article | Reading time5 min
Cluny Abbey and the Museum of Art and Archaeology have been awarded the European Heritage Label.
With its exceptional richness, heritage is a tremendous asset for Europe: it illustrates a past made up of shared histories amongst Europeans. It promotes European values and helps to forge a sense of belonging to a present and a future to be built together. Would you like to gain a better understanding of the history of Europe or the European Union ?
– How was Europe built?– What are the values of the European Union ?
– What happens on 9 May, Europe Day ?
– What is my region or country doing for Europe, and vice versa ?
You’ll find answers to these questions (and many more) at the European Heritage Sites : 67 sites across 27 countries – go and discover them as soon as you can! All the sites offer heritage, cultural, historical or tourist activities to help you discover Europe, its history, its founding fathers and what unites us as European citizens.
© Fondation Carnegie, Palais de la Paix
The label is awarded to sites which, over the centuries, have contributed to the building of Europe or the creation of the European Union: castles, museums, houses, archives, abbeys, synagogues, churches, prisons, shipyards, poems, international treaties, concentration camps, mining complexes, theatres, student halls of residence…
European Heritage Sites are linked to people (famous or unknown), events (festive or tragic) or innovations (social, economic or scientific) that have helped to shape Europe. They tell the story of our shared history. Each one celebrates our ideals and European values: dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights.
© cg57
The designated sites form part of the extraordinary cultural heritage accumulated in Europe over the centuries. Deeply rooted in their local areas, they highlight the links between local history and the history of Europe, between regional characteristics and the European way of life, which shares many similarities across the continent.
These heritage sites help us to better understand the free movement of people, ideas and artists, the abolition of the death penalty and the creation of the major European institutions – everything that constitutes the common roots of Europeans, everything that fosters a sense of familiarity amongst them, and everything that contributes to the European dynamic.
For Europe is on the move, and culture is what gives meaning to the European project.
© CERD, Archives du Centre de la solidarité européenne
The European Heritage Label is a quality mark: educational programmes, signage, multilingual visitor services, innovative digital tools, artistic creations, activities, performances, events…
To successfully cater for all visitors – young people, families, French and foreign tourists, those from marginalised communities or with disabilities – the sites reveal stories, both told and untold, and offer permanent and temporary exhibitions, children’s workshops, guided tours, games and multimedia experiences; there’s something for everyone !
© Gopa Pace
If you’d like more information about our sites or if you know of a site that deserves the European Heritage Label, please don’t hesitate to contact us and join the European heritage family. Send us your photos or tag us on social media.
General@ehl-bureau.eu | www.ehl-bureau.eu | Facebook: European Heritage Label Bureau | Instagram: EHL.Bureau | LinkedIn: European Heritage Label Bureau | YouTube: European Heritage Label.
© Label Patrimoine Européen
