The European cultural routes are identified by the Council of Europe and the European Institute of Cultural Routes under the Cultural Routes Programme of the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe adopts new themes and routes, approves networks, awards Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. As a technical body, the European Institute of Cultural Routes is in charge of examining the new proposals of cultural routes, monitoring field activities and coordinating the partner organisations and disseminating and archiving information documents.

The European Cultural Routes are based on a set of shared values raising the awareness of European cultural identity and European citizenship. They retrace the history of the influences, exchanges and developments which have shaped European cultures. The routes are an instrument to safeguard and enhance the cultural and natural heritage, to improve the quality of life. The routes cross the continent and pass over the northern parts of Africa and Asia Minor extending the cultural exchange with neighbouring continents as well.

Information source: The Council of Europe Cultural Routes brochure, 2004

Architecture without Frontiers: Rural Habitat

Parks and Gardens, landscape

Saint Martin de Tours: a great European figure, a Symbol of sharing

The Cluniac Sites in Europe (Monastic influence)

The Hansa

The Iron Route in The Pyrenees (Industrial Heritage in Europe)

The Jewish Heritage Routes

The Legacy of Al-Andalus

The Mozart Route (Historical and Legendary Figures of Europe)

The Route of the Castilian Language and its Expansion in the Mediterranean (The Sephardic Routes)

The Routes of the Olive Tree

The Santiago De Compostela Pilgrim Routes

The Schickhardt Route (Historical and Legendary Figures of Europe)

The Via Francigena (Pilgrim Routes)

The Via Regia

The Viking Routes (Vikings and Normans)

The Wenzel and Vauban Routes (Military Architecture in Europe)