Held on 19-20 June in Vilnius, Lithuania, in the framework of the Lithuanian presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the seminar was organised by the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, in cooperation with the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) and the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR).

The seminar was opened by H.E Simonas Kairys, Minister of Culture, Mr Karolis Žemaitis, Vice-Minister of Economy and Innovation, Ms Rasma Ramoškaitė, Director of United Nations, International Organisations and Human Rights Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr Vidmantas Bezaras, Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture. Ms Meltem Önhon welcomed participants as Chair of the Governing Board of the EPA. Professor Magda Antonioli, Vice-President of the European Travel Commission delivered the seminar keynote speech.

In addition to the modules provided by the Secretariat of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, Professor Mike Robinson, Chair of Cultural Heritage at the Nottingham Trent University led a series of training modules on the governance of the Cultural Routes and communication and branding.

Through the participation of experienced specialists in the fields of Cultural Routes, including the cultural heritage and tourism and representatives of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, the seminar strengthened professional capacities for the effective design, implementation, and management of Cultural Routes at national level in line with the guidelines established by the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme.

The training seminar welcomed contributions from the representatives of 10 Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, including the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Routes, the European Route of Jewish Heritage, the Hansa, the Impressionnisms Routes, the European Fairy Tale Route, Iron Curtain Trail – Eurovélo 13, Destination Napoléon, the European Cemeteries Route, the Route of Saint Olav Ways and the Via Francigena.

The seminar, attended by over 120 national and local stakeholders, provided effective tools and resources for identifying, supporting, and extending certified Cultural Route networks across Lithuania.

Further information is available at the following address: https://kpd.lrv.lt/en/international-cooperation/training-seminar-for-enlarged-partial-agreement-of-cultural-routes-of-the-council-of-europe-national-stakeholders/