Source: ELLET
An ambitious vision and close collaboration led to success for the Paths of Culture program and to its recognition with a Europa Nostra 2019 Award in the category of Education, Training and Awareness-Raising.
The collaboration took place between the Hellenic Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage and local municipalities, institutions, and residents, and their ambitious vision was for a way to highlight Greece's cultural heritage and natural beauty.
The European Heritage Awards/Europa Nostra 2019 Awards ceremony was held on October 29, 2019 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, under the auspices of French President Emmanuel Macron.
Paths of Culture is a comprehensive program run by the Hellenic Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage to maintain, clean, sign, and connect trails following routes of particular environmental or cultural importance to Greece. The trails covering a total of 658 km, highlighting various elements of the country’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) has partnered with the Hellenic Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage in this effort since its inception. Specifically, SNF has supported work on Paths of Culture in Thrace that cover a total of 104 km, comprising a path connecting the Nestos River with Rhodope—the so-called Nestos-Rodopi trail—and four complementary routes which also include a bike route along the river. Like other Paths of Culture, this project, which was inaugurated in early June 2019 with a three-day festival, aims to extend the tourist season to create new jobs and to improve health and quality of life for residents and visitors alike.