KITE II – Keep in touch, Europe II
All people in Europe have the privilege to live in countries where they can exhibit cultural and historical sites with worldwide glow. Austria, Germany, Italy, Greece, Portugal and many other countries have cultural heritage almost everywhere: ancient monuments, intangible cultural heritage like mining traditions, agricultural traditions, regional cuisine, folklore, places of interest for tourists and many others.
This is a unique privilege for every country which on the other hand makes the obligation for the conservation or preservation of this heritage. The protection of this cultural heritage is not only an ethical duty, but also our interest, because our heritage is our wealth in literally terms. Furthermore, cultural heritage as a basic factor of our European culture can be seen as a source of prestige for every country, as well as it remains a part of every European’s life.
We can distinct cultural heritage into tangible culture (such as buildings, monuments, landscapes, books, works of art, and artifacts), intangible culture (such as folklore, traditions, language, and knowledge), and natural heritage (including culturally significant landscapes, and biodiversity).
Cultural heritage means:
A means of understanding of social reality. Through the close consideration and study students will have the chance to learn about important facts, which come into light when considering the past, present and future development of social economic circumstances, social organizations, institutions, scientific knowledge and the technological level of specific communities. In other words, through them an entire era is reconstructed.
A prerequisite of national self-knowledge and a source of historical knowledge : many of the cultural workpieces have been constructed in order to honour important events of the past in times of peace or war. Their study and substantial contact of students with them functions as a means of re examining history and extracting important lessons for the present and the future.
A proof of cultural particularity : Every nation has created monuments, as well as intangible cultural heritage through the passing of ages, in which they depict their totally distinctive course in time, their sensitivity and inventiveness. As a result, many of these are identified with the specific country and the specific region.
A source of inspiration and original artistic creation : Some of the tangible cultural heritage due to its perfection acts as unsurpassed models of beauty and provide the modern artistic industry with inspiration.
A source of income for countries and local communities: Their conservation and careful highlighting can attract an important number of visitors, thus yielding important income for national economy.