#heritage

We are delighted to announce that Festival de Setembro 2025 – Immigration, Encounters, Creation, which took place in the medieval quarter of the city – Vila Medieval de Ourém – in September 2025, has been nominated for the Iberian Festival Awards 2026. This prestigious distinction, awarded to the best festivals in Portugal and Spain, marks an important moment both for the event’s organizers and for the city of Ourém itself.

How is a Christmas bauble made? What is its history in Częstochowa? You can find the answers to these questions at the Częstochowa Museum, which invites everyone to admire “The Bauble History of Częstochowa” – an exhibition showing that Christmas magic contains remarkable local craftsmanship.

In Mariazell, the Christmas magic begins as early as November. That’s when the Krampus parades take place – the traditional companions of Saint Nicholas, fearsome creatures straight from hell. It’s a true meeting of good and evil, a time of mischief and pranks that take over the town’s streets. Every year the tradition comes to life again, inviting both children and adults to join the fun. And only those who have been really naughty have anything to worry about…

On the weekend of September 20 and 21, 2025, Lourdes invites residents, pilgrims, and tourists to a unique cultural celebration – European Heritage Days. This event, celebrated in many European cities, takes on a special dimension in Lourdes. Here, history, spirituality, and art come together in one place, creating an unforgettable experience.

The Jasna Góra Sanctuary is known worldwide as the spiritual capital of Poland. Since the 15th century, it has been the most frequently visited pilgrimage site in Poland, welcoming up to 5 million pilgrims from 80 countries each year. August is the pilgrimage peak in Częstochowa, during which crowds of pilgrims from the most remote corners of Poland travel to Jasna Góra.

Did you know that you can see Michelangelo's magnificent frescoes from the Sistine Chapel not only in the Vatican, but also in Częstochowa? We invite you to a unique multimedia exhibition, which gives you the opportunity to take a closer look at this famous work of Renaissance art.

Einsiedeln is known not only for its impressive Benedictine monastery, but also for its fascinating diorama, which attracts tourists and pilgrims who want to "dive" into the Christmas story, as well as the Mineral Museum with its extraordinary collection of over 1,000 exhibits from all over the world.

Few other pilgrimage sites in the world can boast as rich a history as Mariazell. This small town in Austria is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Europe, attracting thousands of believers each year to pay homage to Our Lady of Mariazell, known as the Magna Mater Austriae.

Did you know that in Loreto, at the foot of the Basilica of Our Lady of Loreto, there is a Polish War Cemetery? It is one of four necropolises of Polish soldiers who died in Italy during World War II. Soldiers who died during the battles in the Marche region were buried in this Italian town. Their bravery is part of the history of the city and their memory is still being cherished.

The second edition of the Shrines of Europe festival, which took place from June 19 to 23 in Ourem in Portugal, is already behind us. These few days were a real celebration of music, singing and dancing and the traditions of the Shrines of Europe, as well as a time of many wonderful conversations and discussions. See our report from this unique event.

The greatest treasure of the Jasna Góra Sanctuary in Częstochowa is the Miraculous Image of Our Lady thanks to which Jasna Góra became one of the largest Marian sanctuaries in Poland already in the 15th century. This painting is one of the most famous images of Our Lady in the world, clearly associated with Poland and Częstochowa.

We are proud to announce that the idea of our cooperation between cities united in the Shrines of Europe association has been noticed and described in the leading Portuguese trade magazine devoted to, among others, travel and lifestyle "Volta ao Mundo".

A charming town in Bavaria - Altötting welcomes about a million pilgrims every year. The Chapel of Grace located here is Bavaria's national sanctuary dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a place of exceptional historical and religious importance.

Is it possible to explore all 7 Shrines of Europe cities in one weekend? The distances on the map say: Nope… Not unless you have seven-league boots. But that's only in fairy tales...

On May 27, the opening of the photography exhibition "Shrines of Europe - the path of culture and spirituality" took place.