Exploring the Roman Legacy: Creation of a theme region and cultural route along the Roman Danube Limes to empower the socio-economic development of shared European heritage

Roman Legacy aims to strengthen the cohesion of the Danube region through its shared Roman heritage. Building on previous projects, a cultural route along the Roman Danube Limes will be created, including smaller towns and remote areas. This route will be promoted through digital presentations and promotional products. A comprehensive sustainability concept and an enlarged network of experts will support the project in the long term. Additionally, slow tourism and ecological tourism products will be developed, based on cultural heritage and involving the local population. The aim is to sustainably promote and present the Roman heritage of the Danube region.

In the past, several EU projects have focused on the Roman heritage in the Danube region, as well as its preservation and enhancement for sustainable cultural tourism. Various tools and strategies were developed, and initial steps were taken to create a future European cultural route along the Danube. Roman Legacy unites the significant Interreg-DTP projects Living Danube Limes, Danube’s Archaeological eLandscapes, Archaeodanube, ISTER, Transdanube Travel Stories, and their associated networks, utilizing their best results.

Engaging with the Roman heritage in an larger theme region opens up the possibility to expand the cultural route in the future if required, while also telling the story of the hinterland that supplied the Limes line, thus forming an essential part of the Roman story-telling.

The Roman Danube Limes, spanning over a length of 2400 kilometres from Germany to the Black Sea, is an outstanding example of transnational heritage that connects several European countries within a macro-region.

The western segment (Germany, Austria, Slovakia) was already inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage in 2021, while the eastern segment (Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania) is still on the Tentative List, waiting for being incorporated in the huge transcontinental UNESCO World Heritage “Frontiers of the Roman Empire”. The Dacian Limes (Romania), closely linked to the Danube Limes, was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2024.

Thus, the Roman Danube Limes is a shared European heritage that must be presented and promoted along its entire length with unified efforts and a cohesive concept to tell the story of the people who lived in the Danube region 2000 years ago: it was not only a border between the Roman Empire and the so-called Barbaricum but also a route from west to east and vice versa, connecting the various Roman Danube provinces as well as the Germanic tribes and the Romans during times of peace.

Thanks to its rich cultural and natural heritage, the Danube region has great potential as a transnational tourism destination and international travel spot. However, there are challenges, such as the need for a unified brand that connects cultural sites and promotes sustainable tourism. A solid network of cultural and heritage sites exists, but transnational cooperation and the involvement of the local population need to be improved. Social inclusion and understanding cultural heritage as an integral part of identity and economic value are crucial for successful tourism development. Challenges such as unequal economic developments and the perception of cultural tourism as a luxury must be overcome. It is essential to preserve the heritage and actively involve the local population to unlock the full potential of the Danube region.

The Roman Danube Limes Cultural Route is being established as a key component of a theme region that includes smaller towns and remote areas with great potential for cultural and nature-based tourism. The unique value of this route lies in its alignment along the historic waterway of the Danube, placing the river's connecting role at the heart of the project.

Digital promotion and presentation products are being developed and deployed along the entire Danube and the cultural route. This promotes lesser-known sites under a unified brand and connects all Roman sites along the river and its hinterland.

A sustainability concept and action plan for the future growth of the cultural route are based on a robust network of experts and focus on the positive engagement of the local population with their cultural heritage.

An enlarged network of experts includes researchers, tourism experts, SMEs, and the local population. Together, they develop a strategic concept for the interpretation and presentation of the cultural route along the Roman Danube Limes, based on the Danube Limes Interpretation Framework (DLIF). This interdisciplinary collaboration overcomes barriers and creates a sustainable network for the region.

Co-creation approaches aim to connect the local population not only with the project and its solutions but especially with their cultural heritage. They are intended to empower people to use their resources sustainably and future-proof.

Slow and eco-tourism products are being developed, based on the shared cultural heritage and focusing on remote, less developed tourist areas. The extensive expertise of the consortium partners is utilized to holistically link cultural and nature-based tourism and promote the treasures of the Danube region.

Roman Trails are being established, rooted in local history and economy, and focusing on selected and outstanding historical details at the local or regional level. These trails can be explored by hiking or cycling.

Experiences and results from forerunner projects are being used to further develop the cultural route.

• The overall objective of Roman Heritage is to create a cultural route along the Roman Danube Limes, to integrate it into a larger theme region and to have it certified as an official cultural route of the Council of Europe.
   
• A network will be established to provide a transnational platform for the exchange and involvement of all stakeholders related to the Roman heritage in the Danube region (including political and economic actors, local/regional/national authorities, national UNESCO commissions, associations, archaeological sites/parks, museums, archaeologists and researchers, tourism agencies, initiatives and cultural mediators, etc.).
   
• A common interpretation and presentation framework, as well as a branding strategy, will be developed to present the Roman heritage in the Danube region in a logically coherent and unified way.
   
• Existing information and tools will be consolidated and gaps filled. Various formats and tools will be developed and implemented to present and promote the most important Roman sites along the route, including virtual reality and augmented reality models, Roman hiking and cycling trails, visibility measures, Roman events, a concept for a travelling VR exhibition, physical promotional materials, a mobile app, a website, etc.
   
• The project promotes transnational cooperation to present the Roman heritage in the Danube region, in particular the Roman Danube Limes, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It supports the UNESCO application process for the Roman Danube Limes within the framework of the "Frontiers of the Roman Empire" through additional measures that complement existing efforts without duplicating them.