In 1987, as part of its activities in the Cultural Heritage field, the Council of Europe proposed the revitalisation of the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim Ways as the first European Cultural Routes.

Following proposals from different member states, the Cultural Routes programme was progressively enlarged to encompass some two dozen initiatives of a different nature; many have a European-wide dimension, others correspond to cross-border circuits, local or regional itineraries.

Some of these routes offer ramblers the possibility of discovery of important expressions of European arts and culture (for example the silk routes of Europe; the Troubadour routes; the European parks and Garden route; the Wenceslav route; the Hanseatic route). All of the highlight the links between the diversity of European natural and cultural heritage, which are essential elements of their common history.