2025 Theme - Architectural Heritage: Windows to the Past, Doors to the Future
This year’s shared European Heritage Days theme is Architectural Heritage: Windows to the Past, Doors to the Future.
This theme celebrates the rich diversity of buildings that surround us, exploring buildings and infrastructure of all styles and scales. Architectural heritage offers a unique insight into our shared history and cultural identity.
From a heritage perspective, we can appreciate the design, scale, form, and decorative beauty, not only in the grand buildings and monuments of cities, but also in the streets and houses in which we work and live. Every village, town, and city has its own architectural heritage, reflecting local history, culture, and economies. Communities cherish their favourite streets, buildings, monuments, and statues which commemorate significant events, serve as meeting places, and enhance the quality of the built environment.
Architectural heritage covers a wide expanse of styles and buildings, as such, the theme can be developed in various ways that reflect the different types of buildings and architectural styles.
A brochure is available online with guidance on planning events that celebrate the shared theme.
Doors Open Days is part of European Heritage Days. The European Heritage Days are the most widely celebrated participatory cultural event shared by the people of Europe. The Council of Europe launched the initiative in 1985, and in 1999 was joined by the European Union to create the joint action, which has continued up to the present day.