European Heritage Days

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European Heritage Days (Journées Européenes du Patrimoine) is a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Union involving all 48 signatory states of the European Cultural Convention under the motto, Europe: a common heritage. The annual programme offers opportunities to visit buildings, monuments and sites, many of which are not normally accessible to the public. It aims to widen access and foster care for architectural and environmental heritage. These events are also known as Doors Open Days in English-speaking countries.

The event began in France in 1984, with La Journée Portes Ouvertes, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture. In 1985, in Granada, at the 2nd European Conference of Ministers responsible for Architectural Heritage, the French Minister of Culture proposed that the project be internationalised under the Council of Europe. The Netherlands held their first Open Monumentendag in 1987. Sweden and the Republic of Ireland joined in 1989, and Belgium and Scotland in 1990.

In 1991 these events were united as European Heritage Days at the initiative of the Council of Europe, supported by the EU. By 1996, 40 countries in Eastern and Western Europe were involved, including the rest of the United Kingdom, and in 1997 the largest state in Europe, Russia, joined. In 2000, for the first time, all 47 signatory states of the European Cultural Convention took part in European Heritage Days, with the arrival of Azerbaijan. In 2003, the number of signatories and participants rose to 48 with the inclusion of Serbia & Montenegro.

The idea has been taken up outside Europe, too, with similar schemes in Canada, the USA, Australia, and other lands, at different times of year.