“You will fall in love with Ankara! “

As part of the 40th European Heritage Days and in the context of the centennial celebrations of the Republic of Turkey and the capital city Ankara, the European Union National Institutes for Culture Network (EUNIC) is organizing the second edition of the European Heritage Days on September 16 and 17, 2023, in Ankara.

Under the motto “You Will Fall in Love with Ankara”, the event celebrates the rich historical, architectural and artistic heritage of the capital with a set of new and free activities, starting with the guided tour of seven of the European embassies.  Over two days, 28 embassies, museums, foundations and associations open their doors to you in an exceptional and/or original way to (re)discover the history of Ankara with guided tours, exhibitions, concerts and tours in the city.

The event which is organized by EUNIC and coordinated by Institut français Turkey – Ankara will be held in partnership with Ankara Metropolitan Municipality and with the participation of the Embassies of Germany, Belgium, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Poland, Switzerland and the European Union delegation; Anatolian Civilizations, Erimtan, Cin Ali, İş Bank Economic Independence Museums; Maturation Institute; Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Directorate of Cultural and Natural Assets; Çankaya Municipality; Saint Thérèse Church; Koç University Vehbi Koç Ankara Studies Research Center (VEKAM); İnönü and Sevda Cenap Ant foundations; Ankara Chamber of Architects; Ankara Aks, Lavarla and Anatolian Music Cultures Association.

Within the scope of European Cultural Heritage Days  and in line with the spirit and collections of VEKAM’s Ankara Orchard House, VEKAM will feature a mini exhibition on sherbet tradition entitled Sweet Past, Cool Future: The Story of Sherbet, which has played an important role in Turkish culture throughout the ages, a narrated sherbet tasting with the contribution of Ankara Divan Hotel, and a guided tour of the Ankara Orchard House. The event will take place in Turkish with registered participants. Registration for the events to be organized as part of the European Cultural Heritage Days will start on September 9, 2023.

For the program and event registration information (events are free, advance registration is mandatory), follow the Institut Français Turkey – Ankara website and European Heritage Days Ankara Instagram account.

European Heritage Days

Initiated in 1985 by the Council of Europe and joined by the European Union in 1999, the event is organized in more than 50 member countries of the European Cultural Convention, to which Turkey has been a party since 1954.

Held on a weekend in September each year, European Heritage Days allow heritage sites and monuments to be opened to the public. It is an opportunity to learn about a shared cultural heritage and to take action to protect and enhance it for present and future generations.

At the initiative of the EUNIC Ankara cluster, the first European Heritage Days took place in Ankara in September 2022, when the doors of four European embassies (Belgium, France, Poland, Switzerland) were exceptionally opened to the public.

This second edition is organized in the context of the centennial anniversary of foundation of the Republic of Turkey and Ankara’s becoming the capital and brings together, beyond the larger number of European embassies, many Turkish institutions, museums, foundations and associations from the historical, architectural and artistic fields that play a major role in the heritage and/or preservation of the city and its transfer to society.

EUNIC

EUNIC, a network of European national cultural institutes around the world, has 39 members from the European Union and associated countries and is present in 107 countries worldwide through 139 clusters.

In Turkey, EUNIC has two clusters in Ankara and Istanbul, created in 2012.

The EUNIC cluster in Ankara, managed for several years by the Institut Français Turkey, with its 13 full and associated members (Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Spain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, European Union), aims to strengthen cultural ties between Turkey and Europe.

For this purpose, EUNIC organizes unique cultural events such as the contemporary music festival Sound of Europe (taking place on 22, 23 and 24 September 2023 in Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir) or as  the European Heritage Days Ankara.