Cultural Routes-European Route of Ceramics

The art of ceramics is inextricably tied to early European exchanges and reflects both the common identity and the local singularities of the territories. It also mirrors the technical advances, artistic trends and ideological aspirations of each period, from the primitive use of terracotta to the most contemporary pieces.

This ceramics identity, which continues to shape many cities across Europe, is now accessible by travellers along the European Route of Ceramics (2012). Azerbaijan, Turkey and Ukraine are the BSEC countries participating to this Cultural Route.

The Route aims to promote a dynamic image of this heritage -both tangible, with objects used in several sectors (culinary activities, the arts, medicine, architecture, etc.), and intangible, including the know-how and crafts necessary for its production- creating a sustainable and competitive tourism offer.

Bonus Trivia!

- Ceramics is one of the most ancient and widespread crafts in Azerbaijan. Today, it is the city of Sheki where traditional pottery is still a part of daily life. Worth noting, Sheki’s historical center is inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List of cultural sites (2019).

- In Turkey, the ceramic tiles produced in İznik (historic Nicaea) during the 15^th and 16^th centuries still grace the walls of many mosques and palaces. 

-The Traditional Craftsmanship of Çini-making (Turkey) and the Tradition of Kosiv Painted Ceramics (Ukraine) have been inscribed on UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2016 and 2019, respectively.

- In 2020, the European Route of Ceramics and Iter Vitis signed a collaboration agreement to boost a better knowledge concerning the arts of ceramics and wine, deeply connected in history, since the ancient times, especially in the Mediterranean and Central European area. 

Sources: https://www.coe.int/en/web/cultural-routes/the-european-route-of-ceramics,   https://www.europeanrouteofceramics.eu/

Photographs taken from: https://www.europeanrouteofceramics.eu/

Photographs No 1-2: Turkey

Photograph No 3: Azerbaijan

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