European Heritage Days

The European Heritage Days is co-organised by the European Union and the Council of Europe, which launched the action in 1985. It is among the most widely celebrated participatory cultural events in Europe.

The various European Heritage DaysEvents attract thousands of visitors from all over Europe each year, with the intention of contributing towards creating a better understanding and more interest for cultural heritage and cultural environments. Organisations, companies and individuals are all welcome to participate in, or organise, local events during the Heritage Days, which has a new theme each year.

In Sweden the event it is called ”Kulturarvsdagen” and always takes place on the second weekend of September. Cultural environments, cultural landscapes and culturally historic places of interest will be shown all over the country on that day – and the history around these will be told. The Swedish National Heritage Board is the national coordinator, and coordinates the event in Sweden in collaboration with Sweden’s Local Heritage Federation and the Working Life Museums Co-operation Council.

Theme 2025 celebrates Sweden’s architectural culture.

The overall shared theme for the European Heritage Days in 2025 is ”Architectural Heritage”.

Why not join and discover what the theme presents in Sweden at this year’s event, Friday to Sunday, 12 to 14 of September? Or participate yourself. Everyone who wishes to, is welcome to suggest activities related to the theme.

This year marks 50 years since the European Architectural Heritage Year 1975. The Year of Architectural Heritage was a reaction to the extensive demolitions during the 1960s and 1970s. At that time, large parts of the historic housing stock in Swedish cities disappeared. It is estimated that between 30,000 and 40,000 houses from the 19th century were demolished between 1960 and 1975, and over 100,000 homes built before the turn of the century disappeared. In cities such as Katrineholm and Hagfors, up to 80 percent of the housing stock was demolished. The aim of the Year of Building Conservation was to raise awareness of the irreplaceable values that exist in our historic buildings and environments.

Today we face similar challenges with great development pressure, the need for new housing, the energy crisis and demolitions. But now issues of environment, climate, energy and sustainability are even more central – both in cities and in the countryside.