Tomorrow, thousands of buildings and cultural sites across Europe will open their doors for the European Day of Cultural Heritage 2025. With over 20 million visitors a year, it is one of the most popular cultural events in Europe. This year, interest is focused on architecture, not only as a legacy to be preserved, but as the living story of how communities live, adapt from generation to generation, and shape a more viable future. The event invites us to take a broader look at what buildings mean in practice: how they are constructed, who serve, how they grow old and how they reflect the changing needs from society to society.

Everyone is invited to participate in events that take place throughout Europe: guided tours, exhibitions, workshops, performances and digital experiences that are aimed at people of all ages.

“Throughout Europe, the identity of every village, every small and large city, is shaped by its architecture. It makes sense, as well as the feeling that we belong to the place we consider our homeland. “said Glenn Mikalev, Commissioner for Intergenerational Justice, Youth, Culture and Sport. “The way we protect and appreciate our architectural heritage reflects the kind of Europe we want to leave to future generations. Maintaining this heritage presupposes to honor our past, while at the same time building a more inclusive cultural, social and environmental future. “

European days of cultural heritage were developed by the Council of Europe in 1989, and the Commission joined the venture in 1999. It is a common initiative co -funded by the European Union’s “Creative Europe” program. The Commission’s annual contribution is EUR 400,000, half of the total annual budget of the program.

In addition to the events, every year, the European Awards for the Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards are awarded to remarkable achievements, promote optimal practices and set new standards for the preservation and promotion of Europe’s material and intangible heritage. For 2025, at the European Cultural Heritage Awards ceremony on October 13 in Brussels, 30 winners from 24 countries will be announced.

Korina Georgiou