European Heritage Days (EHD) are an important all-European cultural, educational and social event, held since 1991 under the aegis of the Council of Europe; 47 countries of the European Cultural Convention are today committed to its ideas.
The prior aims of this event are: to improve information about other cultures; to protect cultural heritage in the broadest sense of the word; to respect all cultures regardless of their spread and to work for a multi-cultural approach; to regard cultural heritage as an asset which can be used in the struggle against intolerance and bigotry; to support an open and free view of culture, which has an effect not only on economic development, but also on the sustainable development of human society. The European Heritage Days are to bring Europeans closer to their cultural heritage, and to help protect cultural monuments, something that requires an enhancement of the prestige of private and public institutions of monument protection. Last but not least, the purpose of EHD is to support a more open attitude to others (combating xenophobia and racism, searching for one´s own identity, strengthening common memory), and also to contribute to a re-assessment and explanation of the political, social and economic contexts of the cultural values of the past. The Czech Republic has been participating in the event since 1991.
For more information see the website of Council of Europa