Europe designates three European Capitals of Culture 2022 to promote and foster European tourism
After a very difficult year for the tourism sector, Europe chooses three European Capitals of Culture 2022: Novi Sad in Serbia, Kaunas in Lithuania and Esch-Sur-Alzette in Luxembourg.
Novi Sad
Novi Sad, located in northern Serbia, is one of the European Capitals of Culture 2022. It is located on the banks of the Danube River and has 300,000 inhabitants.
Programme and celebrations during 2022
Its programme on the occasion of becoming European Capital of Culture 2022 revolves around the slogan “building bridges”. These are based on four concepts: Rainbow, centred on the Docek (31 December 2021 to 16 January 2022), celebrations to emphasise Novi Sad’s intercultural identity, and Migrations (1 February to 20 March 2022) and their positive consequences. Freedom, divided into Future of Europe (20 March to 15 May 2022), workshops to promote creativity and critical thinking among young people, and Heroines (16 May to 12 June 2022), focusing on the role of women in the art world and its history.
Love, divided into the Fortress of Peace (from 17 June to 17 July 2022), to promote dialogue and peace in Europe, and the Danube River (from 22 July to 20 August 2022), workshops to raise awareness of the history of this river and encourage its care and conservation. Finally, Esperanza, focused on turning the city into a Cultural Kaleidoscope (1 September to 7 October 2022) with exhibitions on architecture, performing arts, visual arts, literature and applied arts. The other branch is based on the Culture of Difference (8 October to 27 November 2022), questioning the mainstream and giving space to minorities, alternative expressions and comics.
The Danube River is one of the branches of the Novi Sad 2022 programme. Credits: Jelena Ivanovic
Tourist activities
The city has many interesting tourist attractions. Part of the Petrovaradin Fortress has been preserved despite bombardment during the Balkan War. The fortification was one of the largest in Europe and was built between 1692 and 1780.
In addition, a large number of music, theatre, film and children’s shows are held here…. For example, the Sterijino Pozorje music festival, Cinema City for film lovers or EXIT, the largest music festival in south-eastern Europe.
Petrovardin Castle. Credits: V. Velickovic
In Novi Sad you can also enjoy nature. It has the Fruska Gora vineyards as well as the Fruska Gora National Park. Here you will find a large number of animal species, forests, valuable ecosystems, monasteries and the Medes and Borkovac lakes.
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second largest city in Lithuania, with 348,624 inhabitants. It is situated on the Neris and Niemen rivers and is renowned for its culture, history and monuments.
Programme and celebrations during the year 2022
The programmes Kaunas is carrying out to celebrate being European Capital of Culture 2022 are based on nine branches dedicated mainly to young people. For example, Emerging Kaunas gives them tools to create a city where they would like to live. There are celebrations of all kinds, such as Gamers City Battle 2022 (28 June – 3 July 2022), a street dance battle of all styles, or Dive into the Theatre (1-4 June 2022), a theatre festival for young people.
Designing Happiness aims to promote the art of design and make it accessible to everyone. Activities such as the Magenta Landscape Design Festival (9-25 September 2022), which presents the work of urban architecture by designers from all over the world, or Lithuanian Design: From temporary to contemporary (22 February to 31 October 2022), an exhibition of the works of Lithuanian designers.
The Mythical Beast of Kaunas creates a story about a mythological monster of the city and sets the stage for major events in 2022. Attractions such as The New Hansa Road (throughout 2022), a game based on the contemporary legend of the Kaunas monster and taking place throughout the city, have been designed.
Modernism For the Future promotes a coming together of the community and learning from Kaunas’ modernist heritage to create new projects. Exhibitions such as The Family of Man (24 November to 31 December 2022), a humanistic photography exhibition with the participation of over 273 photographers, and Optimism (26 May to 5 June 2022), a two-week musical programme performed in modernist buildings in the city, will be held.
Talk on the occasion of the Emerging Kaunas programme. Credits: Martynas Plepys
Sightseeing
It is a colourful city famous for its street art murals, such as the George Maciunas square. In keeping with the art theme, you can also visit the museum dedicated to the painter Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis.
Street art mural in Kaunas. Credits: Martynas Plepys
There are many things to do and enjoy in the city, such as a visit to Kaunas Castle. Built in the 14th century, it served as a foil to the Crusaders in their attempt to Christianise northern Europe. In 2010 it was restored after centuries of neglect and has since served as a venue for cultural and musical events.
Other attractions include the Perkünas House, the Vytautas Church and the Gothic Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
Esch-South-Alzette
The third European Capital of Culture 2022 is Esch-Sur-Alzette, capital of the Terres Rouges and second largest city in Luxembourg with 35,000 inhabitants. The city enjoys a multicultural population, with more than 110 different nationalities, and the region is the symbol of Luxembourg’s steel industry.
Programme and celebrations during the year 2022
The city organises events on the occasion of becoming one of the three European Capitals of Culture 2022 based on the Remix Festival. Esch-Sud-Alzette proposes a series of workshops, workshops and events where the city, its talents, its music… will be discussed. In order to meet new people, create together and rethink the region.
On 26 February 2022, the Remix Opening takes place, a ceremony that will take shape at various locations in the city with DJ sets, dance exhibitions, light installations, etc. Other events include Our Archive. Your Story (from 26 March 2022 to 1 January 2023), an exhibition to highlight the value of audiovisual heritage. Also CRAFT 3:0 (from 1 April to 26 June 2022), which brings together designers from Luxembourg and Europe to highlight the importance of craftsmanship mixed with new technologies. Finally, NightSongs (9 April 2022 to 31 January 2023) is an electronic music festival that uses the sounds of the steel industry to create musical pieces.
In addition to the city, Esch-Alzette represents the 10 communes of the Pro-Sud union of Luxembourg and 8 French localities of the CCPHVA, (Communauté de Communes Pays Haut Val d’Alzette) a French community straddling Moselle and Meurthe-et-Moselle, in the Grand Est region.
Aerial view of the town of Esch-Sur-Alzette. Credits: Emile Hengen
Tourist activities
Esch-Sur-Alzette has leisure activities such as the Rue de l’Alzette, a pedestrian street full of shops, restaurants, bars and a weekly market. Another tourist attraction is the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, the square where the Town Hall is located, which was inaugurated in 1863. It is part of the city’s nerve centre, hosting events such as fairs, Christmas markets, the Fête de la Musique and the Diada Nacional festival.
The Place de l’Hôtel de Ville is one of the central points of the town of Esch-Sur-Alzette. Credits: Emile Hengen
For nature lovers, the city offers great outdoor spaces, such as Gaalgebierg Park, which has a camping area, and Escher Déierepark, a small farm for the little ones.
The Gaalgebierg Park is the perfect outdoor space to have a good time. Credits: Emile Hengen
Novi Sad, Kaunas and Esch-Sur-Alzette are European Capitals of Culture 2022 and will carry out activities throughout the year to promote their culture and traditions to all visitors.
