Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
August 23, 2025
Holy Grail Route Earns Top EU Rating, Nears Historic Cultural Recognition
TLDR
- The Way of the Holy Grail route gains competitive advantage with Council of Europe's highest 'excellent' rating, positioning it alongside major European cultural routes like Camino de Santiago.
- The route combines historical research by international experts, sustainable tourism practices, and digital innovation through smart routes to enhance cultural and economic development systematically.
- This cultural itinerary promotes peace, intercultural dialogue, and revitalizes rural communities through educational programs and responsible tourism that preserves European heritage.
- Discover the fascinating story of the Holy Grail route connecting history, art, and nature across Spain, France, and Italy with cutting-edge smart tourism technology.
Impact - Why it Matters
This recognition matters because it elevates an emerging cultural route to European prominence, creating new opportunities for sustainable tourism, cultural exchange, and economic development across multiple regions. For travelers, it offers a new spiritually and historically significant journey combining art, gastronomy, and nature while supporting rural communities. For cultural preservation, it brings international attention to lesser-known European heritage sites and traditions. The route's emphasis on peace, dialogue, and intercultural cooperation reinforces European unity values at a time when cultural understanding is increasingly important. The project demonstrates how cultural heritage can drive innovation in tourism while preserving historical significance for future generations.
Summary
The International Association of the Cultural Itinerary of the Way of the Holy Grail in Europe has achieved a major milestone in its quest for Council of Europe recognition, receiving an "excellent" rating in the 2024-2025 certification cycle. This historic achievement positions the route, known as the Way of the Holy Grail, Route of Knowledge, Way of Peace, as a first-class cultural, scientific, and touristic pathway across Europe. The evaluation highlighted the route's strong historical relevance, international scientific backing, and its unique ability to connect heritage with sustainable tourism while promoting peace and intercultural dialogue values.
Key players driving this success include Dr. Ana Mafé García, president of the Scientific Commission and world's leading expert on the Holy Chalice preserved in Valencia Cathedral, whose twelve years of research have brought academic rigor to the project. Dr. Fernando Molina Pons has connected this itinerary to the World Wide Web through innovative tourism concepts like Solidarity, Smart, Regenerative and Circular Routes, while Dr. Gabriel Songel González from Universitat Politècnica de València has pioneered studies linking the Holy Chalice to stonemasons' marks. Born from civil society in Valencia in 2022, the route has expanded to France and Italy, connecting history, art, traditions, gastronomy, and nature while reflecting European values of peace and cooperation.
Supported by the Valencia Provincial Council for Tourism and the Government of Aragon, the route now stands poised for official Council of Europe certification in 2026-2027, potentially placing it alongside renowned European cultural routes like the Camino de Santiago. This collective effort positions the Valencian Community as the epicenter of a European cultural project with universal vocation, combining heritage preservation with economic and social development through responsible tourism that revitalizes both rural and urban areas along the pathway.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Holy Grail Route Earns Top EU Rating, Nears Historic Cultural Recognition
