Submissions for European Heritage Days Stories 2024 could also apply for a grant of up to 10 000 EUR to further develop their work through activity-focused community projects. Details of the eight awarded stories and their upcoming plans can be found below. 

V4+V Virtual Train Journey – Cultural Studies Platform CULTstore, Serbia

The railways in the Vojvodina region developed in the 19th century, bringing with them economic development and cultural progress. But with the emergence of cars, many of the routes were out of use by the end of the 20th century. This project aims to allow young people to re-discover these abandoned stations and railroads, using digital technology to travel through space and time and explore the railway heritage of Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Serbia.

Planned initiatives include an online virtual railway route, in-situ interactive workshops and a photo competition for young people, with the winning entries to be displayed during European Heritage Days 2024. 

The Journey of Fairy Tales From Ancient Times to the Present Day – European Fairy Tale Route, Italy

This story is about the importance of fairy tales to cultural heritage across Europe and the role of fairy tales as an intercultural educational tool for children. It explores how the European Fairy Tale Route – a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe – highlights characters, authors and places which feature in the narratives, as well as the traditions, cultural identities and values that these tales convey. 

Proposed activities will see places along the Fairy Tale Route reach a wide audience of all ages through theatre and storytelling activities at local, national and cross-border levels.

Reviving Tradition: A Journey Through Kuldiga's Historical Gardens and the Green Revival – Kuldiga District Council, Latvia

From the loss of courtyard atmospheres to knowledge about plant species, this story highlights the disappearing gardening traditions in the Latvian city of Kuldiga. Responding to this, in 2023 this project created an example of a traditional garden, blending historical and modern elements to help inspire local residents to create and maintain their own gardens and preserve the cultural heritage and sustainability of the old town.

The Geometry of Light. Teaching Resources for All – Centro Arrupe - Iglesia Jesuitas Valencia, Spain

The old chapel of the San José school in Valencia was built in the late 19th century in the neo-Byzantine style. Now being used as a multicultural community space, over 700 square metres of stained glass are being restored as part of a programme of architectural consolidation. The work will also provide an opportunity to highlight the historical-artistic values of the glass, as well as considering how to make visits more inclusive and accessible.

Further developments will create teaching materials, educational programmes and international school exchanges. The venue also plans to host open days and visits for the public to learn about the art and science of the restoration work.

Canvas Encounters: Encounters on Canvas – Herakleidon Museum, Greece

This story describes the journey through Europe of Alissa, a child of Syrian asylum seekers looking to find her parents in Sweden. Initially travelling with her grandmother who taught her traditional sewing and embroidery techniques, her story is the inspiration for an exhibition focussing on themes of migration, clothing and textile heritage.

Alongside the exhibition, an illustrated children’s book is being written and promotional media will be produced, while guided tours of the exhibition as well as seminars and professional training in traditional textile techniques will also take place.

Echoes of Tradition: Reviving Europe's Transhumance Legacy – Ecomuseum Zagori, Greece

This initiative aims to preserve and promote the cultural identity of transhumance practices, which involves the movement of livestock between seasonal pastures. Over ten days, a group of participants immersed themselves in the customs and traditions of transhumance through lectures and workshops to reconstruct a hut which would have traditionally been used to provide temporary shelter.

To further raise awareness about the cultural significance of transhumance, the project is now focusing on an in-person and digital exhibition featuring photos and videos which particularly looks at the role of women.

Urban Gardening: Harvest Time in the City – Lviv Tourism Office, Ukraine

This story looks at the history of urban gardening in Lviv, and in particular the significance of vegetable growing since the 19th century. It explains that with increasing urbanisation the number of vegetable gardens in the city has declined in the past 20 years, but that the recent creation of a city garden in a local park and renewed interest in urban gardening across Europe show how gardening is adapting in the 21st century.

The project will document the disappearing forms of gardens in the city through the personal stories of garden owners, while a series of public presentations, workshops and a gardening club aims to help engage young people and highlight current opportunities for urban gardening.

Mills to Megawatts: A Journey of Wind Energy Across Europe – The Mills Archive Trust, United Kingdom

Set 100 years in the future, the story of ‘Molina Duvent and the Lost Seed of Svalbard’ visualises Europe on the brink of destruction due to the climate crisis. In the story, an environmental scientist is tasked with taking a seed from the Svalbard Global Seed Vault back through time to track the development of renewable energy and encourage people of the past to work together.

Building on this story, the project aims to build and share an interactive map to connect countries, sites, individuals and community groups and document the development of wind energy to create an archive of information for future generations.

Read all of the European Heritage Days Stories.