European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius
Summary of the prepared project phase implemented by the Zlín Region
The topic of Cyril and Methodius undoubtedly represents one of the most important milestones in Czech and
Slovak statehood. The Zlín Region has decided upon the occasion of an important Cyril and Methodius jubilee
to raise awareness of this topic and utilize it in preparing an international project: "Cultural Route of Saints Cyril
and Methodius". By its resolution number 0572/R16/12 of June 26 , 2012, the Council of the Zlín Region
approved the conceptual intention of the project "European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius"
(hereinafter ECR CM), the aim of which is to utilize the legacy of these saintly brothers and create a network of
regions, cities, educational and research institutions interconnecting historically important places of pilgrimage
and utilizing common cultural heritage for increasing competitiveness and attractiveness of the region. The
project objectives will be fulfilled by implementation of activities in five defined areas:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Cooperation in research and development
Strengthening consciousness, history and European Cultural Heritage
Cultural and educational exchange of young Europeans
Current cultural and artistic practice
Cultural tourism and sustainable development of culture
General topics of the ECR CM: reminding and creating inspiration about the Cyril and Methodius legacy,
assessing Christian traditions and culture with the Mission of Saints Cyril and Methodius and their successors;
interconnecting historically important places of pilgrimage and sacral monuments; support of Cyril and
Methodius culture and related fulfilment of basic elements, upon which Europe is built: human rights, training
and education, plurality of opinions while preserving one's own identity, dialog, mutual contacts and
enrichment spanning borders and centuries. The remembrance and challenge for the 21st century in applying
Saints Cyril and Methodius' legacy of reconciliation, awareness of ethical and moral values, friendly
coexistence, human development and respect, and the intrinsic dignity of every nation.
Experiences of the Zlín Region in implementing similar topics
1.
Amber Road
The Zlín Region has endeavoured for years to strike up international cooperation amongst regions to support
development of tourism. For example, the Zlín Region is using the potential of the historically important
Amber Road. It has implemented two projects in the past, Moravian Amber Road I and II.
Moravian Amber Road I - This project focused on developing tourism in areas of the Zlín Region and part of
the South Moravian Region. The project's main objective was to increase the share of tourism in the economic
prosperity of the region of Moravia and Silesia, and to promote this destination on the domestic and foreign
market. Implementing the project led to the necessary completion of the offer for attractions and services of
the entire region, and to targeted marketing of a newly formed supraregional product for eastern markets
(Russian-speaking countries). Moravian Amber Road II - Implementation of this project involved creation of a
new tourist product for the traditional source markets of the Zlín and Olomouc Region – Austria, Germany,
Italy, followed by sophisticated targeted marketing. The result was the strengthening of the consciousness
about the tourism offer of both regions amongst individual tourists and tour operators and travel agencies in
the given countries, and striking up further cooperation for implementing this offer.
2.
NECSTouR network
NECSTouR is a network European regions for sustainable and competitive tourism. The Zlín Region joined this
organization in January 2011. One of the motivations for the Zlín Region to enter this network was to engage in
the Work Group of the Cultural Route, whose aim is to support the task of culture routes within Europe and
jointly define the options and opportunities for development of regions. This work group engages in the
transfer of know-how, and creates a common instrument for quality improvement and management of
European culture routes.
3.
Cammini d’Europa
Together with the East-Moravian Tourist Authority, the Zlín Region became a member of Cammini d’Europa,
which focuses on territorial development, increasing historical, cultural and tourism importance, and on
support of these territories, through which pilgrimage and main European culture routes lead. This
cooperation led to creation of pilgrimage tourism products of Eastern Moravia, along with a presentation of
the Zlín Region, or destination of Eastern Moravia on the Web portal and catalogue Cammini d’Europa.
4.
European Institute of Cultural Routes
The European Institute of Cultural Routes is a central and coordinating institute for managing and
implementing the program "Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe". The institute prepares requests for
certification for the next approval process, evaluates existing routes, and documents the work of various
cultural routes here. The Zlín Region initiated contact with the institute in February 2012, where the parties
agreed on methodical assistance in preparing documentation for the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril
and Methodius in order to attain certification. The Zlín Region is also working with the institute in
implementing the project "European Cultural Routes – Transfer of Knowledge, Sharing the Solution (CERTESS)
Approved within the Program INTERREG IVC.
5.
Project CERTESS
The Zlín Region is a partner in the CERTESS Project within the framework of Operational Programme
International Cooperation (INTERREG IV C), focusing on creating a common methodical framework in the area
of development, management and quality improvement of European culture routes, applying development
and management tools aimed at supporting sustainable cultural tourism. The main project outcome will be an
implementation plan applied to cultural routes running through the region; in the case of the Zlín Region, an
implementation plan will be elaborated for the prepared European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and
Methodius.
Network of ECR CM partners
The topic of Cyril and Methodius has a European dimension, and is common for the countries of Central,
Eastern and South Europe. It is necessary to resolve the issue and implement the project on a European level,
engaging the relevant countries that were influenced by the Cyril and Methodius mission and culture. The aim
is to achieve an intercultural dialog of engaged countries, and common development of the Cyril and
Methodius ideal.
The Zlín Region held on July 3, 2012 the 1st International Conference on the project entitled "European
Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius" at Hotel U Skanzenu in the municipality of Modrá. During the
conference, the Zlín Region succeeded in initiating contact with foreign representative of both public and
private institutions from Greece, Slovenia, Slovakia and Italy. During the year, the network of partners gradually
expanded; delegations from the Zlín Region were sent to other countries (Greece, FYROM, Italy, Slovenia,
Bulgaria, etc.) to present the project. Today, the project has twelve partners who have signed the Declaration
of Cooperation, and now there are dozens of entities expressing interest in cooperation.
On July 25, 2013, the Zlín Region will hold the project's 2nd International Conference, this time in the
Velehrad House of Saints Cyril and Methodius at Velehrad, where around 50 participants from eight countries
are expected to attend. Topics to be presented include the importance of the Cyril and Methodius jubilee for
the present, a summary of the preparation phase of the project, the schedule of further steps and the project
management structure. The conference program will include a presentation of strategies for fulfilling objectives
in the five areas (pillars) of the project.
Origin of the professional association of legal entities ECR CM
In the interest of managing the preparation and implementation of ECR CM, the Zlín Region and the EastMoravian Tourist Authority will establish an organization for further expanding and developing the activities
implemented within the framework of this project. Establishing the professional association of legal entities
"European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius" according to the Civil Code of the Czech Republic,
which the Board of the Zlín Region approved by its resolution no. 0108/Z05/13 of April 24, 2013, is an
important step in part for effective management and implementation of the cultural route, but also for
fulfilment of one of the requirements of the Program of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. The
organization will associate national coordinators - partners from a number of cities and regions, who will be
members of the highest association body - the General Meeting. Rights and obligations of the members will be
given by the statutes. National coordinators in their given countries will manage the network of leaders of each
area. The executive component of the association will be a permanent secretariat led by a nominated director.
ECR CM certification
The program Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe was founded by the Council of Europe in 1987. Its aim
was to show, by means of a physical route across time and space, how heritage of various nations and cultures
in Europe contributes to our common cultural heritage. In December 2010, the Committee of Ministers of the
Council of Europe adopted the resolution CM/Res (2010)53 on establishing an Enlarged Partial Agreement on
Cultural Routes (EPA) for the purpose of closer cooperation between countries, especially with an interest in
developing cultural routes.
The EPA Governing Council provides recognition through issuing certification as a "Cultural Route of the
Council of Europe" and performs regular assessment of already certified routes in accordance with the
resolution of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (2010)52, which sets forth the rules for
awarding certification "Cultural Route of the Council of Europe". The route seeking certification must:
-
focus on a topic representing European values, which must be common for several European countries
-
adhere to historical routes, or (in the case of cultural tourism) create a new route
-
evoke long-term multilateral cooperation on projects in priority areas (science and research, maintaining
and strengthening cultural heritage, cultural and educational exchange of young Europeans, modern
cultural and artistic practice, cultural tourism and sustainable development of culture)
-
be managed by one or more independent networks (in the form of an association or a commonwealth
federation)
The technical body, the European Institute of Cultural Routes was created in 1998 for the operational
purposes of the program Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. Its task is to examine applications for new
projects for certification of cultural routes, to monitor activities in this area, to coordinate the work of partner
organizations and to archive documents. The Zlín Region has the ambition to develop the ECR CM project so
that it could submit the route for international certification within two years.