The Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Routes: The Development of European Cultural Heritage Policy and Practice from a Critical Perspective

Using the case study of the Council of Europe's European Cultural Routes Project, this article examines if and how far supra-national rhetorics of cultural openness, inclusivity, and diversity become reality in terms of actual cultural heritage projects. Against this background, it conducts a critical examination of what is considered one of the flagships of European supranational cultural heritage projects, the Council of Europe's Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Routes. It focuses on the specific implementation of the Council of Europe's supra-national message of cultural heritage in this project and in its accompanying guidebook. By placing the project in its historical context and comparing it to later additions to the European Cultural Routes Project, this article reflects on the development of a pan-European cultural identity paradigm over the last two decades.