European Destinations of Excellence
Encyclopedia
EDEN is the acronym for European Destinations of Excellence, a project launched by the European Commission
promoting sustainable tourism
development models across the European Union
. The project is based on national competitions that take place every year since 2006 and results in the selection of a “destination of excellence” for each participating country.
The key feature of the selected destinations is their commitment to social, cultural and environmental sustainability. The recipients of the award are emerging, little known European destinations located in the 27 Member States, the Candidate Countries and the EFTA
/EEA
countries.
, whose importance in the EU economy is likely to continue to increase in the coming years. It has a great potential as regards contributing to the achievement of several major EU objectives, such as sustainable development, economic growth, employment as well as economic and social cohesion. For achieving these goals the European Commission
has launched the EDEN project. Its aims and thus the long-term objectives of the EU could be summarized as follows:
publishes one call for proposals to offer its support to the national public administrations in charge of tourism in the Member States (as a rule the National Ministries or other public bodies having the same tasks) to take part in the project and organize a national selection procedure. Candidate Countries and EFTA
/EEA
are admitted as well and will benefit from the same promotional activities as all the EU Member States.
Each country taking part in the project manages its own selection process during the first half of the year. First of all, they organise a communication campaign to inform all possible candidates about the competition. Destinations taking part have to show that economically viable tourism has been developed based on each year’s EDEN theme. The winning destinations are those that best reflect the chosen theme of the year and that offer a unique tourism experience, in line with sustainable patterns.
In the middle of the year, a winning destination per country is selected on the basis of a set of award criteria established at both European and national level. The names of the winners are communicated to the European Commission
, who is in charge of organizing a European Award Ceremony.
Each of the chosen topics serves to highlight different aspects of European regions’ assets and is related to sustainable development in one way or another, whether from a cultural, economic, local involvement or environmental point of view. EDEN topics provide an opportunity for demonstrating the wealth of diversity Europe can offer, including its natural resources, historical heritage, traditional celebrations, local gastronomy and so on.
The 2011 EDEN Award focused on the regeneration of physical sites. The rewarded destinations were those which have regenerated a physical site of their local heritage (e.g. an industrial, transport infrastructure, agricultural or a military site) and converted it into a tourism attraction to be used as a catalyst for wider local regeneration. Twenty-one destinations were officially awarded in Brussels on 27 September 2011.
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
promoting sustainable tourism
Sustainable tourism
Sustainable tourism is tourism attempting to make a low impact on the environment and local culture, while helping to generate future employment for local people. The aim of sustainable tourism is to ensure that development brings a positive experience for local people, tourism companies and the...
development models across the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. The project is based on national competitions that take place every year since 2006 and results in the selection of a “destination of excellence” for each participating country.
The key feature of the selected destinations is their commitment to social, cultural and environmental sustainability. The recipients of the award are emerging, little known European destinations located in the 27 Member States, the Candidate Countries and the EFTA
European Free Trade Association
The European Free Trade Association or EFTA is a free trade organisation between four European countries that operates parallel to, and is linked to, the European Union . EFTA was established on 3 May 1960 as a trade bloc-alternative for European states who were either unable to, or chose not to,...
/EEA
European Economic Area
The European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal...
countries.
The objectives of EDEN
Tourism is a strategic economic activity in the European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, whose importance in the EU economy is likely to continue to increase in the coming years. It has a great potential as regards contributing to the achievement of several major EU objectives, such as sustainable development, economic growth, employment as well as economic and social cohesion. For achieving these goals the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
has launched the EDEN project. Its aims and thus the long-term objectives of the EU could be summarized as follows:
- to draw attention to the value, diversity and shared characteristics of European touristic destinations
- to enhance the visibility of the emerging European tourist destinations of excellence, especially the lesser known ones
- to create a platform for sharing good practices across Europe
- to award and encourage sustainable forms of tourism
- to turn the less known places in Europe into all-year-round venues and help decongest over-visited tourist destinations
- to promote all European countries and regions, and
- to promote networking between awarded destinations for the purpose of other destinations to adopt sustainable tourism development models.
Selection process of the EDEN destinations
Every year, the European CommissionEuropean Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
publishes one call for proposals to offer its support to the national public administrations in charge of tourism in the Member States (as a rule the National Ministries or other public bodies having the same tasks) to take part in the project and organize a national selection procedure. Candidate Countries and EFTA
European Free Trade Association
The European Free Trade Association or EFTA is a free trade organisation between four European countries that operates parallel to, and is linked to, the European Union . EFTA was established on 3 May 1960 as a trade bloc-alternative for European states who were either unable to, or chose not to,...
/EEA
European Economic Area
The European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal...
are admitted as well and will benefit from the same promotional activities as all the EU Member States.
Each country taking part in the project manages its own selection process during the first half of the year. First of all, they organise a communication campaign to inform all possible candidates about the competition. Destinations taking part have to show that economically viable tourism has been developed based on each year’s EDEN theme. The winning destinations are those that best reflect the chosen theme of the year and that offer a unique tourism experience, in line with sustainable patterns.
In the middle of the year, a winning destination per country is selected on the basis of a set of award criteria established at both European and national level. The names of the winners are communicated to the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, who is in charge of organizing a European Award Ceremony.
The EDEN editions
Each EDEN edition is developed around an annual theme, chosen by the Commission together with the relevant national tourism bodies. This theme functions as a leitmotif: so far, Rural Tourism (2007), Intangible Heritage (2008), Protected Areas (2009) and Aquatic Tourism (2010) have been the main EDEN themes. The topic for year 2011 has been Tourism and Regeneration of Physical Sites.Each of the chosen topics serves to highlight different aspects of European regions’ assets and is related to sustainable development in one way or another, whether from a cultural, economic, local involvement or environmental point of view. EDEN topics provide an opportunity for demonstrating the wealth of diversity Europe can offer, including its natural resources, historical heritage, traditional celebrations, local gastronomy and so on.
EDEN in 2011 Tourism and Regeneration of Physical Sites
EDEN in 2011 Tourism and Regeneration of Physical SitesThe 2011 EDEN Award focused on the regeneration of physical sites. The rewarded destinations were those which have regenerated a physical site of their local heritage (e.g. an industrial, transport infrastructure, agricultural or a military site) and converted it into a tourism attraction to be used as a catalyst for wider local regeneration. Twenty-one destinations were officially awarded in Brussels on 27 September 2011.
2011 – Tourism and Regeneration of physical sites
- City of Gmünd / Carinthia (Austria)
- Marche-en-FamenneMarche-en-FamenneMarche-en-Famenne is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Luxembourg. It is the unofficial capital of the Famenne region, sandwiched between the Condroz, former land of the Condrusi, to the north and the Ardennes to the south....
(Belgium) - Pustara Višnjica (Croatia)
- Kalopanayiotis (Cyprus)
- Slovácko (Czech Republic)
- Lahemaa National Park ManorsLahemaa National ParkLahemaa National Park is located on Northern Estonia, 70 kilometers east from capital Tallinn. Its area covers 725 km² . It was the first national park of the former Soviet Union...
(Estonia) - RoubaixRoubaixRoubaix is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is located between the cities of Lille and Tourcoing.The Gare de Roubaix railway station offers connections to Lille, Tourcoing, Antwerp, Ostend and Paris.-Culture:...
(France) - Municipality of DelphiDelphiDelphi is both an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the south-western spur of Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis.In Greek mythology, Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god...
(Greece) - MecsekMecsekMecsek is a mountain range in southern Hungary. It is situated in the Baranya region, in the north of the city of Pécs.-Geography:The mountains cover an area of approximately 500 km². The highest peak in the mountain range is Zengő , which has an elevation of 682 metres...
(Hungary) - Stykkishólmur MunicipalityStykkishólmurStykkishólmur is a town and municipality situated in the western part of Iceland, to the north of the Snæfellsnes peninsula.With its 1,100 inhabitants, it is a center of services and commerce for the area. Most of the people make their living from fishing and tourism. A ferry called Baldur goes...
(Iceland) - The Great Western Greenway, Co Mayo (Ireland)
- MontevecchioMontevecchioMontevecchio is one of the most ancient mining sites in Italy. The site is located in the south west of Sardinia, in the Province of Medio Campidano...
, Municipality of Guspini (Italy) - Ligatne Village (Latvia)
- Rokiškis ManorRokiškisRokiškis is a city in northeastern Lithuania with population of about 16,000.-History:The legend of the founding of Rokiškis tells about a hunter called Rokas who had been hunting for hares . However, cities ending in "-kiškis" are quite popular in the region. The city was first mentioned in 1499...
(Lithuania) - Għarb (Malta)
- VeenhuizenVeenhuizenVeenhuizen is the name of several towns in the Netherlands:* Veenhuizen * Veenhuizen in the province of Drenthe* Veenhuizen in the province of Drenthe* Veenhuizen in the province of Groningen...
(The Netherlands) - ŻyrardówZyrardówŻyrardów is a town in central Poland with 41,400 inhabitants . It is situated in the Masovian Voivodship ; previously, it was in Skierniewice Voivodship 45 km West of Warsaw. It is the capital of Żyrardów County...
(Poland) - Faial Nature ParkFaial IslandFaial Island , also known in English as Fayal, is a Portuguese island of the Central Group of the Azores....
(Portugal) - IdrijaIdrijaIdrija is a small town and municipality in the Goriška region of Slovenia. It is known for its mercury mine and lace....
(Slovenia) - Trasmiera Ecopark (Spain)
- Hamamönü-Altındağ Ankara (Turkey)
2010 – Aquatic Tourism
- Seelentium (Austria)
- The Lakes of Eau d’HeureLake Eau d'HeureThe Lake Eau d'Heure is the most important artificial lake in Belgium. Its dams were built during the seventies. The lake is not far from the village of Cerfontaine and the border with France. The river of the lake is the Eau d'Heure River...
(Belgium) - Regional Administration SilistraSilistraSilistra is a port city of northeastern Bulgaria, lying on the southern bank of the lower Danube at the country's border with Romania. Silistra is the administrative centre of Silistra Province and one of the important cities of the historical region of Southern Dobrudzha...
(Bulgaria) - NinNin, CroatiaNin is a town in the Zadar county of Croatia, population 1,256 , total municipality population 4,603 .Nin was historically important as a centre of a Christian Bishopric in the Middle Ages. Up to the abolition and Latinization imposed by King Tomislav in the first half of the 10th century, Nin was...
(Croatia) - Kato PyrgosPyrgos (Cyprus)Pyrgos is officially composed of two villages, the larger Kato Pyrgos and the smaller Pano Pyrgos . Together they have around 3000 inhabitants. Pyrgos is the only Cypriot town located on the Morphou Bay controlled by the Greek-Cypriot government...
(Cyprus) - Bystřicko (Czech Republic)
- Lake VõrtsjärvVõrtsjärvLake Võrtsjärv is a lake in southern Estonia with an area of 270 km² . It is the second largest lake of Estonia. The shallow lake is 33.7 m above sea level. The river Emajõgi flows from Lake Võrtsjärv to Lake Peipus.-External links:**...
(Estonia) - SaimaaSaimaaSaimaa is a lake in southeastern Finland. At approximately , it is the largest lake in Finland, and the fourth largest in Europe. It was formed by glacial melting at the end of the Ice Age. Major towns on the lakeshore include Lappeenranta, Imatra, Savonlinna, Mikkeli, Varkaus, and Joensuu. The...
Holiday (Finland) - The Grand Site du Marais PoitevinMarais PoitevinThe Marais Poitevin is a large area of marshland in Western France, a remnant of the former Gulf of Poitou...
(France) - Western Pomeranian River District (Germany)
- Prefecture of SerresSerresSerres is a city in Greece, seat of the Serres prefecture.Serres may also refer to:Places:* Serres, Germany, a part of Wiernsheim in Baden-WürttembergIn France:* Serres, Aude in the Aude département...
(Greece) - Lake TiszaTiszaThe Tisza or Tisa is one of the main rivers of Central Europe. It rises in Ukraine, and is formed near Rakhiv by the junction of headwaters White Tisa, whose source is in the Chornohora mountains and Black Tisa, which springs in the Gorgany range...
(Hungary) - The WestfjordsWestfjordsThe Westfjords or West Fjords is the name for the large peninsula in northwestern Iceland. It is connected to the rest of Iceland by a 7 km wide isthmus between Gilsfjörður and Bitrufjörður. The Westfjords are very mountainous; the coastline is heavily indented by dozens of fjords surrounded by...
region (Iceland) - Loop HeadLoop HeadLoop Head , is a headland on the north side of the mouth of the River Shannon, in County Clare in the west of Ireland.Loop Head is marked by a prominent lighthouse. The opposite headland on the south side of the Shannon is Kerry Head...
Peninsula in Co. Clare – KilbahaKilbahaKilbaha, County Clare, Ireland, is a small fishing village located on the Loop Head peninsula.-History:According to Parliamentary Gazeteer of Ireland 1845 the village had a population of 460 in 1831, and 531 in 1841.-Location and transport:...
(Ireland) - Municipality of Monte IsolaMonte IsolaMonte Isola is a town and comune in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy. It is located on an island of the same name in Lake Iseo.With a total area of 12.8 km², Monte Isola ranks as the largest lake island not only in Italy, but also in South and Central Europe...
(Italy) - Sea Resort JūrmalaJurmalaJūrmala is a city in Latvia, about 25 kilometers west of Riga. Jūrmala is a resort town stretching and sandwiched between the Gulf of Riga and the Lielupe River...
(Latvia) - ZarasaiZarasaiZarasai is a city in northeastern Lithuania, surrounded by many lakes and rivers: to the southwest of the city is Zarasas, north – Zarasaitis, southeast – Baltas, and east – Griežtas. Zarasaitis and Griežtas are connected by Laukesa rivulet....
Region – Heavenly Shore on Earth (Lithuania) - The Nature Park of the Upper SûreUpper Sûre Natural ParkThe Upper Sûre Natural Park is a national park in north-western Luxembourg. Located in the Oesling region, the park is primarily an area of conservation and a specially protected area for wild birds....
(Luxembourg) - Isla (SengleaSengleaSenglea is a fortified city in the east of Malta, mainly in the Grand Harbour area. It is one of the Three Cities in the east of Malta, the other two being Cospicua and Vittoriosa. The city of Senglea is also called Civitas Invicta, because it managed to resist the Ottoman invasion at the Great...
) (Malta) - WaterReijk De Weerribben Wieden – Giethoorn & the wetlands (the Netherlands)
- The Biebrza Valley and WetlandsBiebrza National ParkBiebrza National Park is a national park in Podlaskie Voivodeship, northeastern Poland, situated along the Biebrza River.The largest of Poland’s 23 National Parks, the Biebrza National Park was created on September 9, 1993...
– Wildlife Sanctuary (Poland) - Geoagiu Băi (Romania)
- River KolpaKupaKupa may refer to:*Kupa River, a river in Croatia and Slovenia*Kupa River , a river in Lithuania*Kupa River in Siberia, see Kuta River*Kupa Synagogue, a synagogue in Krakow*Kupa, Hungary, a village in Northern Hungary...
(Slovenia) - A GuardaA GuardaA Guarda is a municipality in Galicia, Spain in the province of Pontevedra.-External Links:*...
(Spain) - Bitlis-Nemrut Crater LakeLake NemrutLake Nemrut in Volcano Nemrut, in the Bitlis Province, eastern part of Turkey. It is located at , close to Lake Van. Lake Nemrut is located in the elevation of about 2,247 m. It has an area of 12.36 km² and maximum depth of 176 m.-External Links:*...
(Turkey)
2009 - Tourism and protected areas
- Biosphere Park Grosses Walsertal (Austria)
- ViroinvalViroinvalViroinval is a Walloon municipality located in Belgium in the province of Namur. On January 1, 2006 Viroinval had a total population of 5,680. The total area is 120.90 km² which gives a population density of 47 inhabitants per km².-Villages in Viroinval:...
/ Viroin-Hermeton Nature Park (Belgium) - BelitsaBelitsaBelitsa is a town in southwestern Bulgaria, located in the Belitsa Municipality of the Blagoevgrad oblast .-External links:* *...
, Blagoevgrad region (Bulgaria) - National Park Sjeverni VelebitNational Park Sjeverni VelebitNational Park Sjeverni Velebit is a national park in Croatia that covers 109 km² of the northern section of the Velebit mountain, the largest mountain in Croatia...
(Croatia) - Vouni Panagias (Cyprus)
- Bohemian Switzerland (Czech Republic)
- Soomaa National ParkSoomaa National ParkSoomaa National Park is national park in south-western Estonia. Soomaa protects 390 km², and is a Ramsar site of protected wetlands...
(Estonia) - Northern Vosges Regional Natural Park (France)
- Petrified Forest of LesvosPetrified Forest of LesvosThe petrified forest of Lesvos is a petrified forest on Lesvos in Greece.It has been designated as a protected natural monument. The petrified forest of Lesvos was formed from the fossilized remains of plants, which can be found in many localities on the western part of Lesvos Island...
(Greece) - ÍrottkőÍrott-koÍrott-kő or Geschriebenstein is the highest mountain of the Kőszeg Mountains range, located on the border between Austria and Hungary. Its height is 884 m according to Austrian sources, whereas Hungarian references mostly mention 883 m. It is the highest mountain of Western Hungary and of...
Nature Park (Hungary) - Sheep’s Head peninsula (Ireland)
- Marine Protected Area "Penisola del Sinis - Isola di Mal di Ventre" (Italy)
- Tervete Nature park (Latvia)
- Nemunas Delta Regional ParkNemunas Delta Regional ParkNemunas Delta Regional Park, established in 1994, is located in Lithuania within the Nemunas Delta where the Nemunas flows into the Baltic Sea. The park covers 29,013 hectares....
- Unique Terrain of Harmony of Nature, Culture and Tourism (Lithuania) - Recreation area and nature reserve "Haff Réimech" (Commune of Schengen) (Luxembourg)
- Mellieħa and the Hamlet of Manikata (Malta)
- Park Gravenrode (Netherlands)
- The Birds Republic in the Warta MouthUjscie Warty National ParkThe Ujście Warty National Park, also, Warta River Mouth National Park, is the youngest of Poland's 23 National Parks. It was created on June 19, 2001, in the region of the lowest stretch of the Warta river, up to its confluence with the Odra , which marks the Polish–German border. The Park...
(Poland) - Apuseni Nature Park (Romania)
- Solčavsko (Slovenia)
- The EbroEbroThe Ebro or Ebre is one of the most important rivers in the Iberian Peninsula. It is the biggest river by discharge volume in Spain.The Ebro flows through the following cities:*Reinosa in Cantabria.*Miranda de Ebro in Castile and León....
Delta (Spain) - KarsKarsKars is a city in northeast Turkey and the capital of Kars Province. The population of the city is 73,826 as of 2010.-Etymology:As Chorzene, the town appears in Roman historiography as part of ancient Armenia...
- Kuyucuk Lake Wild Life Reserve (Turkey)
2008 - Tourism and local intangible heritage
- Steirisches Vulkanland (Austria)
- AthAthAth is a Belgian municipality located in the Walloon province of Hainaut. The Ath municipality includes the old communes of Lanquesaint, Irchonwelz, Ormeignies, Bouvignies, Ostiches, Rebaix, Maffle, Arbre, Houtaing, Ligne, Mainvault, Moulbaix, Villers-Notre-Dame, Villers-Saint-Amand, Ghislenghien...
(Belgium) - BelogradchikBelogradchikBelogradchik is a town in Vidin Province, Northwestern Bulgaria, the administrative centre of the homonymous Belogradchik Municipality. The town, whose name literally means "small white town," is situated in the foothills of the Balkan Mountains just east of the Serbian border and about 50 km...
(Bulgaria) - Đurđevac (Croatia)
- AgrosAgros, CyprusAgros is a village built on the Troödos Mountains, in the region of Pitsilia, in southwest Cyprus, which has built amphitheatrically among high mountains at an altitude of 1100 metres with a population of approximately 1,000. Agros is one of the most interesting villages of Cyprus and the...
(Cyprus) - ViljandiViljandiViljandi is a town and municipality in southern Estonia with a population of 19,150 . It is the capital of Viljandi County. The town was first mentioned in 1283, upon being granted its town charter by Wilhelm von Endorpe....
(Estonia) - Wild Taiga (Finland)
- Route des vins du Jura (France)
- GrevenaGrevenaGrevena is a town and municipality in Greece, capital of the Grevena peripheral unit. The town's current population is 10,447 citizens; it lies about 400 km from Athens and about 180 km from Thessaloniki. The municipality's population is 30,564...
(Greece) - HortobágyHortobágyHortobágy is both the name of a village in Hajdú-Bihar county and an 800 km² national park in Eastern Hungary, rich with folklore and cultural history. The park, a part of the Alföld , was designated as a national park in 1973 , and elected among the World Heritage sites in 1999...
(Hungary) - Carlingford and the Cooley PeninsulaCooley peninsulaThe Cooley Peninsula is a hilly peninsula in County Louth, Ireland, which includes towns such as Omeath, Carlingford and Greenore.-Geography:...
(Ireland) - CorinaldoCorinaldoCorinaldo is a town and comune in the Province of Ancona, within the Marche region of central Italy. As of 2005 it had a population of 5,187 inhabitants...
(Italy) - RēzekneRezekneIn the 19th century, the population of Rēzekne was 2/3 Jewish. As a result of the Pale of Settlement many Jews settled in Latgalia and were confined to the cities. The remainder of the population included Poles, Germans, Russians, and an extreme minority of native Latgalians...
(Latvia) - PlateliaiPlateliaiPlateliai is a town in Samogitia, Lithuania. It is situated on the west bank of Lake Plateliai, the largest lake in Samogitia. The town with the population of about 1,100 people is the center of an elderate in Plungė district municipality. It is the administrative center of the Žemaitija National...
(Lithuania) - EchternachEchternachEchternach is a commune with city status in the canton of Echternach, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher, in eastern Luxembourg. Echternach lies near the border with Germany, and is the oldest town in Luxembourg....
(Luxembourg) - KercemKercemTa' Kerċem is a village on Gozo Island, Malta, with a population of 1,654 people .The village of Ta' Kerċem lies close by to the south-west of Victoria, spread between the picturesque Lunzjata Valley, the green hills of Tal-Mixta, Għar Ilma and Ta' Dbieġi, and stretching up to the Pond of Għadira...
(Malta) - HorezuHorezuHorezu is a town located in Vâlcea County, Romania, about 43km from Râmnicu Vâlcea. The town administers six villages: Ifrimeşti, Râmeşti, Romanii de Jos, Romanii de Sus, Tănăseşti and Urşani....
Depression (Romania) - The SočaSocaThe Soča or Isonzo is a 140 km long river that flows through western Slovenia and northeastern Italy. An Alpine river in character, its source lies in the Trenta Valley in the Julian Alps in Slovenia, at an elevation of around 1,100 metres...
Valley (Slovenia) - Sierra de las NievesSierra de las NievesThe Sierra de las Nieves natural park is located in the hills behind Marbella and to the east of the road to Ronda from the Costa del Sol in Andalucia in Southern Spain....
(Spain) - EdirneEdirneEdirne is a city in Eastern Thrace, the northwestern part of Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. Edirne served as the capital city of the Ottoman Empire from 1365 to 1453, before Constantinople became the empire's new capital. At present, Edirne is the capital of the Edirne...
(Turkey)
2007 - Best Emerging European Rural Destinations of Excellence
- Pielachtal (Austria)
- DurbuyDurbuyDurbuy is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Luxembourg. On 1 January 2007 the municipality had 10,633 inhabitants. The total area is 156.61 km², giving a population density of 67.9 inhabitants per km²....
(Belgium) - Sveti Martin na Muri (Croatia)
- TroodosTroodos MountainsTroodos is the biggest mountain range of Cyprus, located in the center of the island. Troodos' highest peak is Mount Olympus at 1,952 metres.The Troodos mountain range stretches across most of the western side of Cyprus...
(Cyprus) - FlorinaFlorinaFlorina is a town and municipality in mountainous northwestern Macedonia, Greece. Its motto is, 'Where Greece begins'. It is also the Metropolitan seat for the region. It lies in the central part of Florina peripheral unit, of which it is the capital. Florina belongs to the periphery of West...
(Greece) - Őrség (Hungary)
- ClonakiltyClonakiltyClonakilty , often referred to by locals simply as Clon, is a small town on the N71 national secondary road in West County Cork, Ireland, approximately 45 minutes away by road to the west of Cork City. The town is on the southern coast of the island, and is surrounded by hilly country devoted...
District (Ireland) - SpecchiaSpecchiaSpecchia is a town and comune in the province of Lecce. in the Apulia region of southeast Italy.-Main sights:*Mother Church *Church of the Francescani Neri *Baroque church of Assunta...
(Italy) - KuldigaKuldigaKuldīga is a town in western Latvia. It is the center of Kuldīga municipality with a population of approximately 13,500.Kuldīga was first mentioned in 1242. It joined the Hanseatic League in 1368...
(Latvia) - NadurNadur-History:The word "Nadur" which in Maltese means "lookout", is derived from the Arabic word nadara. The town's motto means much the same. Ajwa....
( Malta)