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The experience of `Cultural Routes ..

26/09/2016

Cultural Routes in Spain is an invitation to follow the footprints of history, in places where this country has played a leading role. A rich and widespread archaeological, artistic, religious and cultural heritage offers travellers a unique experience. Our routes and trails are pri..

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Since it obtained its recognition, the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe "Prehistoric Rock Art Trails" has been managed by the International Association "Prehistoric Rock Art Trails" (or A. I. CARP) a non-profit-making organisation founded in 2007 by the institutions which promoted the candidacy of the trail.The Association's head office is currently in Cantabria, Spain and is coordinated administratively and technically by the Cantabrian Network for Rural Development, the organisation that will hold the Presidency of the Association until 2016.The functions of A.I. CARP are to monitor the functioning of this Council of Europe Cultural Route, encourage joint activities among its members, manage the route which brings together European rock-art destinations administratively and culturally, and verify that the objectives of the route are achieved, in accordance with Resolution (98) 4 of the Council of Europe about European Cultural Routes.

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A Cultural Route of Council of Europe

The Cultural Route CARP offers 112 great Archaeological and Rock Art sites with the main scientific, cultural, artist and archaeological interest. All these sites are opened to the knowledge and the enjoyment of the European and World society. Currently, more than 1.9 million visitors come each year to the places where the first inhabitants of Europe produced their transcendental rock art, an art full of symbolism motivated by religious belief and full of references to Nature, forming the first Cultural Landscapes of Europe.The vast majority of these places have a great symbolic value and are part of the European Cultural Heritage, but also they are elements that support the local identity. This symbolic value has been recognized in the World Heritage List of UNESCO.The relationship between Prehistoric Rock Art and Landscape is used to produce a thematic tourism offer that integrates Culture and Nature, Landscape and Cultural Heritage. This contributes to a sustainable development of the rural communities where are located all the sites that compose the Cultural Route.

EUROPEAN CULTURAL ROUTE & UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE

More than 150 Rock Art sites are open to the public in Europe, concentrated in countries like Norway, Sweden, Ireland, Great Britain, Italy, Portugal, and particularly, France and Spain. Many are small sites (a cave, a rock shelter, a small museum ...), but there are locations with significant tourism infrastructures where it is possible to see large archaeological sites. The cultural and tourist interest of the first art of the Prehistory of Europe has been noted by UNESCO recognising as World Heritage 9 sites: Alta (Norway), Tanum (Sweden), Brú-na-Bóinne (Ireland), Valcamonica (Italy), the caves of the Vézère Valley (France), Altamira and other caves of the Cantabrian Region (Spain), the rock shelters with Levantine Art of the Mediterranean Coast (Spain), Foz Côa and Siega Verde sites (Portugal-Spain) and the Cave of Pont d'Arc named Chauvet (France). To this list we can added the Medieval Rock Art from the Rupestrian Churches of Matera (Basilicata, Italy).

Prehistoric Rock Art is the art of the first Europeans. It is the first major cultural, social and symbolic expression that we possess of Humankind. It appeared in Europe 42,000 years ago and developed throughout the Upper Palaeolithic, Neolithic, the Copper Age and the Bronze Age, until the Early Iron Age in some regions. It consists of figurative manifestations and schematic forms and abstract shapes, made with drawings, paintings or prints on the walls of caves, rock-shelters and open-air rock outcrops, and also on some Megalithic constructions.

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STARTING IDEAS:

Rock Art is one of the most fragile expressions of the Humankind‘s History and Culture: Its preservation has the absolute priority.
Rock Art is associated to its natural environment and it formed the first Cultural Landscapes of the World's history. Conservation of environmental conditions around the sites is essential.
Rock Art is an important part of the Art History and Culture of Human populations through the Prehistory and History and around the World. Everyone has the right of know it and enjoy with it. Also the duty to preserve it.
Tourism is an important agent for the economy and development of local communities. Cultural Tourism is a strategic sector that gives important benefits for local Culture and Economy.
Rules are necessary. Limitations are inalienable when is essential for conservation.
Good Practice Handbooks are necessary for the management. PRAT Cultural Route developed one of the first Good Practice Handbook for the management of Prehistoric Rock Art

Council of Europe cultural routes: cultural tourism for intercultural dialogue and social stability

Adopted at the Council of Europe Cultural Routes Annual Advisory Forum, 30-31 October 2014, Baku

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C/ San Martín del Pino 16, 3 bajo. 39011 Peñacastillo (Santander-Spain)

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Prehistoric Rock Art Trails

The first art of european people, 40 000 years of rock art, Enjoy the rock art experience

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