The European Route of Historic Thermal Towns (EHTTA), a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe since 2010 has welcomed 3 new members and an International Partner at its first Council meeting of 2022.
There are three new member towns, which are:
- Lipik, Croatia
- Telese Terme, Italy
- Varaždinske Toplice, Croatia
EHTTA also welcomed an International Partner, Poços de Caldas, in Brazil.
EHTTA, which is responsible for managing the European Route of Historic Thermal Towns, is delighted to add two new members in the south-east of Europe, and is hopeful that in the future, more members will join from this part of Europe which is rich in thermal resources and historic thermal towns.
Daruvar has been the only Croatian member of the Route for many years, and two new members, Lipik and Varaždinske Toplice joining the Croatian part of the Cultural Route will be a great benefit to all three towns. The Croatian Ministry of Culture is particularly supportive of the Cultural Routes Programme of the Council of Europe, and all 14 routes that cross its territory. In addition, health tourism is strategically important as it represents an important and growing segment of Croatia’s tourism industry.
The addition of Telese Terme as a member town gives the Cultural Route in Italy a boost, and adds to a greater geographical spread, from EHTTA founder members, Acqui Terme and Salsomaggiore Terme, joined by Castrocaro Terme e Terra del Sole and Montegrotto Terme in the North, to Fiuggi, not far from Rome.
Another long-term member of the European Route of Historic Thermal Towns, Montecatini Terme, has recently joined a select group of European spa towns as one of the eleven towns in the Great Spa Towns of Europe, inscribed on the World Heritage List in July 2021, shining a spotlight on spa culture in Italy. Italy is very active in the Cultural Routes Programme, and has held workshops recently for the 30 Routes that cross the territory.
The addition of Poços de Caldas, as an International Partner takes EHTTA global, and cements the connections forged by Portuguese and Spanish members of the European Route of Historic Thermal Towns, notably the cross-border Eurocity, Chaves-Verin. The Brazilian thermal town has many of the characteristics of a European Historic Thermal Town, with sulphurous waters that are dispensed in many thermal fountains throughout the town.
EHTTA President, Manuel Baltar said: “This partnership with a South American town is particularly welcome in the run-up to the International Thermal Tourism Congress from 27th – 29th September, currently being organised by EHTTA and my own Province of Ourense as part of the UNWTO’s 2022 Affiliate Members Work Programme. I am excited that the Congress will be held shortly before the fair TERMATALIA, in Ourense, Galicia, which has strong connections to thermal towns in South America”.
For further information please contact:
Simone Zagrodnik, EHTTA Executive Director: simone.zagrodnik@historicthermaltowns.eu