The 14th Annual Advisory Forum on the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe takes place from 22-24 October, 2025 in Cappadocia, Türkiye focusing on “Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe and Landscapes: Advancing Heritage Protection through Cultural and Sustainable Tourism” in the face of increasing climate change, pollution, and development pressures.

It is organised by the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) in collaboration with the European Institute of Cultural Routes, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye, the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency and with the support of local authorities of the Cappadocia region.

Prior to the Forum, three important meetings of stakeholders of the Cultural Routes programme will be held: an informal meeting of the members of the Enlarged Partial Agreement, governmental authorities of the 43 member states; a meeting of the 49 certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, and a meeting of the University Network for Cultural Routes Studies.

The Forum is taking place within the unique cultural landscape of Cappadocia, shaped over millions of years by volcanic eruptions and erosion, which gave rise to the region’s iconic fairy chimneys. Nestled among these formations are Byzantine-era cave dwellings, rock-hewn churches, and monastic complexes, tangible traces of early Christianity, alongside a living cultural heritage that continues to thrive today.

The programme features a series of general sessions accompanied by a panel discussion as well as a welcoming ceremony for the new members State of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, a certification ceremony for the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe that have received certification in 2025 and awards recognising inspiring practices of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.

The Forum will be opened by Mr. Ali FİDAN, Governor of Nevşehir; Mr. Nadir ALPASLAN, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, Türkiye; a video message from Mr. Bjørn BERGE, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe and by Irena GUIDIKOVA, Head of Department for Democratic Institutions and Freedoms, Council of Europe.

The Forum will be opened by a keynote speech by Maguelonne DÉJEANT-PONS, former Head of the Spatial Planning and Landscape Division, Council of Europe; Honorary Member of the International Federation of Landscape Architecture. The programme includes a High-level Dialogue, moderated by Prof. Magda ANTONIOLI, member of the European Travel Commission, and with the participation of: Peter DEBRINE, Senior project manager, World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Programme, UNESCO; Elif Balcı FİSUNOĞLU, Vice General Manager, Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency; Elizabeth BRABEC, President, International Scientific Committee on Cultural Landscapes, ICOMOS and Marta RODRIGUES, Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape, Council of Europe.

Over the course of three days, participants at the Forum, which includes representatives from Council of Europe member States as well as cultural heritage scholars and practitioners, are examining a wide range of strategies and initiatives aimed at cultural heritage protection. Recognising landscapes as repositories of natural, living, tangible and intangible heritage, the event will emphasise the role of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe in safeguarding heritage through sustainable, even transformative cultural tourism practices. This Forum will offer a comprehensive overview of existing initiatives, showcasing successful projects and pinpointing the essential elements that lead to their effectiveness.

Livestreaming is available here.
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