Travelling with Goethe
Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1749-1832) was a poet, civil servant with a wide variety of duties, scientifically interested in questions of geology, botany and optics – and he was a traveller who visited many countries and made his house in Weimar a meeting place for international guests. Follow in his footsteps through Europe and learn more about the life and work of this thinker, who was inspired from many sides and continues to inspire today. The ‘European Goethe Ways’ association aims to bring Goethe’s multifaceted world of thought to life through itineraries that can be discovered by bike or on foot. Our aim is to be recognised as a new Council of Europe cultural route in 2026.
This website informs you about the existing and emerging routes dedicated to Goethe’s travels. On the map of Europe you can explore the offers in the different regions. The map also shows the community of association members from the fields of culture, education and tourism that is currently being established. Goethe was an internationally networked thinker. It is worth emulating him.
The Cultural Routes programme
The Cultural Routes programme was launched by the Council of Europe in 1987. Its objective was to demonstrate, by means of a journey through space and time, how the heritage of the different countries and cultures of Europe contributes to a shared and living cultural heritage.
The Cultural Routes are grass-roots networks promoting the principles which underlie all the work and values of the Council of Europe: human rights, cultural democracy, cultural diversity, mutual understanding and exchanges across boundaries. They act as channels for intercultural dialogue and promote a better knowledge and understanding of European cultural identity while preserving and enhancing natural and cultural heritage as well as the European history.
They are the concrete realisation of Charters, Conventions and Recommendations on cultural heritage and sustainable tourism, enacted through an educational approach aimed at raising awareness of the importance of protection and sustainability. Beyond heritage, the routes also promote inter-culturalism and inter-religious dialogue through an open and diverse interpretation of Europe.
In December 2010, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted Resolution CM/Res(2010)53 establishing an Enlarged Partial Agreement (EPA) to enable closer co-operation between states particularly interested in the development of Cultural Routes and in order to strengthen the programme politically and financially.
Nowadays the Resolutions, CM/Res(2023)2, define what a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe is, describe the requirements leading to certification and the criteria which characterise the nature of the themes accepted, the various initiatives which should be implemented, and the characteristics of the European networks which manage the cultural routes once awarded the certification by the Council of Europe.
The European Institute of Cultural Routes was set up as part of a political agreement between the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (Ministry for Culture, Higher Education and Research) and the Council of Europe.
Since 1998 its mission is to ensure the continuity and the implementation of the Cultural Routes programme in the 50 signatory countries of the European Cultural Convention, in close cooperation with the Council of Europe.
The EICR is located in the prestigious site of the European Cultural Centre of the Abbaye de Neumünster and houses the documentary resources of the programme as well as a library with books on Cultural Routes and related subjects of interest.
It provides advice to the cultural routes, both certified and projects, and welcomes project managers, researchers and students, this by cooperating with Universities in Europe and beyond.
It collaborates in the setting up and operation of the routes and participates in events and exhibitions, promoting a greater awareness of the links between culture, tourism and the environment. The EICR also carries out evaluations of existing routes and new proposals, using the considerable expertise it has accumulated on the methodology of creating, promoting and evaluating Cultural Routes.
https://www.coe.int/en/web/cultural-routes
Why Goethe?
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) was one of the most influential personalities in the history of literature and Western culture. The geographical centres of his life were his birthplace Frankfurt and his place of residence Weimar in present-day Thuringia. In both places, his legacy is preserved in historic houses and museums.
During his life, Goethe travelled to several European countries, above all Switzerland and Italy; he also spent frequent stays in the Bohemian spas. His studies in Strasbourg are often described as a turning point in his life. Goethe’s diary entries, letters and poems bear witness to his experiences of the countryside and his relationships with many other European personalities.
Cultural heritage and topicality
For each new generation, knowledge of Goethe’s life and work needs to be revitalised. There are dozens of opportunities for artistic, cultural, educational and academic activities along his travel routes, which are to be networked by the new association.
Goethe can also prove his relevance beyond the literary scene: His writings encourage us to observe and preserve nature. He masterfully formulated clever ideas in geology, botany, anatomy and colour theory. His ideas on architecture and art are also still worthy of note today. In his younger years, Goethe also sought and loved sporting challenges, which can also be utilised for corresponding events.
Goals of the cultural route
The main objectives include: Promotion of education, tourism, youth exchange, history + remembrance, multinational co-operation in the spirit of the European idea. In addition, ecological aspects should always be considered, in the sense of ‘gentle’ cultural tourism and decelerated travelling.
Tasks of the association
Collection of Goethe routes, offers and events to be brought together in the cultural route.
Virtual networking via a website and the creation of opportunities for personal encounters. All Goethe trails and sites in the participating countries are to be marked with the route logo to create recognition and make the ‘European Goethe Trails’ visible as a Council of Europe route. The cultural impact along the route should be sustainable.
Appointments
Newsletter
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