Towards ‘Cultural Route of the Council of Europe’ certification in 2026

On Friday 15 November 2024, the Musée Hugues de Payns hosted a press conference entitled ‘Towards Cultural Route of the Council of Europe certification in 2026’, presented by Valéry Denis, President. He outlined the Federation’s recent progress and its ambitions for the 2025/2026 period.

Created in 2016 on the initiative of the Conseil départemental de l’Aube and the City of Tomar, the Templar Heritage Route brings together around forty institutional, private and associative members. More than just a route, the TREF aims to reconstruct the impressive network of commanderies and fortresses built by the Order of the Temple in the 12th and 13th centuries across our continent, a history that is still part of the shared culture of Europe and the Middle East.

Since 2023, the presidency of the association has been held by the Conseil départemental de l’Aube, with the ambition of coordinating the bid to become one of the Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes.

In 2026, the Federation will therefore be a candidate for ‘Cultural Route for the Council of Europe’ certification.

Context

Thanks to the involvement of its members, in 2026 the European Route of Templar Heritage will apply for certification as one of the Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes.

Launched by the Council of Europe in 1987, the Cultural Routes demonstrate, by travelling through time and space, that the heritage of different European countries contributes to the common cultural heritage. In 2024, the Council of Europe will have 48 Cultural Routes, with a wide variety of themes illustrating European memory, history and heritage, and helping to interpret the diversity of today’s Europe.

The Cultural Routes are regularly assessed and certified by the Council of Europe, based on compliance with a number of criteria:

– a theme representative of European values and common to at least three European countries;

– transnational and multidisciplinary scientific research;

– the promotion of European memory, history and heritage, and a contribution to the interpretation of Europe’s current diversity;

– support for cultural and educational exchanges for young people;

– the development of exemplary and innovative projects in the field of cultural tourism and sustainable cultural development;

– the development of tourism products and services aimed at different groups.

Through this certification, the European Cultural Routes benefit from:

– quality assurance ;

– networking ;

– communication visibility

– access to funding opportunities;

– access to Council of Europe events and training.