Scotland, Malta, Spain: Catch dozens of cultural events at these country’s European Heritage days

This autumn, dozens of cultural events are taking place across Europe as part of the annual European Heritage Days, a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Commission. 

Over 40 countries on the continent are inviting the public to learn more about everything from national monuments to rituals and traditions. 

The events follow an annual theme, which this year is ‘Heritage of Routes, Networks and Connections’. 

"Every year the European Heritage Days unite millions of Europeans around their shared historical and cultural heritage,” says Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. 

“This is a great way to ensure that our common European heritage is understood, treasured, and protected for future generations, while at the same time bringing economic benefits to local communities through tourism."

Nations will highlight how the movement of people, ideas and cultures across time and space has shaped the built environment, monuments and streets as well as intangible cultural practices such as rituals, languages and food. 

This year’s programme kicked off in Lithuania and included the centenary of Baltic Song and Dance Celebrations. 

With a nod to the theme of routes, networks and connections, the country also shone a spotlight on the Baltic Way, a peaceful political demonstration that took place in 1989 and saw two million people create a human chain across Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Events in Austria, Belgium, Germany and Ireland have already finished, but there are still plenty more upcoming in other countries. 

This year’s Journées européennes du patrimoine follow the annual theme with activities about transport heritage, communication technologies and