European Heritage Days - Ευρωπαϊκές ημέρες πολιτιστικής κληρονομιάς

Theme for 2024: Routes, Networks and Connections

Θέμα 2024: Ανιχνεύοντας Διαδρομές, Δίκτυα και Δεσμούς στην Πολιτιστική Κληρονομιά

Dates: 27-29 Σεπτεμβρίου 2024

Greece is celebrating the European Heritage Days with the shared European theme for this year “Routes, Networks and Connections” paraphrased as “Tracing Routes, Networks and Connections in Cultural Heritage”, on 27-29 September.

The theme coincides with the 70th anniversary of the European Cultural Convention (Paris, 1954), marking its profound impact on European cultural cooperation and  highlighting the European

dimension and value of cultural heritage in the signatory States through the intricate web of cultural connections that have evolved over the past seven decades.

This year’s theme covers aspects of both tangible and intangible heritage that reflect the ways that communities, peoples and countries have variously been connected in the course of time creating bonds depicted on common values, practices and achievements which are preserved until today and possibly shape our way of life. In this context, people aim at protecting and promoting stories and lands that compose their individual and collective memory· from buildings and monuments, streets and houses until gastronomy, rituals and languages, all have been generated from peoples’ moving in Europe and beyond it. 

The theme offers an opportunity for exploring heritage through two directions:

- the physical routes that people have followed during their movements in times of war and peace (for conquests, trade, pilgrimage, crops, discoveries), as well as the traces their presence has left on other lands or the influences they have received from other communities

- thematic connections and ties, such as ideas, values and practices, generated and shaped by the need of people to create bonds and networks in the past, many of which are still present (e.g. religion, sporting events, festivals, etc.).

Apart from telling stories regarding the past, this year’s celebration is also an opportunity for dynamic exploration of today’s existing or new routes, networks and connections in modern societies in an attempt to identify shared features, interests, values and expectations, which all generate the modern tangible and intangible culture.

European Heritage Days 2024 will be celebrated in Greece from 27 until 29 September with the majority of events being with physical presence of visitors while there will also be some digital ones that will broadcast in real time or not through the electronic media of the organising institutions and will also be hosted at the country’s social media pages (https://www.facebook.com/EHDaysGR/, https://www.instagram.com/ehpk_greece/).

On Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September, entry will be free of charge to all state archaeological sites, museums and monuments for all visitors.