Project
The Roman Legacy project seeks to strengthen the cohesion of the Danube region through shared Roman heritage. Building on previous projects, it will establish a cultural route along the Roman Danube Limes, incorporating smaller towns and remote areas. This route will be promoted through digital presentations and promotional materials. The project is designed for long-term support through a well-developed sustainability concept and an expanded expert network. It will also focus on the development of slow and eco-tourism based on cultural heritage and local engagement. The goal is the sustainable promotion and preservation of Roman heritage in the Danube region.
Several EU projects have previously focused on the Roman heritage of the Danube, its protection, and use for sustainable cultural tourism. Tools and strategies were developed, and the first steps toward a future cultural route along the Danube were taken. Roman Legacy connects key Interreg-DTP projects – Living Danube Limes, Danube’s Archaeological eLandscapes, Archaeodanube, ISTER, and Transdanube Travel Stories – and their networks, utilizing their best outputs.
Focusing on a broader thematic region of Roman heritage allows for future expansion of the cultural route and tells the story of the hinterland that supplied the Limes – an essential part of the Roman narrative.
CONTEXT
The Roman Danube Limes stretches 2,400 kilometers from Germany to the Black Sea and is a unique example of transnational heritage, connecting multiple European countries within one macro-region.
The western part (Germany, Austria, Slovakia) was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021. The eastern part (Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania) is on the tentative list and awaits inclusion in the broader transnational UNESCO heritage site “Frontiers of the Roman Empire.” The Dacian Limes in Romania, closely connected to the Danube Limes, was inscribed in 2024.
Thus, the Roman Danube Limes represents shared European heritage that should be presented and promoted uniformly along its entire course. The aim is to tell the story of the people who lived in the Danube region 2,000 years ago. It was not only a boundary between the Roman Empire and so-called Barbaricum but also a key route connecting western and eastern provinces and enabling peaceful contact between Germans and Romans.
Thanks to its rich cultural and natural heritage, the Danube region has great potential as a major transnational tourism destination. However, challenges remain – for example, the need to create a unified brand connecting cultural sites and supporting sustainable tourism. Although a network of cultural and heritage sites exists, cross-border cooperation and local engagement need improvement. Successful tourism development depends on social inclusion and recognition of cultural heritage as both identity and economic asset. It is necessary to overcome issues such as disparities in economic development and the perception of cultural tourism as a luxury. The key to unlocking the full potential of the region is preserving heritage and involving local communities.
METODOLOGY
The cultural route of the Roman Danube Limes is being developed as a core element of a thematic region that includes small towns and remote areas with significant cultural and natural tourism potential. The uniqueness of this route lies in its path along the historical waterway of the Danube.
Digital tools are being developed and implemented along the route and the Danube for promotion and presentation. A unified brand helps bring visibility to lesser-known sites and links all Roman archaeological locations along and inland from the river.
A sustainability concept and action plan are being created to support the long-term development of the route. They are based on a strong expert network and emphasize the active participation of local residents in caring for their cultural heritage.
The expanded expert network includes scientists, tourism professionals, SMEs, and local residents. Together, they are creating a strategic plan for the interpretation and presentation of the Roman Danube Limes route, based on the Danube Limes Interpretation Framework (DLIF). This interdisciplinary collaboration overcomes barriers and builds a sustainable network for the entire region.
Co-creation methods aim to connect local people not just with the project and its outputs, but with their own cultural heritage. The goal is to enhance their ability to use local resources sustainably and contribute to long-term regional sustainability.
Products of slow and eco-tourism based on shared cultural heritage are being developed, focusing on remote and less-developed areas. Thanks to the extensive experience of project partners, cultural and natural tourism can be combined into a cohesive offer and used to promote the hidden treasures of the Danube region.
The project also includes “Roman trails,” rooted in local history and economy. These trails focus on selected, exceptional historical features in a local or regional context and are accessible by foot or bicycle.
The experience and results of previous projects are used to further develop the cultural route.
PROJECT AIMS
- The main goal of the Roman Legacy project is to create a cultural route along the Roman Danube Limes, integrate it into a broader thematic region, and achieve its official recognition as a Council of Europe Cultural Route.
- A network will be created to provide a transnational platform for exchanging experiences and involving all stakeholders connected to Roman heritage in the Danube region. This includes political and economic leaders, local, regional, and national authorities, national UNESCO commissions, associations, archaeological sites and parks, museums, archaeologists and researchers, tourism agencies, initiatives, and cultural mediators.
- A common framework for the interpretation and presentation of Roman heritage in the Danube region will be developed, complemented by a unified brand strategy ensuring consistent and coordinated presentation of the entire route.
- Existing information and tools will be gathered and completed where missing. Various formats and tools – such as virtual and augmented reality models, Roman walking and cycling trails, promotional campaigns, Roman-themed events, a concept for a traveling VR exhibition, physical promotional materials, mobile applications, and websites – will be created to present and promote the most important Roman sites along the route.
- The project promotes cross-border cooperation in presenting Roman heritage in the Danube region, especially the Danube Limes as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It actively supports the nomination process of the Danube Limes within the broader “Frontiers of the Roman Empire” concept through complementary actions building on existing initiatives without duplicating them.