Paris hosts the exhibition on the 33 Cultural Routes crossing France

Sep 1, 2025

An exhibition to highlight Europe’s shared heritage

The exhibition, hosted at the Maison de l’Europe in Paris (77 avenue de Versailles, 16th arrondissement), presents the 49 Cultural Routes certified by the Council of Europe, with a special focus on the 33 routes crossing France. The initiative, supported by the French Ministry of Culture, the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Programme, and the Maison de l’Europe de Paris, is an invitation to rediscover Europe’s shared heritage through transnational thematic routes that foster intercultural dialogue, cooperation, and sustainable development.

The European Route of Historic Pharmacies and Medicinal Gardens

Among the Cultural Routes featured in the exhibition is the European Route of Historic Pharmacies and Medicinal Gardens, managed by the Aromas Itinerarium Salutis (AIS) Association and certified in 2024. This route sheds light on the history of materia medica and its value as intangible and scientific cultural heritage, connecting historic pharmacies, botanical gardens, and sites of medico-pharmaceutical relevance in different European countries.

View of the Arboretum Mas Roussillon in Canet-en-Roussillon, part of the AIS network, with the historic building surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation.

Arboretum Mas Roussillon in Canet-en-Roussillon © Municipality of Canet-en-Roussillon.

Arboretum Mas Roussillon in the AIS network

In France, the AIS network includes the Arboretum Mas Roussillon in Canet-en-Roussillon (Pyrénées-Orientales). Covering 13 hectares divided between orchards, arboretums, and themed gardens – from a lotus and water lily pond to a xerophytic garden dedicated to desert plants – the Arboretum is a research and educational centre managed by the Centre Catalan d’Études en Agronomie Méditerranéenne et Environnement (CCEAME). Open all year round with free admission, it is a place for environmental education and biodiversity conservation.

Interactive map of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe in France, highlighting the Arboretum Mas Roussillon in Canet-en-Roussillon as part of the AIS Route.

Digital tools and accessibility

To explore the Cultural Routes and European Heritage Label sites in France, the French Ministry of Culture provides an official interactive map. This tool allows visitors to dynamically explore territorial and thematic networks, also highlighting the contribution of Canet-en-Roussillon as part of the AIS network.

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