Acronym

WoodenRoute

NUMBER

PBU2/0834/18

Project type

Micro-project

STATUS

Completed

THEMATIC OBJECTIVE

HERITAGE

PRIORITY

1.1 Promotion of local culture and history

PARTNERSHIP

PL-UA

LEAD BENEFICIARY

Podkarpackie Regional Tourism Board (Podkarpackie Voivodeship, Poland)

BENEFICIARY

Association of self-governments "Euroregion Carpathians - Ukraine" (Lviv Oblast, Ukraine)

Project description

Carpathian wooden churches are examples of a unique combination of exquisite design, functionality and beauty, they startle with their harmony and variety. They fit perfectly into the surrounding mountain landscapes making these areas recognizable. In 2013, 16 wooden temples of the Carpathian region were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, 8 of which are located in Ukraine and 8 in Poland. On the whole, there are more than 2500 churches in Ukraine only. Sadly, this unique cultural heritage can be lost as weather and time take their toll, while human ignorance and negligence cause even more damage. A relevant approach applied to management and promotion of this historic property can bring tangible benefits to local communities lasting for centuries. 

The team of WoodenRoute project intended to preserve and popularize the wooden architecture heritage of the Polish-Ukrainian borderland. It was achieved through the development of a Cross-border Wooden Architecture Route, which joined 163 churches on both sides of the border. The concept of the route includes the best-preserved wooden architecture objects. The new product is promoted through e-tools (2 websites and 12 VRs -  a kind of virtual tours) and was publicised during a promotional campaign with a focus on influencer marketing. To get interest of potential visitors and activate local communities, 6 concerts of sacral music (3 in Poland, 3 in Ukraine) were held within the route with excellent Polish and Ukrainian performers involved. Additionally, free guided tours were organized to the chosen objects on the route.

The implementation of the project makes Carpathian wooden churches more accessible and visible to visitors. It will lay the ground for their proper maintenance and promotion in the long term making local communities active players in tourism development processes.