The European Association of the Via Francigena Ways (EAVF), together with 48 other Cultural Routes certified by the Council of Europe, took part in the annual Training Academy on Cultural Routes, held this year in Torres Vedras, Portugal. The 2025 edition was hosted by the Destination Napoleon Route and Iter Vitis, with the support of the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR) and the Council of Europe.
Focusing on cooperation among Cultural Routes, the Academy gathered over 80 participants from across Europe, providing a valuable space to exchange ideas, share experiences, and build partnerships.
Representing the Via Francigena, Elena Dubinina, European Project Manager, showcased the HIKE project as a concrete example of effective collaboration between European walking routes. She presented the project’s innovative methodology, which combines practical tools for route managers, participatory activities for local communities, and joint promotion strategies to enhance sustainability and inclusiveness along the routes.
On the final day, participants took a field trip along a walking itinerary in the scenic area of Vila Franca de Xira — perfectly aligned with the HIKE approach of combining walking and healthy acitivities with culture and heritage. The walk highlighted the region’s historic forts built to defend against the Napoleonic invasion, blending history, nature, and local landscapes.
The event also brought together key partners from the consortium behind the proposed HIKE spin-off project, HIKE4ALL — including the Via Francigena, St Olav Way, St Cyril and Methodius Route, and St James Way — reinforcing synergies for future cooperation.
