The European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH) is a tourist route of the most important industrial heritage sites in Europe. This is a tourism industry information initiative to present a network of industrial heritage sites across Europe. The aim of the project is to create interest in the common European heritage of the industrialisation and its legacy. ERIH also wants to promote regions, towns and sites showing the industrial history and market them as visitor attractions in the leisure and tourism industry.

History The concept of using a European Route of Industrial Heritage was born in 1999; it was recognised there had been no single event to shape the European landscape greater than the Industrial Revolution. That changed the working culture of all Europeans, and gave common experiences to communities across Europe whether it be deep mine coal working in the Ruhr or South Wales. Four countries, Great Britain, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands successfully applied for EU Interreg IIC (North-Western Europe) funding to draw up a master plan. The plan demonstrates the economic potential as a primarily marketing brand. It also shows a possible structure. Its reasoning was that many individual sites had great footfall others had a very low profile. They used the analogy of small shops gathering together in large shopping centres for joint promotion. In the language of EU proposals the hubs are called anchor points; these could be cities or existing industrial sites with a developed tourism infrastructure.

The plan culminated in the Duisburg Declaration.

With the plan adopted its implementation was funded by Interreg IIIB-north-western Europe, and the scheme rolled out; starting in the northwest and progressing south and east. ERIH is a registered association under German law. When funding ran out there were 850 member attractions which has risen to 1,850 sites across the EU28 countries. In October 2014 further funding was obtained from the EU Creative Europe programme. The European Route of Industrial Heritage has been a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe since 2019.

Anchor points The – virtual – main route is built by the so-called Anchor Points. These are Industrial Heritage sites which are the historically most important and most attractive for visitors. The route leads through 13 countries thus far (in 2014): United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Portugal (in 2017).

The anchor sites in are:

Nation Location Site Theme(s)ManchesterScience and Industry MuseumTransport, power, textiles, communications and computingAmsterdamHeineken Experience – Heineken BreweryProduction and manufacturingAugsburgTextile and industrial museum (tim)TextilesBirminghamMuseum of the Jewellery QuarterProduction and manufacturingBlaenavonBig Pit National Coal MuseumMining, landscapesBlegnyBlegny-MineMiningBocholtTextilWerk Bocholt LWL Industrial MuseumTextilesCalaisThe International City of Lace and FashionTextilesCarboniaItalian Centre for Coal Mining, CultureMining, landscapesChemnitzChemnitz Museum of IndustryTextiles, production and manufacturing, transport and communicationCopenhagenVisit Carlsberg / Carlsberg Visitors CentreProduction and manufacturingCornellà de LlobregatMuseu Agbar de les AigüesWaterCromfordDerwent Valley MillsTextiles, landscapesDelmenhorstNordwolleTextiles, housing and architectureDortmundLWL Industrial Museum Zollern II/IV CollieryMining, housing and architectureDuisburgNorth Duisburg Landscape ParkIron and steel, landscapesDundeeVerdant WorksTextilesDuxfordImperial War Museum DuxfordTransport and communication, industry and warElsecarElsecar Heritage CentreMiningEnschedeDe MuseumFabriekTextilesEssenZollverein XII Colliery & Coking Plant World Heritage SiteMining, housing and architectureEuskirchenLVR Industrial Museum Mueller Cloth MillTextilesFalunFalun Mine, World Heritage SiteMining, landscapesFurtwangenGerman Clock Museum, German Clock RouteProduction and manufacturingGentMuseum of Industrial Archaeology and TextileTextilesGoslarMines of Rammelsberg World Heritage SiteMiningGräfenhainichenFerropolis - Town of IronMining, iron and steelGrimetonWorld Heritage GrimetonTransport and communicationGrossouvreCharcoal halle of GrossouvreIron and steelHaarlemmermeerSteam Pumping Station De CruquiusWater, housing and architectureHamburgHamburg Museum of WorkProduction and manufacturing, transport and communicationHoornHoorn-Medemblik Steam Tram MuseumTransport and communicationHoyerswerdaLusatia Mining Museum, Knappenrode Energy FactoryMining, application of power, landscapesKerkradeDiscovery Center Continium, KerkradeMining, production and manufacturingKongens LyngbyBrede WorksTextiles, production and manufacturing, housing and architectureLageWestphalian Industrial Museum Brick Works LageProduction and manufacturingLanarkNew LanarkTextiles, housing and architectureLichterfeldOverburden Conveyor Bridge F60 Mining, iron and steel, landscapesLlanberisNational Slate MuseumProduction and manufacturing, housing and architecture, landscapesŁódźManufaktura, Museum of the FactoryTextilesŁódźWhite FactoryTextilesŁódźEC1 Łódź – City of CultureApplication of powerLondonLondon Museum of Water & SteamApplication of power, waterMarcinelleBois du CazierMiningMedemblikNetherlands Steam Machine MuseumProduction and manufacturing, application of powerNarvikMuseum Nord, NarvikTransport and communicationNorthwichLion Salt WorksMining, saltOberhausenGasometer next to CentrOIron and steel, application of powerOsloNorwegian Museum of Science, Technology, Industry and MedicineTextilesOstravaMichal MineMiningPapenburgMeyer ShipyardProduction and manufacturing, transport and communicationPeenemündeThe Peenemünde Historical MuseumProduction and manufacturing, application of power, landscapesPendeen, PenzanceGeevor Tin MineMining, landscapesPetite-RosselleCarreau Wendel MuseumMiningPilsenPilsner Urquell Brewery and MuseumProduction and manufacturingPratoCampolmi Factory, Lazzerini Library, Textile MuseumTextilesRedruthHeartlandsMiningRjukanNorwegian Industrial Workers MuseumApplication of powerSheffieldKelham Island MuseumIron and steel, production and manufacturing, application of powerSolingenLVR Industrial Museum Hendrichs Drop ForgeIron and steelSouthamptonBursledon Brickworks Industrial MuseumProduction and manufacturingSpillumNorwegian Sawmill MuseumProduction and manufacturingSt AustellWheal MartynProduction and manufacturing, landscapes, miningSwanseaNational Waterfront MuseumMining, iron and steel, production and manufacturing, transport and communicationTarnowskie GóryTarnowskie Góry silver mineMiningTelfordIronbridge Gorge MuseumsIron and steel, production and manufacturing, transport and communicationTerrassaCatalan Museum of Science and IndustryTextiles, transport and communication, application of powerTychyTyskie Brewing MuseumProduction and manufacturingTyssedalNorwegian Museum of Hydro Power and IndustryApplication of power, landscapesVölklingenWorld Heritage Site Voelklingen Iron WorksIron and steel, application of power, landscapesWakefieldNational Coal Mining Museum for EnglandMiningWaltham AbbeyWaltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder MillsProduction and manufacturing, transport and communication, landscapesZaandamZaanse SchansApplication of power, waterZabrzeGuido historic coal mineMiningZehdenickMildenberg Brick Work ParkProduction and manufacturingZevenaarBrick Works De PanovenProduction and manufacturingZwickauAugust Horch MuseumProduction and manufacturing, transport and communicationŻywiecŻywiec Brewery MuseumProduction and manufacturing

Regional Routes Regional Routes (like the Route der Industriekultur in the Ruhr) cover regions as where industrial history has left its mark. there are seventeen: Austria Styrian Iron Trail Germany Northwest Ruhrgebiet Industrial Valleys Euregio Maas-Rhine Saxony-Anhalt Lusatia Rhine-Main Saar Lor Lux Netherlands HollandRoute Euregio Maas-Rhine Poland Silesia Spain Catalonia

United Kingdom Southwest Yorkshire South Wales Cornwall

European Theme Routes Thirteen European Theme Routes show the diversity of industrial landscapes all over Europe and the common roots of industrial history: Application of Power Housing and Architecture Industry and War Iron and Steel Industrial Landscapes Mining Paper Production & Manufacturing Salt Service and Leisure Industry Textiles Transport & Communication Water

Footnotes

References

External links

Official website