Celebrate European Heritage Days 2023 in the (un)rest land!

During European Heritage Days from the 8th to the 10th of September, more than 60 cultural heritage sites will be open to visitors all across Latvia.

Visitors can choose to embark on indoor and outdoor excursions – explore cellars or climb towers, hike up ancient hillforts with archaeologists, participate in orienteering competitions, or embark on walking and cycling tours.

For those who prefer a more peaceful approach to culture, there are lectures, concerts, and public discussions, along with an exclusive opportunity to converse with passionate owners of cultural monuments. You can also explore exhibitions, discover the cultural heritage of different religions, enjoy art in manors, churches, castles, and museums.

The event’s overarching theme, reflecting a century of heritage protection systems, is represented by a collection of objects that visitors can explore, encompassing industrial heritage, as well as architectural, artistic, archaeological, historical, and urban heritage.

Each of these objects represents a part of the history of cultural monument protection in Latvia, telling stories of recognizing value and persistent efforts in preservation.

European Heritage Days offer a chance to discover the unknown places with fresh eyes.For a more detailed program of events in Kurzeme, please visit: www.nkmp.gov.lv

The European Heritage Days are the most widely celebrated participatory cultural event shared by the people of Europe. The Council of Europe launched the initiative in 1985, and in 1999 was joined by the European Union to create the joint action, which has continued up to the present day. Conceivably, the Programme, which can boast up to 20 million visitors every year, generates the greatest value, Euro for Euro, of any “European” cultural project.

Held in September each year, EHD events – often called Heritage Open Days – take place in the countries party to the European Cultural Convention. During this time, doors are opened to numerous monuments and sites, allowing Europe’s citizens to enjoy free visits and learn about their shared cultural heritage and encouraging them to become actively involved in the safeguard and enhancement of this heritage for present and future generations.

The aims of the European Heritage Days are to:

• raise the awareness of European citizens to the richness and cultural diversity of Europe
• create a climate in which the appreciation of the rich mosaic of European cultures is stimulated
• counter racism and xenophobia and encourage greater tolerance in Europe and beyond the national borders
• inform the public and the political authorities about the need to protect cultural heritage against new threats
• inform the public and the political authorities about the need to protect cultural heritage against new threats
• invite Europe to respond to the social, political and economic challenges it faces‍‍