The MINES.B Federation took part in the 14th Annual Advisory Forum on the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, held from 22 to 24 October 2025 in the evocative landscape of Cappadocia, Türkiye. This year’s edition, particularly significant as it marked the 25th anniversary of the European Landscape Convention, brought together more than 400 international experts in tourism, culture, and heritage enhancement.
The Forum focused on the theme “Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe and Landscapes: Advancing Heritage Protection through Cultural and Sustainable Tourism”, highlighting the essential role of cultural routes as instruments for safeguarding landscapes, revitalising territories, and promoting a more conscious and sustainable form of tourism. For the MINES.B Federation, it was a valuable occasion to engage with institutions, researchers, and representatives of other European routes, deepening discussions on strategies, methodologies, and governance models relevant to the growth of the network, especially in view of its official application to the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Programme in 2026.
During the working sessions, participants reflected on the importance of a participatory, landscape-based approach capable of placing local communities at the centre of decision-making processes. A strong emphasis was placed on the need to develop new, more inclusive narratives of heritage—narratives that give voice to the diverse memories and cultural identities of each territory. Equally central was the theme of sustainability, expressed in the management of tourist flows, the valorisation of local crafts and productions, the protection of landscapes, and the creation of economies rooted in culture and tradition.
Participation in the cultural activities organised during the Forum, such as the visit to the renowned Love Valley, enabled MINES.B representatives to observe first-hand successful examples of integration between landscape, heritage, and high-quality tourism experiences.
The Forum concluded by reaffirming a vision of Europe that regards its landscapes as a living heritage to be protected through cultural cooperation and sustainable tourism policies. For the MINES.B Federation, this represents further motivation to continue the work underway, strengthening international collaborations and developing projects capable of uniting preservation, research, community engagement, and the enhancement of Europe’s mining heritage.
