Lista de
Patrimonio Europeo

Presentation

The creation of the European Heritage List is an initiative that aims to promote the European aspect of cultural assets, monuments and rural and urban areas and locations that have played an essential part in our common history and Europe's heritage.

The List aims to encourage the promotion, protection and preservation of our rich European heritage and, at the same time, underline the importance of our heritage for improving understanding of the history of the continent.

Cultural heritage is one of the basic elements in our identity, and today's Europe is the fruit of continuous exchanges and dialogue that has taken place between European territories throughout the centuries.

The initiative of creating a European Heritage List was launched in April 2006 by the Ministries of Culture of France, Hungary and Spain at the "Europe for Intercultural Dialogue" meeting. A few days afterwards it was submitted to the European Union's Council of Ministers of Culture and incorporated into the European agenda.

March 2007 was chosen for the launch of this programme, as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of the signature of the Treaty of Rome, on the 25th of the month.

In the future, the objective is to increase the list with new additions and to create a network including all places designated as European Heritage so that joint cultural activities can be carried out.