New brochure of the European Network of Historic Gardens

The European Route of Historic Gardens (ERHG) is a non-profit association founded by the Town Corporations of Lloret de Mar (Girona) and Aranjuez (Madrid, through the Foundation Aranjuez-Cultural Landscape) and the Laboratory of Heritage, Creativity and Cultural Tourism at the University of Barcelona. It aims to unite the largest possible number of managing bodies of Historic Gardens in Europe, with the objectives first of forming a stable network and second of obtaining recognition as a Council of Europe Cultural Route for this historic artistic and natural heritage.

The essential aim of the Association is the promotion and awareness-raising of historic gardens, as defined by the International Historic Gardens Committee, ICOMOS-IFLA in the 1981 Florence Charter, in order to form the “European Historic Gardens” Cultural Route. In this way, the Association will create a high-quality cultural and tourist offer, with the intention of developing the places where the gardens are situated.

The main goals of the ERHG

1. To raise awareness and promote historic gardens through the European Route of Historic Gardens.

2. To develop a relationship with the Council of Europe and other European institutions, by closely collaborating with the European Institute of Cultural Routes.

3. To promote dialogue and exchange of good practices in terms of the appreciation of Cultural Heritage.

4. To encourage collaboration with public administrations and private organisations to carry out joint actions connected with this cultural route.

5. To promote and carry out educational activities connected with the historic gardens in the cultural route, aimed at young people, in order to stimulate their knowledge of their roots and consolidate European identity.

6. To harmonise, within sustainable development, cultural and tourist activities that are carried out in the places where historic gardens are situated.