After 18 months of inspiring activities across Italy, Greece, and Türkiye, the HIKE project (HIKing for a Healthier LifestylE along European Cultural Routes) reached its successful conclusion in October 2025.
As we say goodbye to HIKE, we open a new chapter: we are proud to announce our spin-off HIKE4ALL (Hiking for ALL along the cultural routes).This new project, starting in January 2026, extends HIKE model to six cultural routes, such as:
- Via Francigena in Piedmont Region (Italy)
- Camino Lebaniego (part of the Camino de Santiago, Spain)
- Saint Olav Way (Norway)
- Cyril and Methodius Route (Czech Republic)
- St. Paul Trail (Türkiye)
- Templars’ heritage Route (France)
The project is coordinated by the European Association of the Via Francigena Ways (AEVF), has a duration of 12 months and a total budget of 300,000 euros. With a strong emphasis on accessibility, inclusion, and equal participation, HIKE4ALL aims to open hiking and cultural activities to all, including people with special needs and disabilities, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the benefits of movement, nature, and shared discovery. Events, workshops, accessible hikes, and activities focused on well-being and sustainability will engage communities, territories, and vulnerable groups across Europe.
HIKE key results
Funded by the Erasmus+ Sport programme, the HIKE project (2024-2025) focused on enhancement of active lifestyles along the cultural routes and discovering their cultural and natural treasures. Launched in April 2024 and led by the Culture Routes Society from Türkiye, with the European Association of the Via Francigena Ways and Paths of Greece as partners, the project promoted outdoor physical activity and slow travel along the Via Francigena (Italy), the Via Egnatia (Greece), and the Tolerance Way (Türkiye). HIKE exceeded expectations in terms of participation, visibility, and community impact. Across the three countries, around 1000 participants joined hiking weekends, workshops, and cultural visits designed to blend physical activity with learning and local engagement. Health indicators collected during the activities showed tangible improvements in participants’ physical conditions, and surveys revealed a strong motivation to continue exercising and hiking beyond the organised events.
To support communities and local actors, HIKE created a full package of tutorials, workshops, and training materials, available in multiple languages on the official website. These resources help users plan hiking events, engage participants, and promote inclusive outdoor experiences. International recognition further highlighted HIKE’s success: the project was featured by UN Tourism, Europeana, Interreg Europe, and the Council of Europe Cultural Routes Programme, and was nominated for several awards, including the Skål International Sustainable Tourism Awards 2025, ETCN Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism, and the #BeActive EU Sport Awards.
The transition to HIKE4ALL marks a renewed and expanded commitment to accessible, inclusive, and sustainable outdoor activities — a journey that continues, grows, and opens new pathways for all, in in partnership with European Association of the Via Francigena Ways (AEVF), FCL – Fundación Camino Lebaniego (Cantabria, Spain), IALE – European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius Association (Czech Republic), ACSOW – Association for the Route of St. Olav Ways (Norway), CRS – Culture Routes Society (Türkiye, managing the St Paul Trail) and TREF – European Federation of Templars’ Route (France).
Over the course of 2026, six long-weekend events will be organised, one in each partner country and the final conference in French city of Troyes.
[Credits: AEVF – September 2024]