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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

 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.

 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.