The European project HIKE4ALL continued its journey in the Czech Republic with a weekend of inclusive activities along the Cyril and Methodius Route, showing once again that hiking can be a powerful tool for accessibility, wellbeing and social participation.
The events brought together participants, local communities, associations and stakeholders to promote outdoor activities open to everyone, regardless of age, background or ability. Through walks, meetings and shared experiences, the initiative highlighted the value of cultural routes as spaces where people can connect with heritage, nature and one another.
Organised by the European Cultural Route of Saint Cyril and Methodius, IALE, the weekend offered an opportunity to test and promote a more inclusive approach to hiking, in line with the objectives of HIKE4ALL, after the previous HIKE4ALL events held in Italy and Norway. The programme attracted wide participation across the different activities. A total of 69 people attended the workshop dedicated to accessibility and inclusion, while 121 participants joined the inclusive guided walks in nature and landscape areas. In addition, 355 people took part in the cultural heritage guided tours and accompanying cultural programme, including visits to the Velehrad basilica, the historic wine-cellar Stojanov and the archaeological open-air museum in Modrá. Overall, the activities recorded around 545 participations, although some participants took part in more than one activity. This broad involvement confirmed the capacity of the HIKE4ALL format to combine outdoor experiences, cultural heritage and awareness-raising activities, engaging hikers, local communities, visitors and stakeholders around the common goal of making cultural routes more accessible and welcoming for all.
From September on, HIKE4ALL will continue its itinerant programme with the next inclusive hiking events planned in Spain, Türkiye and France, further strengthening cooperation among European cultural routes and promoting hiking as an inclusive, healthy and shared experience.
Through these local events, HIKE4ALL continues to demonstrate that walking is not only a way to discover Europe’s cultural heritage, but also an opportunity to build more open, accessible and inclusive communities.
Authors of photographs:
Martin Peterka
Václav Popelář (photos from Great Moravia Memorial – Cyril and Methodius Centre in Staré Město)