Project launch of UNESCO World Heritage Journeys at European Heritage Days

For the first time after 70 years of service to the heritage of humanity, UNESCO will open its doors to the general public the weekend of the 15th and 16th of September, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the European Heritage Days.

To mark this special occasion, UNESCO is launching World Heritage Journeys of the European Union- the first-ever web platform dedicated to World Heritage and sustainable travel. Supported by theEuropean Union, the platform features 34 selected World Heritage sites spread across 19 EU countries and has been developed in collaboration with National Geographic.

World Heritage Journeys invites travellers to journey along four cultural heritage itineraries — Royal Europe, Ancient Europe, Romantic Europe and Underground Europe — which intertwine to tell fascinating stories of Europe's heritage and history. The website has practical information and tools to support travellers in planning their European holidays based on local knowledge about the destinations’ cultural heritage.

World Heritage Journeys will also play a key role in attracting Chinese visitors to Europe for the 2018 EU/China Tourism Year, an initiative led by the European Commission and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China in collaboration with the European Travel Commission (ETC). The website is available in English, Chinese and French. The platform also contributes to the goals of the 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage.

Visit the UNESCO and National Geographic stand and photo exhibition at the European Heritage Days to learn more about this unique initiative. Over the weekend, UNESCO will also be offering tours of its buildings and gardens, including its extensive art collection. Visitors will be able to meet more than 20 international start-ups and learn more about how their innovative digital tech projects are working to preserve and restore heritage.