One of the first European Heritage Days programmes to launch this year is Europos paveldo dienos in Lithuania, where events will be exploring the shared theme by revealing heritage stories in their geographical and historical context. A video message from the Minister of Culture of Lithuania, Simonas Kairys announces the start of the season by welcoming visitors to Kaunas, noting the city’s recent inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its Modernist Architecture. This year will also see the centenary of the tradition of Baltic Song and Dance Celebrations in Lithuania, while the significance of the Routes, Networks and Connections theme is further stressed by highlighting the Baltic Way in which two million people created a living chain across Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia and the importance of preserving Ukrainian culture and heritage. Activities in Lithuania start on Friday 6th September and continue to the 15th. More information and the directory of events can be found online at europospaveldodienos.lt.

Programmes in other countries across the continent will continue into October, with opportunities for the public to discover how the movement of people, ideas and cultures across time and space have shaped the built environment, monuments and streets as well as intangible cultural practices such as rituals, languages and food. The Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe will be a particular focus for many events, with Routes, Networks and Connections offering the opportunity to explore a wide range of historic connections from pilgrim routes to aesthetic movements and technological innovations.

European Heritage Days is a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Commission. Commenting on the Routes, Networks and Connections theme and the overall impact of the programme in a press release, Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth said, "Every year the European Heritage Days unite millions of Europeans around their shared historical and cultural heritage. This new pan-European theme will put the focus on a cornerstone of European history: routes, networks, and other bridges among European territories. This is a great way to ensure that our common European heritage is understood, treasured, and protected for future generations, while at the same time bringing economic benefits to local communities through tourism."

Credit: Open Monumentendag

2024 also marks two significant anniversaries: the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe and the 70th anniversary of the European Cultural Convention. European Heritage Days will see events and activities considering how cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and mutual exchange have been strengthened over the past seven decades. “At the time when we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the organisation, as well as the 70th anniversary of the European Cultural Convention, the 2024 theme of the European Heritage Days is a powerful reminder of how our shared heritage continues to connect us across borders and through time, enriching our collective European identity and supporting the foundations of democracy”, explains Council of Europe Secretary General, Marija Pejčinović Burić. 

More information about what is being planned in a number of countries as part of this year’s European Heritage Days can be found here.