Nova Gorica, Gorizia, 14–16 April 2025 – As part of the Ljubka’s Trail project, implemented by FSK in cooperation with its partner, the Lojze Bratuž Cultural Centre from Gorizia, an international conference titled Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe: Identifying and Preserving Cultural Heritage in Border Areas was held in Nova Gorica and Gorizia. The event brought together representatives of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe from eight countries, experts from various fields, local community representatives, and a representative of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia.
Participants emphasized the importance of cross-border cooperation and the role of cultural routes and cultural tourism in connecting communities. The conference also sought to foster synergies between two European programmes: the European Capital of Culture (ECOC) and the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. Attendees were introduced to Ljubka’s Trail, a cross-border literary route celebrating poetry and equality. This project is funded by the Interreg Italy–Slovenia Small Projects Fund and is part of the official ECOC GO! 2025 programme. Ljubka’s Trail will also be a new addition to the Women Writers’ Route, which honors the contribution of women writers to the literary and cultural heritage of this multicultural region.
The conference opened with welcoming addresses by the Mayors of Nova Gorica and Gorizia, Samo Turel and Rodolfo Ziberna, along with Meltem Onhon, Chair of the Board of the Partial Enlarged Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. Dr. Andreja Rihter, Director of FSK and Chair of the Women Writers’ Route, and Franka Žgavec, Chair of the Lojze Bratuž Cultural Centre, also addressed the participants. During the opening session, Mija Lorbek, Director of ECOC, presented the GO! 2025 project.
Four panel discussions focused on intercultural integration, the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe and ECOC programmes, and sustainable tourism. Key speakers included Dr. Stojan Pelko, ECOC Programme Manager; Dr. Katja Mihurko, Chair of the Scientific Council of the Women Writers’ Route; Dr. Ezster Csonka-Takács from Hungary, a member of the Board of the Partial Enlarged Agreement; and Irena Marš from the Slovenian Ministry of Culture. Representatives of eight Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe also took part, including five presidents and one chairperson, representing the Women Writers’ Route, the Leonardo da Vinci Route, the Fairy Tales Route, the European Cemeteries Route, the St. Martin’s Route, the Iron Age Route in the Danube Region, the ATRIUM Route, and the Historic Cafés Route. Researchers, lecturers, and tourism professionals from the Goriška and Tolminska regions further enriched the programme.
As part of the conference, participants also attended the opening of the Cross-border St. Martin’s Route, a new walking trail developed within the SPF Interreg GO Walking project and part of the St. Martin’s Cultural Route.
The project is funded by the European Union through the Small Project Fund GO! 2025 of the Interreg VI-A Italy-Slovenia 2021-2027 programme, managed by the EGTC GO.
www.ita-slo.eu; www.euro-go.eu/spf
