of light projections and art linking historic buildings throughout the city.

Norway: 31st August – 8th September

This year’s Norwegian Cultural Memory Days, Kulturminnedagene will be based on the shared theme, exploring how both tangible and intangible heritage show that people, countries and culture have long been interconnected. Events include a trip on a replica 19th century boat to help visitors learn about historic transport routes along the Veafjorden and a walking trail linking buildings relating to artists in Voss such as homes, schools and workshops.

 Poland: 7th – 8th and 14th – 15th September

European Heritage Days in Poland, Europejskie Dni Dziedzictwa, this year will see events exploring Routes, Networks and Connections across two weekend in September. Thematic walks and events based on the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe are being encouraged, while other events will be particularly focussing on sign language and raising public awareness of the richness and diversity of deaf culture as part of the new Culture’s Creators project.

Portugal: 20th – 22nd September

Jornadas Europeias do Património in Portugal is taking part in this year’s shared theme Routes, Networks and Connections with a focus on unity and cultural and artistic influence and exchange over the centuries. Events include a joint tour of both the National Coach Museum and Tropical Botanical Garden in Lisbon to learn about the symbolism of plants in historic coach design and a tour of the Roman Pottery Factory of Quinta do Rouxinol exploring how pottery products can be used to trace ancient trade connections. 

 Romania: 21st September

Developed from the shared theme, Zilele europene ale patrimoniului in Romania this year will be based on ‘Cultural Corridors, European Routes of Heritage Objectives’ which recognises the movement and connections between people, goods and ideas since pre-historic times. Guided trails, opening of historic buildings and exhibitions about both built and intangible heritage can all be expected, as well as a variety of events designed for young people.

San Marino: 28th – 29th September

This year’s Giornate Europee del Patrimonio in San Marino takes place across the last weekend of September and will be exploring the shared theme of Routes, Networks and Connections. Events include a ride on the historic Treno Bianco Azzurro railway, a tour of the places and monuments of the Old Town and a guided walk retracing the steps of Saint Marinus to explore San Marino identity. Visitors can also enjoy free entry to a number of museums including the Emigrant Museum, the Stamp and Coin Museum and the Natural History Museum.

 Slovenia: 28th September – 12th October

As part of the shared theme, Dnevi evropske kulturne dediščine in Slovenia will be looking at both physical routes as well as exploring connections through common values, cultural practices and the sharing of stories which make up collective identities. Events include a children’s bike ride along the Cultural Route of St. Martin and a lecture about olfactory heritage discussing the importance of smells in cultural practices and shared memory.

 Spain: September – November

The shared theme will provide inspiration in Spain, with Jornadas Europeas de Patrimonio encouraging exploration of intercultural dialogue, physical and digital connections, and how the flow of people and ideas have influenced everything from buildings to food and language. Events include an underground wine tourism experience in the subterranean cellars of the wineries of Burgos and a series of itineraries connecting people with nature in Arlanza.

Sweden: 6th – 8th September

Cultural Heritage Day in Sweden, Kulturarvsdagen, is planning a weekend of events based on ‘Culture's Roads, Junctions and Meeting Places’. Events will explain historic changes to the landscape through the country’s extensive historic map collections, explore how digital technologies have created new ways to connect with each other, highlight examples of how cultural heritage traditions have developed over the years, and look at how roads and paths connect where and how we live, work and play.

Switzerland: 7th – 8th September

Under the theme ‘Connected’, events for European Heritage Days in Switzerland, Europäischen Tagen des Denkmals , will be exploring how networks have shaped cultural heritage throughout history. Old transport routes and historic buildings will be used to show what the built environment can tell us about the history of exchange and influences, with events including a hike across the medieval alpine route of the Septimer Pass and a guided tour around the town of Thun to see the guest houses and hotels which attracted 19th century tourists. 

United Kingdom: dates vary by area

European Heritage Days in Northern Ireland, Doors Open Days in Scotland and Heritage Open Days in England are all celebrating the shared Routes, Networks and Connections theme, while Open Doors in Wales will see historic sites offering free entry and guided tours across September. Events include a chance to go behind the scenes of emergency Air Ambulance helicopter services and discover the routes and connections of plants and animals at a nature reserve.