Theme year highlights the many facets of our built heritage

Built heritage is often considered to refer only to old and monumental buildings. However, new built heritage is being created all the time. In Finland, the European Heritage Days collect information on the kind of built environment that is relevant at the moment and showcase unique sites across Finland.

This year’s theme, Architectural Heritage, focuses on collecting information on the sites that people consider relevant right now. The aim is to shine the spotlight on sites and buildings that people find important in their everyday environments and want to preserve for future generations.

This year, the European Heritage Days are being celebrated under the theme Architectural Heritage. The Europe-wide range of events will highlight the capacity of built heritage to sustain shared history and the identities of local communities.

“Everyone’s local neighbourhood is valuable built heritage that is worth cherishing. Care and maintenance of buildings and environments will pass on this heritage to future generations. Buildings and places carry knowledge and stories with them. This is why they help build understanding of who we are, where we are coming from and where we are going,” says Senior Specialist Annukka Lyra from the Ministry of the Environment.

How to get involved and highlight the importance of built heritage

Anyone is welcome to highlight the theme of Architectural Heritage. Different parties can choose a suitable way to participate.. 

• Organise a public event, such as an open day, a guided tour or an exhibition. Anyone can submit events related to architectural heritage to the European Heritage Days calendar. While the main period for the European Heritage Days is in September, events can be organised under its umbrella throughout the year.
• Help collect information on built heritage considered significant in 2025. The site can be any building or place that is important to you, such as your own neighbourhood, a local park, a leisure facility or a destination. Photograph and enter the site for the Wiki Loves Monuments photography competition in September.
• Go on an excursion and participate in maintaining built heritage. Follow the European Heritage Days communications to receive information about sites of interest. You can explore them on your own or take part in events organised by others.
• If you use social media, share your favourite sites using the hashtags #EuropeanHeritageDays,
  #RakennettuPerintömme and #Kulttuuriympäristöpäivät. 

European Heritage Days are celebrated every year in 48 European countries

The European Heritage Days consist of tens of thousands of events attended by millions of people every year. The days are celebrated across 48 countries at the initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Commission.

In Finland, the European Heritage Days are coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment and the Finnish Local Heritage Federation in cooperation with the Finnish Heritage Agency, the Finnish National Agency for Education, the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Association of Cultural Heritage Education in Finland and the Finnish Museums Association.

• Share your own site in the theme year collection and enter the photography competition | Wiki Loves MonumentsLinkki toiselle sivustolle
• View the previous sites of the Wiki Loves Monuments competition | Wikimedia CommonsLinkki toiselle sivustolle

Inquiries

Hanna Hämäläinen 
Planning Officer
firstname.lastname@gov.fi 
p. 0295 250 095 

Annukka Lyra 
Senior Specialist
firstname.lastname@gov.fi 
p. 0295 250 326