Gothic Route Initiative celebrates its European Heritage Award / Europa Nostra Award in Rožňava, Slovakia
The European Heritage Award / Europa Nostra Award granted to the Gothic Route Initiative from Slovakia was celebrated on 3 July in Rožňava, as part of the UNESCO–V4 Heritage Academy: Management of UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites in Visegrad Countries 2026 organised by the International Cultural Centre in Kraków and the Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic in cooperation with the Gothic Route Association.
A high-level delegation from Europa Nostra attended the ceremony, including Prof. Jacek Purchla, Vice-President of Europa Nostra and Chair of the European Heritage Awards Jury; Graham Bell, Board Member of Europa Nostra; and Agata Wąsowska-Pawlik, Board Member of Europa Nostra and Director of the International Cultural Centre in Kraków. Together, they presented the Award Plaque to the team behind the project, commending its success in revitalising the spirit of the region by strengthening the connections between places, communities and shared cultural identity.
This year’s edition of the educational programme took place in Rožňava between 29 June and 4 July and focused on the heritage of Gemer, a region in southern Slovakia where the Gothic Route (Gotická cesta) project is based. The Gemer-Malohont region is home to dozens of medieval churches, including 12 with wall paintings awarded the European Heritage Label in 2021.
The Gothic Route Association works to protect, restore and promote this heritage through research, expert support, tourism initiatives and community involvement. A central element of the programme consisted of four field workshop modules conducted precisely along the Gothic Route. Participants visited a wide range of significant heritage sites, including Gothic churches as well as numerous locations connected with former mining and metallurgical activities. Through these study visits, participants explored practical examples of conservation work, documentation methods and heritage management approaches.
The Award celebration took place in the intimate setting of a Baroque former Franciscan monastery in Rožňava, bringing together members of the Gothic Route association, participants of the Academy, and heritage professionals from the Visegrad countries and the United Kingdom.
While most participants were attending the UNESCO–V4 Heritage Academy, the ceremony also brought together representatives of church owners, local guides, the regional destination management organisation, the Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic, and members of the local community whose longstanding commitment has been instrumental in supporting and promoting the Gothic Route Initiative.
In his remarks, Prof. Jacek Purchla highlighted “the significance of this successful grassroots preservation initiative, sustained over many years through commitment and volunteer engagement. It is a truly inclusive project, where both the local community and visitors play an important role.”
The celebration highlighted the outstanding contribution of the Gothic Route Initiative to safeguarding and promoting Slovakia’s medieval heritage, while demonstrating the wider European value of cultural routes as platforms for knowledge exchange, community engagement and cooperation across borders.
