This year, the association European Route of Brick Gothic marks its 15th anniversary. Over the years, its activities have inspired many people with enthusiasm for Brick Gothic. The international association is now a well-known organization in the entire Baltic Sea region.
The association European Route of Brick Gothic was founded on 26 September 2007, born out of an initiative by the German Foundation for Monument Protection entitled “Routes to Brick Gothic”. The aim of the initiative was to raise awareness of this unique cultural landscape among the wider public. The European Route of Brick Gothic continues this important work on a transnational basis.
Today, the route comprises around 60 members – towns and cities, municipalities, regions, and institutions in Denmark, Germany, and Poland – as well as numerous sponsors and cooperation partners. This brings together hundreds of Brick Gothic buildings around the Baltic Sea as well as further inland, in towns and in the countryside.
The members work collectively to preserve the cultural heritage of Brick Gothic and to promote it to a broad public.
“The European Route of Brick Gothic is a great example of how a funded project became a self-sustaining association,” says Christoph Pienkoß, chairman of the association’s board. “Collectively for all its members, it addresses a development in cultural tourism that we have been witnessing for years: People are increasingly interested in sights and attractions that are within easy reach from their doorstep. Short breaks, culture, music, culinary delights, maritime flair, active tourism – the fantastic buildings of Brick Gothic fit seamlessly into this list of holiday trends. The idea is to also raise awareness of the outstanding and impressive cultural heritage of Brick Gothic in the cities and landscapes of the network.”
In 2010, the association was already awarded the gold medal at the leading European trade fair for heritage conservation, the “denkmal” fair in Leipzig. It received this price for its commitment and outstanding achievements in the field of heritage conservation and tourism. In 2012, our network also received the special prize of the jury of the European heritage network Europa Nostra.
Various cooperation projects and opportunities for group tours help to disseminate information about the architectural style of Brick Gothic and its historical context. Every third Saturday in June, the Day of Brick Gothic takes place across Europe, coordinated by the European Route of Brick Gothic. The work of the association is accompanied by two active workgroups on brick and academic research, as well as on marketing and tourism. This year, for the first time, there is a dedicated offer for children: the stage play “GotiKlein – Gothic for the little ones”, which playfully introduces first knowledge about Brick Gothic.
Whether you are a private individual, a company, or an association, you can help promote the cultural heritage of Brick Gothic by becoming a supporting member of the non-profit association European Route of Brick Gothic. You can also order our cultural travel guide to Brick Gothic free of charge in several languages.
