Development of the Yotvingians road on the Lithuanian-Polish border (Jotvingija)
Project number:
LTPL00257
Project number:
Ongoing
Call:
2
Priority:
2. Promoting physical, emotional and cultural wellbeing
Specific objective:
2.2 - Enhancing the role of culture and sustainable tourism in economic development, social inclusion and social innovation
Date:
From: 2024.12.01 Till: 2025.11.30
Project summary:
The Lazdijai Cultural Center and the Municipality of Punsk are implementing a project to create the cross-border Yotvingians Road, enhancing it with cultural initiatives, activities, and events to preserve and promote the material and immaterial heritage of the Yotvingians. While each partner has individually nurtured Yotvingian identity, this joint effort aims to establish a unique cultural tourism route spanning Lithuania and Poland. Following the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture's guidelines for creating cultural routes, the project emphasizes partnership as a key criterion for sustainability and seeks to overcome the lack of collaboration among stakeholders. The project’s main goal is to develop the Yotvingians Road and implement joint actions that increase sustainable tourism, community participation, and regional development while revitalizing Yotvingian cultural heritage. Activities are structured into four phases: Discover, Create, Develop, and Share. In the Discover phase, tourism and cultural workers, along with historians, will explore and document 50 locations, study maps, and engage in site visits to ensure authenticity and strengthen cross-border partnerships. The Create phase transforms the route into bookable experiences, including educational programs and interactive games such as the “Secrets of the Yotvingian Kitchen” and “The Talisman of Yotvingian Luck.” Develop activities focus on implementing five new events, educational programs, and experiential spaces, including the Traveling Crafts Center in Punsk and the Yotvingian Experience Space at Rudamina Crafts Center, to deepen engagement with the heritage. In the Share phase, communication efforts will continue post-project, including an electronic website with an interactive map to enhance accessibility and visibility of the route. By fostering collaboration among border tourists, cultural workers, craftsmen, NGOs, small businesses, and local communities, the Yotvingians Road project not only preserves and promotes cultural heritage but also lays the groundwork for future expansion, including the potential development of additional knowledge centers, cultural products, and an international European Baltic tribe route.
Lead Partner:
Lazdijai Cultural Centre
Lead Partner region:
Alytus county
Project Partner(s):
Punsk Municipality
Total project budget:
154.092,96
ERDF:
123.274,36
Does the project contribute to the implementation of the EU BSRS?
Yes