On April 28–30, 2025, the University for Continuing Education Krems became the epicentre of cultural heritage innovation as it hosted the official kick-off meeting of ROMAN LEGACY, an ambitious Interreg Danube Region project designed to bring the ancient Roman Danube Limes to life through a new cross-border cultural route.
Led by the university’s Centre for Cultural Property Protection, the three-year initiative brings together 19 full partners from 10 Danube countries, supported by 35 associated partners. The project aims to establish a Danube-wide Roman theme region and a European Cultural Route, highlighting the shared heritage that links countries across the Danube and supporting sustainable socio-economic development.
A Shared Mission: Reviving Roman Heritage Across the Danube
The ROMAN LEGACY route will include both the western Danube Limes, already a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Germany, Austria, and Slovakia, and the eastern segment in Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania, currently on the UNESCO Tentative List. Over the next three years, partners will work together to develop a coherent cultural route and strengthen cross-border cooperation throughout the entire Roman Danube frontier.
Day 1: Meeting of Minds and Cultural Exchange
The first day focused on introductions, team-building, and sharing regional traditions. Since this was the first meeting of partners in this constellation, the atmosphere was marked by openness and curiosity.
To celebrate the cultural diversity of the Danube region, each partner institution presented a local tradition, a Roman site from their country, and contributed a regional speciality to the joint “Danube Region Specialities Buffet”, officially opened on Day 2.
The day concluded with a communal dinner in Krems-Stein, offering space for informal conversations and networking.
Day 2: Project Vision, Structure, and Collaboration
The second day was dedicated to the project’s professional content. Presentations and workshops covered:
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project objectives and work packages
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methodologies and cooperation models
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communication strategy and management structure
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expected outputs and milestones
Special attention was given to international cooperation and the importance of engaging national stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
Day 3: Exploring Roman History in Carnuntum
On the final day, participants visited the Archaeological Park Carnuntum, the most renowned Roman site in Austria. They had the opportunity to explore the reconstructed Roman city quarter and heated bathhouse, and to learn more about the park’s interpretive approach.
At the same time, a public project kick-off event took place in Carnuntum. Local schoolchildren created a prototype costume for the future project mascot, which will represent the visual identity of the new Roman theme region in the Danube area.
A Strong Start for a Cross-Border Cultural Initiative
The kick-off meeting in Krems marks the beginning of an inspiring journey. With a motivated partnership and a shared vision, the ROMAN LEGACY project is poised to shape a new cultural experience along the Danube and bring Europe’s Roman heritage closer to diverse communities.