Routes. Networks. Connections is the theme of this year’s 32nd European Heritage Days, which will begin this weekend. Exhibitions, concerts, tours, and fairs, as well as demonstrations of traditional crafts and handicrafts, are planned throughout the country. The events will take place all month long, with a special focus on two weekends in September: the 7th-8th and the 14th-15th.
European Heritage Days (EHD) is a cultural, social, and educational project that brings together thousands of participants in 48 European countries every September. Its goal is to promote cultural heritage among local communities and emphasize the shared roots of European culture.
In addition to the chance to experience monuments, sometimes inaccessible daily, EHD also offers meetings with the custodians of intangible heritage and an opportunity to popularize regional traditions and customs.
This year’s EHD theme, Routes. Networks. Connections, directly refers to the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe project, initiated in 1987, which Poland joined in 2017. Currently, it includes 47 routes, 17 of which run through our country – these include the Hanseatic Route, the Viking Route, the Jewish Heritage Route, the Via Regia, the European Cemeteries Route, the Cistercian Route, the Napoleonic Route, and the European Route of Historic Gardens.
The EHD program includes lectures, exhibitions, and talks, including:
- In the Mazovian Voivodeship – a lecture by Wawrzyniec Orliński titled “An Archaeological Look at the Serock Municipality” at the pavilion of the Historical Museum in Legionowo (8th September, 3:30 PM);
- In the West Pomeranian Voivodeship – an exhibition marking the 730th anniversary of the arrival of the Cistercians in Bierzwnik (14th September, 11:00 AM);
- In the Łódź Voivodeship – a presentation of the scientific project “Satellite Cities of Łódź” combined with a bicycle tour “The Historical Urban Layout of Zduńska Wola” (14th September, 3:00 PM).
The EHD events also feature concerts and performances in historic venues, including:
- In the Lower Silesian Voivodeship – the play “(NOT) Antigone” performed by the youth theater group “Bez antraktu” at Struga Palace (7th September, 6:00 PM);
- In the Opole Voivodeship – a chamber concert performed by the Opole Philharmonic ensemble (8th September, 6:00 PM);
- In the Silesian Voivodeship – choir performances called “HONOR to every SONG!” in various locations in Katowice (15th September, from 10:30 AM).
For those who want to travel back in time, historical reconstructions and reenactments have been prepared, including:
- In the Podlaskie Voivodeship – the historical festival “The Republic Through the Ages” in Supraśl (6th to 8th September);
- In the Silesian Voivodeship – the Gwarków Parade in Tarnowskie Góry (8th September, from 11:00 AM);
- In the Podlaskie Voivodeship – the Knights Tournament for the Ring of Princess Danuta by Lake Hańcza (14th September, from 12:00 PM).
Opportunities to engage with intangible heritage include traditional craft and handicraft demonstrations, such as:
- In the Mazovian Voivodeship – the Royal Craft Festival at the Museum of King Jan III’s Palace in Wilanów (14th-15th September);
- In the Małopolska Voivodeship – workshops on traditional Zielonki embroidery titled “In the Web of Threads” in Zielonki (7th September, from 10:00 AM);
- In the Mazovian Voivodeship – a demonstration of Kurpie embroidery from Puszcza Biała in Brok (7th September, from 9:00 AM).
For those who enjoy active time, we invite you to participate in tours, walks, bike rides, and orienteering games, such as:
- In the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship – a tour of the Amber Route in Gniewkowo titled “With the Romans for Amber and Warriors” (7th September, from 9:00 AM);
- In the Pomeranian Voivodeship – the “Craftsmen” orienteering game in Tczew (8th September, from 10:30 AM);
- In the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship – the event “On the Flint Route” at the Archaeological Museum and Krzemionki Reserve (8th September, from 11:00 AM).
For food lovers, feasts and fairs will be held where you can taste regional and traditional dishes, such as:
- In the Opole Voivodeship – the Kluczbork-Oleska Land Fair titled “Honey and Milk Flavors” (13th September, from 9:00 AM);
- In the Pomeranian Voivodeship – the fair “CUD MIÓD. Taste the Gifts of Summer. Along the Kashubian Flavor Route” in Lębork (14th-15th September);
- In the Małopolska Voivodeship – the open-air festival of local cultures of Southern Małopolska titled “Fruit Festival” in Raciechowice (15th September).
Check out the events happening in your area
You can find all the events planned for the 32nd edition of European Heritage Days in September on the website.