Habsburg – a European family …

With Rudolf of Habsburg’s victory at the Battle of the Marchfeld in 1278, Habsburg rule in Austria began . For 640 years, until 1918, the family shaped the history of Central Europe; for centuries they ruled large parts of Italy, the Netherlands, and the Iberian Peninsula.

When the Habsburgs entered the stage of world history, the family already possessed centuries of experience in governance. Their origins lie in Alsace along the Upper Rhine, in the Sundgau, the Breisgau in Germany, and in Aargau in Switzerland .

It was in this region - the cradle of the Habsburg family - that the idea was born to communicate and explore the dynasty’s traces along the “Via Habsburg” . As in history itself, the idea of the Via Habsburg grew from the Upper Rhine region into the Danube area.

 

How was the association “Via Habsburg – In the Footsteps of the Habsburgs” founded?

In 2001, as a result of the EU‑funded project Interreg II A Upper Rhine , the French‑German‑Swiss‑Austrian association “ Sur les traces des Habsbourg – Auf den Spuren der Habsburger” was founded under Alsatian local law.

In 2013–2014, the network established a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe across the territory of the former Further Austria: the Via Habsburg . This took place within the framework of the project “800 Years of European Art and Cultural History in the Footsteps of the Habsburgs – Via Habsburg”.

The Via Habsburg was most recently positively evaluated at the beginning of 2019 . The recommendations resulting from the evaluation process carried out by the European Institute of Cultural Routes and the independent evaluation report now form the basis for the strategic direction of all activities of the association.

At the end of 2018, the chairmanship of the association was transferred from Mr. Jean Klinkert (France) to Ms. Elisabeth Udolf‑Strobl (Austria) . Thanks to the intensive efforts and personal commitment of the former president of Via Habsburg, Mr. Jean Klinkert, and his colleagues, the foundation was laid for what is now a well‑established cultural route in the European context.

With the transfer of the chairmanship from France to Austria , adjustments to the association’s structures were also implemented. As before, the vice presidents are appointed by the founding countries of Via Habsburg (Austria, France, Germany, and Switzerland). In addition, the association has a further nine board members (as of March 2020). Eighty representatives from the fields of research, science, education, tourism, culture, and business are members of the association. In October 2019, a S cientific and Educational Advisory Board was established. The association is financed through membership fees and exclusive partnerships.

In recent years, many successful initiatives have already been launched. In October 2019, a strategic retreat was held on Mount Sainte‑Odile in Alsace . The aim was to jointly develop a vision for the future of Via Habsburg. Based on the requirements defined in CM/Res(2013)67 of the Council of Europe, the following priority areas for future activities were identified, among others:

• Expanding cooperation and deepening research
• Promoting cultural and educational exchange for young Europeans
• Enhancing historical memory, history, and European heritage
• Supporting contemporary art and culture
• Strengthening cultural tourism and sustainable development

 

Activities of Via Habsburg to date:

Permanent exhibitions, specialist events, book readings, conferences, website, folders, travel reports, brochures, and much more.
 

Granting of patronage

In autumn 2018, the head of the House of Habsburg, Karl von Habsburg‑Lothringen, assumed patronage of Via Habsburg
 

What mission does the association “Via Habsburg – In the Footsteps of the Habsburgs” pursue?

The Cultural Route not only contributes to strengthening regional economies (for example through new tourism offerings), but also creates scope for intelligent visitor management.

It provides low‑threshold access to the history of the Habsburg family, to art and culture, and thereby promotes knowledge transfer.

Furthermore, the Cultural Route raises awareness of a shared cultural identity and makes a significant contribution to the preservation of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage .