CM_Route_publication_AJ

The European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius Experience – Learning – Understanding

Velehrad

Czech Republic

European Heritage

European cultural routes are unique pan-European tourism products.

This is why the European Commission, European Parliament, member states, and the Council of Europe have devoted a lot of attention to them. The aim is to raise awareness of Europe, individual sites, and countries as exceptional tourism areas and destinations.

The Roots of Slavic Culture

The European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius seeks to use the common theme of Europe’s heritage to interconnect a number of countries of Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe, an area that was greatly influenced by the mission of Cyril and Methodius in the 9th century AD. Saints Cyril and Methodius, the co-patron saints of Europe, are considered the two most influential missionaries, having played the principal role in introducing Christianity and developing culture in Slavic countries. They indirectly influenced the formation and organization of early medieval European countries.

The Heritage of Saints Cyril and Methodius

Remembering and being inspired by the heritage of Saints Cyril and Methodius, and appreciating Christian traditions and the cultures of countries connected to their mission and their followers creates an interesting theme for exploring Europe. The connection of historically important pilgrimage sites, religious and other cultural monuments, and institutions as well as facilities across Europe represents a new and distinctive offering on the European market.

It creates a space for increasing employment and encouraging the growth of small and medium businesses in more than 10 European countries.

Authentic stories of the Route of Cyril and Methodius lead through a number of unique pilgrimage sites. The sacred mountain of Radhošť is one of them. Myths and legends surround the mountain. According to one of them, the Slavic missionaries Cyril and Methodius abolished worship of the pagan god Radegast here and built a cross in this spot. The mountain is home to a sculpture of the missionaries as well as a chapel in Byzantine style – the highest situated church monument in the Czech Republic – built here in 1898.

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The heritage of Saints Cyril and Methodius inspires Europe of today and tomorrow.

As Cardinal Špidlík, a Moravian native, said: „The aim is to make sure that Europe takes responsibility for its entire heritage – its West, but also its East – and starts to breathe fully using both lungs“. The European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius is one of the examples of such dialogue and mutual cooperation between many nations in Europe.

Cyril and Methodius Route

Every year, people from many places all over the Europe remember the heritage of Saints Cyril and Methodius. One of the latest commemorations is also the modern sculpture of Saints Cyril and Methodius in front of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Brno (Czech Republic).

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 The European Story of Saints  Cyril and Methodius The mission of Saints Cyril and Methodius dates back to Great Moravia (9th century) and is connected to the arrival of Slavic missionaries Saints Cyril (Constantine) and Methodius to Moravia in 863 AD. Cyril and Methodius created the Glagolitic alphabet for the Slavs, translated the Bible and other religious texts into the Slavic language, and then enforced Slavic as the liturgical language to enable worship in the language of the people with whom they shared the Gospel. They also educated their followers to ensure the continuation of their mission, the most famous follower being Saint Gorazd.

Cyril and Methodius became the spiritual fathers of Slavic nations, having brought them the Christian faith and culture, and were 11 centuries ahead of their time in serving the liturgy in national language. In 1863, Saints Cyril and Methodius were declared the patrons of all Slavic people and on 31 December 1980, Pope John Paul II declared them co-patron saints of Europe on the grounds that in addition to their contribution to culture, they fought for the unity of Eastern and Western Churches and showed the right path towards European unification.

The Great Moravian Empire was one of the most powerful states of Europe in the 9th century. In the boom years of the reign of Prince Svatopluk I, the Great Moravian Empire encompassed modern-day Moravia, Bohemia, Slovakia, Hungary, part of Serbia, Poland, Austria, and Germany.

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Journeys of Saints Cyril (Constantine) and Methodius

860–861

Constantine’s journey from Constantinople to the court of the caliph of Baghdad in Sámara, approximately the same place where modern Baghdad stands.

The journey of Constantine and also of his brother Methodius to the nomadic Khazars, who settled the area between the Black and the Caspian Seas. Discovery of the remains of Pope Clement I in Crimea.

863

The journey of Constantine and Methodius to Great Moravia.

867

Constantine and Methodius, accompanied by their fellows and followers, leave Moravia to visit Blatengrad (modern-day Zalavár, Hungary) from where they went to Venice.

868–869

The stay of Constantine and Methodius in Rome, where Constantine fell seriously ill, entered into one of the local Greek monasteries, received the monastic name Cyril and died on 14 February 869 at the age of 42. He was buried in Saint Clement’s Church in Rome. In the spring of 869, Pope Hadrian II appointed Methodius as the papal legate for Slavic territories with the right to serve liturgy there in the Slavic language and later consecrated him as the Bishop of Sirmium (Sremska Mitrovica, modern-day Serbia) for Pannonia and Moravia.

869–870

Methodius returns to Blatengrad and then again to Rome.

870–873

On the way back to Moravia in 870, on the initiative of Bavarian bishops, Archbishop Methodius was captured and imprisoned, probably in German Ellwangen. He was released after 2.5 years by order of the Papacy.

873–880

After returning to Moravia, Methodius continued his work, baptizing, educating new clergymen, and spreading Christianity during his travels all over Moravia, Bohemia and in Poland.

880

Archbishop Methodius was summoned to Rome to defend his pastoral activity.

881–882

Methodius travelled to Constantinople, where he was officially received by Emperor Basil I and Patriarch Photius.

882–885

Methodius returned to Moravia, where he baptized for example Bořivoj, the Duke of Bohemia, and continued spreading Christianity and educating followers.

885 after 885

Cyril and Methodius Route

around 855

Archbishop Methodius died at the age of 72 in Moravia (in an unknown place) on 6 April 885.

Disputes among members of the Latin and Slavic worship. The Slavic liturgy by Methodius was banned and his students and fellows were expelled from Moravia. Some went to Bohemia, but most went to Bulgaria and the Balkans. For example, Saint Clement established the first Slavic academy in Ohrid (modern-day Macedonia – FYROM) as early as in 886.

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Velehrad

European Pilgrimage Site

Velehrad is closely connected to the mission of Cyril and Methodius and archaeological remains have shown that the seat of the Great Moravian Veligrad (great castle) was just a few kilometres away from the present Velehrad (Czech Republic). The large Cistercian monastery complex, built in late Roman style with some early Gothic features, was completed in the 1240s. The Baroque style seen today of the monastery complex and the Basilica of Virgin Mary’s Ascension and of Saints Cyril and Methodius is the result of extensive reconstruction that lasted more than five centuries for various reasons (fires, plunder, changing owners). It was completed in the second half of the 18th century.

The story of Saints Cyril and Methodius culminated in 1990 with the visit of Pope Saint John Paul II to Velehrad. In his speech, Saint John Paul II emphasized that: „Velehrad is the ancient heart of the Great Moravian Empire. It is the place from where the Saints Cyril and Methodius, brothers from Thessaloniki, launched their apostolic mission among the Slavs. Here are our roots.“ Therefore, the importance of Velehrad transcends the borders of the Czech Republic as well as those of Central Europe. This is why Velehrad ranks among Europe’s important pilgrimage sites.

The basilica is one of the largest in the Czech Republic, and was conferred the „Golden Rose“ by Pope John Paul II in 1985 as an expression of extraordinary papal favour.

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Cyril and Methodius Route

The European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius The long-term plan to build the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius has a European dimension and its theme is common to the countries of Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe.

This common theme will enable the project to become one of the most comprehensive tourism products with effects for all of Europe, from east to west.

Basic Project Characteristics The project has two basic stages Stage I – building and developing the route until 2020 Stage II – building and developing the route after 2020

G er ma ny

Stará Boleslav Levý Hradec

Praha

Würzburg

Sázava

Plzeň Příbram

Nürnberg Horažďovice

Czech Repub Č. Budějovice

Ellwangen

Regensburg

Stuttgart

Passau

Linz

München

Amstetten

The project is extensive, involving more than 10 countries in stage I It includes more than 7,500 kilometres of routes across Europe The project is divided into 3 main spinal trails/products:

Spinal Trail A – Central Europe

Spinal Trail B – Southern Europe

Spinal Trail C – Eastern Europe The project has 3 key players: Velehrad (Czech Republic) – Rome (Italy) – Thessaloniki (Greece). The involvement of 3 key players minimizes the risks of failure and the administration of the project will lead to a more efficient fulfilment of the Opening project’s objectives. Each of the the route will main routes targets a different allow tourists and cultural group. pilgrims to explore new areas in Central and Eastern Europe and help open up southern Europe (Rome) to new target groups from Central and Eastern Europe.

Salzburg

Au s tria

Innsbruck

St. Lambrecht

Seckau

Gurk Klagenfurt am W.

Villach

Bolzano

Mojstrana

Udine

Aquileia Treviso

Milano

Padova

Verona

Idrija

Rodine

Brezje Ljubljana

Slovenia Predjama

Trieste

Podgrad

Venezia

Piacenza

Pomposa Comacchio

Parma Genova

I ta ly Lucca

Firenze

Bologna

Ravenna

Forli

Cesena Rimini

Montefiore Conca

Siena

Urbino

Ancona Loreto

Gúbbio

Perugia

Assisi

Todi San Cassiano

Viterbo Corchiano

Pescara

Campagnano

ROMA

Venice Napoli

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The aim is to design the route in accordance with current trends, planning it for both pedestrians and cyclists but also including interesting visitor sites for motorists and families with children.

Modrá (Velehrad in the background)

Częstochowa Opole

The project is designed in such a way as to make the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius highly competitive.

Pol a n d

Toszek

Katowice

Kraków

Raciborz

Opava

h blic

Žďár n. S.

Český Těšín Sv. Kopeček Olomouc Sv. Hostýn Radhošť Křtiny Terchová Zlín

Brno

Velehrad Skalka n. V.

Mikulčice

Mikulov

Trnava

Tulln an der Donau

Marianka

Wien

Banská Bystrica

Nitra

Bratislava

Carnuntum

Sopron Mariazell Bruck an Mur

Štúrovo Komárno

Kőszeg

Kesztölc

Hungary

Veszprém Solt

Trdkova

Radenci

Debrecen

Budapest

Székesfehervár

Sarvár

Graz

Given the total length of the pilgrimage routes, (more than 7,500 kilometres), the cultural route crosses most of Europe from east to west. It Cluj is an interesting counterweight to the pilgrimage routes developed in Western Europe.

Esztergom

Bük

Szombathely

Spišské Podhradie

Sl ova k i a

Šaštín

Maribor

Uk ra ine

Liptovský Mikuláš

Levoča

Znojmo

St. Pölten

Lviv

Kalwaria Zebrzydowska

Ostrava

Zalavár

Ptuj

Kaposvár Baja

Pécs Zagreb

Siklós

Croatia

Chisinau

R oma nia

Beli Manastir Timisoara

Doroslovo

Moldova

Osijek Bačka Palanka

Zrenjanin

Sremska Mitrovica

Bosnia and Hercegovina

Beograd

Kostolac

Tuzla

Bucuresti

Craiova

Sofia (Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius)

Sarajevo

S e rbi a

Split

Crvena Reka

Sofia Prishtina

Podgorica

Foggia Tirana

Taranto

B u lga r ia

Burgas Rila

Pazardzhik Plovdiv

Macedonia (FYROM) Ochrid

Al ba n i a

Varna

Veliko Tarnovo

Kazanlak

Bojana

Skopje

Durrës

Pleven

Montana Klisurski

Montenegro

Bari

Constanta

Cyril and Methodius Route

Hradec Králové

Rakovski Parvomaj Edirna

Greece

Kavala

Tu r key Istanbul

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Thessaloniki Athos

Roads to Velehrad

in Central Europe The Roots of Slavic Education Characteristics – Spinal Trail A: • route as an instrument to connect the nations of Central Europe • pilgrim destination: Velehrad (Czech Republic) • scope of Stage I: Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Austria, Hungary • star-shaped network of routes, used mainly as one-way routes, covering the primary source markets • key route of the project in terms of Velehrad’s importance in the context of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as well as in relation to Poland, Hungary, and the dense network of pilgrimage routes in Austria • in total, it entails more than 2,300 kilometres of routes The direction of the route in the Czech Republic is based on that of existing routes to Svatý Kopeček (Olomouc) – Svatý Hostýn – Štípa – VELEHRAD – Svatý Antonínek – Mikulčice – Gbely (Slovakia) – Šaštín (Slovakia). The plan of the route also includes Prague and other places in Bohemia, including connections between Prague and Rome through German and Austrian towns and Milan. In Slovakia, the route uses the pilgrimage routes of Saints Cyril and Methodius to Velehrad already marked from Nitra and Terchová. The northern route is designed to continue from Levoča, while the southern part connects the Šaštín pilgrimage site with Austria and Hungary. The Polish routes provide connections to Velehrad using old routes from Krakow, and then from Częstochowa, the most important pilgrimage site in Poland, but also using the planned routes in the direction from Opole and Wroclaw.

Velehrad

The route is designed with four backbone routes on the Czech territory, corresponding to the four points of the compass and connecting the surrounding states. These routes form part of a flow of people from different directions, allowing pilgrims to reach Velehrad using the easiest pilgrimage route.

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Praha

The story of sculptor Petr Váňa, who went to Thessaloniki in 2013 to choose the stone – white, fine, Travertine limestone – for the sculpture of Saints Cyril and Methodius in a small village of Moutnice near Brno, is symbolic. He shaped the figures of saints as two columns carrying a cross.

This creates a narrow passage, an imaginary entry for all into the land of faith.

Velehrad

Moutnice

Nitra

Spinal Trail – Product A

There are hundreds or maybe even thousands of places in the Czech Republic associated with the heritage of Saints Cyril and Methodius.

Kopčany

Częstochowa Opole

Pol a n d

Toszek

Katowice

Stará Boleslav Levý Hradec

Hradec Králové

Praha

Sázava

Plzeň Příbram Horažďovice

Žďár n. S.

Republic

Český Těšín Sv. Kopeček Olomouc Sv. Hostýn Radhošť Křtiny Terchová

Regensburg

ck

Zlín

Brno

Č. Budějovice

Mikulčice

Mikulov Passau

Šaštín

Amstetten

St. Pölten

Bruck an Mur

Szombathely Graz

Skalka n. V.

Spišské Podhradie

Banská Bystrica

S lova k i a Nitra

Bratislava

Carnuntum

Kőszeg

Seckau

Gurk

Marianka

Wien

Štúrovo

Sopron

Mariazell

St. Lambrecht

Trnava

Tulln an der Donau

Linz

Liptovský Mikuláš

Velehrad

Levoča

Znojmo

Au s tr ia

Kalwaria Zebrzydowska

Ostrava

Czech

Salzburg

Kraków

Raciborz

Opava

Komárno

Esztergom

Kesztölc

Bük

Sarvár

Budapest

Székesfehervár

H u ng a r y

Veszprém Solt

Debrecen

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Velehrad – Rome Routes of Humility and Enlightenment Characteristics – Spinal Trail B: • route as an instrument to connect the nations of Central and Southern Europe • pilgrim destination: Rome (Italy) – Velehrad (Czech Republic) • scope of Stage I: Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Germany • key pilgrimage route in the north – south, north – Rome connection • the theme „Walk out of your door following the trail of Saints Cyril and Methodius to Rome“ will be very strong, providing motivation for the nations of Central and Eastern Europe • in total, it involves more than 2,400 kilometres of routes The main route of Saints Cyril and Methodius from Velehrad to Rome (or in the opposite direction) will come in 3 options. They will follow the old, mostly Roman, pilgrimage, trade, or military routes. The easternmost route between Rome, or Venice and Velehrad generally follows the ancient trade route called the Amber Road, which passes through the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, and Italy. The central route, which largely follows the ancient migration route of the Slavs called Via Slavorum, goes from the Czech Republic across Austria and its most important pilgrimage site Mariazell to Italy. The route’s western option between Velehrad (Prague) and Rome follows the trail of Saints Cyril and Methodius across Germany (Austria) on the Via Claudia Augusta and goes through the Alps into Italy.

Saint Clement‘s Church in Rome is the place where the remains of Pope Clement I, discovered by Saints Cyril and Methodius in Crimea and brought to Rome in 867, were laid to rest. The tomb of Saint Cyril, which is a pilgrimage site for many Slavs, is also located here. Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is also of great importance for the Slavic people – it is the place where Pope Hadrian II, in the presence of Cyril and Methodius, laid Slavic liturgical books on the main altar and permitted their use in liturgy.

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Katowice

Stará Boleslav Levý Hradec

Hradec Králové

Praha

Würzburg

Sázava

Plzeň Příbram

Nürnberg Horažďovice

Ellwangen

Czech Republic

Regensburg

Žďár n. S.

Český Těšín

Sv. Kopeček Olomouc Sv. Hostýn Křtiny

St. Pölten

Mariazell – Austria’s most important pilgrimage site.

Carnuntum

Bruck an Mur

Austria

Kőszeg

Seckau

Udine

Aquileia Treviso

Milano

Padova

Verona

Idrija

Rodine

Budapest

Bük

Székesfehervár

Sarvár

Solt

Maribor

Brezje

Radenci

Zalavár

Ptuj

Kaposvár

Ljubljana

Podgrad

Baja

Pécs Zagreb

Predjama

Venezia

Siklós

Beli Manastir

Doroslovo

Cro at ia

Osijek

Genova

Pomposa Comacchio

Bologna

I t a ly Lucca

Firenze

Bosnia and Hercegovina

Ravenna

Forli

Cesena Rimini

Montefiore Conca

Siena

The entire journey from Velehrad to Rome is surrounded by beautiful nature. The heritageSplit of Saints Cyril and Methodius also comes in the form of a series of mountain chapels, which can be found for example in Slovenia, some of them at the height of 1,600 metres above sea level.

Ancona Loreto

Gúbbio

Perugia

Assisi

Todi

San Cassiano

Viterbo Corchiano

Tuzla

Sarajevo Urbino

Bačka Palank

Sre

Piacenza

Parma

Hun

Trdkova

Slove n ia Trieste

Esztergom Kesztölc

Veszprém

Klagenfurt am W.

Mojstrana

Komárno

Graz

Gurk Villach

Nitra Štúrovo

Szombathely

St. Lambrecht

Banská Bystrica

Bratislava

Sopron

Mariazell

Salzburg

Marianka

Wien

Liptovský Mik

S l ovak i a

Trnava

Tulln an der Donau

Amstetten

Bolzano

Skalka n. V.

Šaštín

München

Innsbruck

Terchová

Velehrad Mikulčice

Mikulov Passau

Radhošť

Zlín

Brno

Znojmo

Linz

Kal

Ostrava

Č. Budějovice

Stuttgart

Kra

Raciborz

Opava

Spinal Trail – Product B

G e rma ny

Pescara

S

Montenegro

Campagnano

ROMA Foggia

T Bari

Durrës

Napoli Taranto

Alban 13

Velehrad – Thessaloniki Routes of Exploration and Learning Characteristics – Spinal Trail C: • route as an instrument to connect the nations of Central and Eastern Europe • pilgrim destination: Velehrad (Czech Republic) – Thessaloniki (Greece) • scope of Stage I: Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia – FYROM, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary • key pilgrimage route in the north – south-east connection in the direction to Greece, but in future also to Romania and other countries • the route will play an important role in both the symbolism of Cyril and Methodius and as a challenge to explore and learn more about

a) the cultures of Central Europe (from the perspective of

eastern countries)

b) eastern countries from the perspective of other European nations • in total, it involves more than 3,600 kilometres of routes The route starts in Istanbul (Turkey) and follows two possible directions most likely used by the two brothers to travel to Great Moravia. The first option follows the ancient Roman road Via Egnatia from Istanbul via Thessaloniki (Greece) and then through the Candaviae mountains, and around Lake Ohrid (Macedonia – FYROM) to Durrës (modern-day Albania) on the Adriatic coast. Then by boat to Aquileia (Italy) or Venice (Italy) where the brothers probably continued their journey on the Amber Road to Moravia. The second option (inland) uses mainly the ancient Roman road Via Militaris connecting Istanbul via Sofia (Bulgaria) and Belgrade (Serbia) with the Adriatic Sea. After reaching Belgrade and Sirmium, modern-day Sremska Metrovica in Serbia (Methodius was an archbishop serving in Sirmium), there are two optional directions of the route. The first option connects Sirmium to the eastern Hungarian branch in the direction to Budapest, and the second goes towards Blatengrad (modern-day Zalavár in Hungary) where Cyril and in particular Methodius resided for some time.

Thessaloniki, the birthplace of Constantine (Cyril) and Methodius. The Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius, featuring a creative building concept, commemorates the tradition. The open book represents a symbolic gateway on the way to the church, i.e., the service of God can be entered into through the Bible – the basic concept of Cyril and Methodius.

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Czestochowa Opole

Po l a n d

Toszek

Katowice

Kraków Lviv

Kalwaria Zebrzydowska

Ostrava Český Těšín Sv. Kopeček Olomouc Sv. Hostýn Radhošť Křtiny Terchová Zlín

Brno

U k rai n e

Liptovský Mikuláš

Velehrad

Spišské Podhradie

Levoča Skalka n. V.

Mikulčice

Mikulov

Banská Bystrica

S l ova k i a

Šaštín Trnava Marianka

Carnuntum

Spinal Trail – Product C

Raciborz

Opava

Nitra

Bratislava

Sopron

Štúrovo Komárno

Veszprém

Szombathely

Debrecen

Budapest

Bük

Kőszeg Sarvár

Blatengrad (modern-day Zalavár) was the place where Cyril and in particular Methodius resided.

Esztergom

Kesztölc

Székesfehervár

H u nga r y

Chisina

Solt

Mo

Cluj

Zalavár Kaposvár Baja

Pécs

Siklós

R o man i a

Beli Manastir Timisoara

Doroslovo

C ro at i a

Osijek Bačka Palanka

Zrenjanin

Sremska Mitrovica

Bosnia and Hercegovina

Beograd

Tuzla

Constantinople, Istanbul (Turkey).

The largest and richest city in the Middle Ages.

Its skyline is dominated by the Church of Hagia Bucuresti Sophia or the Church of Holy Wisdom, where Craiova Constantine was the curator of the patriarchal library.

Kostolac

S er b i a

Sarajevo

Split

Crvena Reka

Montenegro

Tirana Bari

Durrës

Taranto

Pleven

Montana Klisurski

Ohrid (Macedonia – FYROM).

The place became a refuge for the followers of Cyril andPodgorica Methodius expelled from the Great Moravian Empire. For example, Saint Clement of Ohrid and Saint Naum made Ohrid the most important centre of Slavic culture and education.

Al b a ni a

Sofia Prishtina

Bul gar i a

Kazanlak Burgas

Rila

Pazardzhik Plovdiv

Macedonia (FYROM) Ochrid

Varna

Veliko Tarnovo

Bojana

Skopje

Constanta

Rakovski Parvomaj Edirna

G reece

Turkey Kavala

Istanbul

Thessaloniki Athos

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Organisation and Partnership Strong support at all levels of public administration in the Czech Republic and partly abroad.

The project of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius (ECRSCM) has a stable organisational structure in the form of an Interest Association of Legal Entities. The association, established by the Zlín Region and the East-Moravian Tourist Authority in 2013, coordinates, manages and administers the ECRSCM project in order to satisfy the conditions for the certification of the route for the programme of cultural routes of the Council of Europe.

The main theme of the route is further developed in five pillars: • cooperation in research and development • enhancement of memory, history and European Heritage • cultural and educational exchanges for young Europeans • contemporary cultural and artistic practice • cultural tourism and sustainable cultural development ECRSCM currently enjoys strong support at all national levels.

The following institutions rank among the supporters of the project: • Zlín Region, South Moravia Region, Moravia-Silesia Region, Olomouc Region • Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry for Regional Development • Masaryk University in Brno and Palacký University in Olomouc • the national tourism agency CzechTourism • the Archdiocese of Olomouc There is also strong international support: • in Italy: Cammini d´Europa association • in Slovakia: Nitra Self-Governing Region, Trenčín Self-Governing Region, Žilina Self-Governing Region • in Greece: Central Macedonia Region • in Macedonia (FYROM): Municipality of Ohrid • support by the European Institute of Cultural Routes

The East-Moravian Tourist Authority and the Zlín Region (Czech Republic) have handled pilgrimage tourism since 2008; since 2011, the two authorities are members of Cammini d‘Europa. The initial idea to develop the Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius was proposed in 2011 on the basis of negotiations between the Zlín Region and the East-Moravian Tourist Authority. The potential of Europe’s historical and cultural heritage associated with the mission of Saints Cyril and Methodius has led to the rapid development of an extensive international network of partners.

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executive body permanent secretariat (CZ)

Spinal Trail A

Spinal Trail B

Partners: • Czech Republic • Slovakia • Poland • Austria • Hungary etc.

Partners: • Italy • Austria • Slovenia etc.

Spinal Trail C

Partners: • Greece • Macedonia – FYROM • Serbia etc.

What and how it works – the Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius

Expert Committee • Research and Development • History • Youth Exchange • Culture • Tourism

ECRSCM Association General Assembly

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Marketing

and initial results

The first outputs of the pilgrimage route of Saints Cyril and Methodius include two projects focused on the development of pilgrimage routes. The routes are located in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Works on the project of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius (ECRSCM) include the following activities: • adjusting the existing routes, designing new parts of the route • setting up a ‘tourist passport’ system for destinations and services along the route • new panels, new tourist signs • website, printed guide • implementation plan • product strategy • strategy of achieving ECRSCM goals in five pillars of development

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Cyril and Methodius pilgrimage routes which are marked: Route in the Czech Republic and a short section in Slovakia: Svatý Kopeček – Svatý Hostýn – Velehrad – Svatý Antonínek – trail in preparation: Skalica – Mikulčice/Kopčany – Šaštín (Slovakia), total length 221 km.

Route in Slovakia: Pilgrimage Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius* (Slovakia), which goes from Nitra (from the south) or from Terchová (from the north) to Skalka nad Váhom (near Trenčín) and then to Velehrad, total length 350 km.

*the Slovak pilgrimage route of Saints Cyril and Methodius is being created by the Diocese of Žilina

Svatý Antonínek (Blatnice pod Svatým Antonínkem, CR)

The management of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius has prepared a marketing management strategy that is the starting point for all marketing activities associated with the route. The strategy covers research outputs, objectives, competitive advantages, and so on. Its basic processes include segmentation, targeting, and product positioning. The marketing management strategy is applied using a range of standard tools.

Svatý Hostýn

What and how it works – the Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius

Svatý Kopeček

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Issued by the Zlin Region in cooperation with the permanent secretariat of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius and East-Moravian Tourist Authority .

Contacts: www.cyril-methodius.eu, phone: 00420 577 043 904, info@cyril-methodius.eu, www.vychodni-morava.cz Concept and texts: Ivan Marek, Ondřej Marek, m-ARK. Design and maps: Tomáš Burda, m-ARK. Photos: m-ARK, iStockphoto, J. Kudrnáč.

Professional proofreading: Prof. PhDr. Miloslav Pojsl