Each year, an international panel of cultural experts chooses two or more European cities as European Capitals of Culture (ECoCs). As a result, the cities’ cultural heritage and history are promoted throughout the year, and they prosper from international visibility as an ECoC. The award has been given to more than 60 cities across the European Union (EU) and elsewhere.
In 2023, three European Capitals of Culture were named: Elefsina in Greece, Timișoara in Romania, and Veszprém in Hungary.
What Is A Capital Of Culture?
The concept of naming an annual City of Culture originated in 1985 with Melina Mercouri, Greece’s Minister of Culture, and Jack Lang, her French counterpart. They hoped to bring Europeans closer together by spotlighting European countries’ rich history and diversity and raising awareness of their shared cultures.
How Is a Capital Of Culture Chosen?
A bidding city begins the process by submitting a 100-page bid book describing its objectives and plans for an original artistic/cultural program to be promoted throughout the year. They also provide a comprehensive marketing, communication, and delivery plan.
The panel of cultural experts assesses each of the proposals, comparing them with the EU’s criteria for acceptance. Then, they select at least two of these cities as ECoCs.
Two of the competitors must be cities in EU member states. In addition, the panel chooses a third capital every three years from a country that is a candidate for membership in the EU or that is part of the European Economic Area (EEA).
This year’s chosen cities are highlighted in the following list.
1. Elefsina, Greece
Where Is It?
Located about 11 miles (18 kilometers) northwest of the center of Athens, in the Attica region, Elefsina (also known as Eleusis) is part of the Athens metropolitan area. Situated opposite the island of Salamis (where the Greeks defeated the Persians) on a fertile plain, Elefsina is bordered on three sides by the coast of Attica and enclosed on the south by Salamis.
What’s It Known For?
As one of five holy cities of antiquity, Elefsina has rare archaeological wealth. The city is connected with the Eleusinian Mysteries, based on the goddess Demeter and her daughter, Persephone, and their story of hope for life after death.
Elefsina is the birthplace of the great playwright Aeschylus. Today, the city is home to the Aeschylia Festival, the longest-tenured arts event in the Attica region.
Must-See Cultural Attractions
Of course, you’ll want to visit the archaeological site in the center of Elefsina and the Archaeological Museum, which hosts internationally-recognized cultural heritage exhibits. Other cultural attractions include Hadrian’s aqueduct and bridge, the chapels of Panagitsa in the Archaeological Site, and Saint Zacharias from the late Byzantine era.
2. Veszprém, Hungary
Where Is It?
The city of Veszprém, one of the oldest urban areas in Hungary, is about nine miles (15 kilometers) north of Lake Balaton on the southern slope of Bakony Mountain.
What’s It Known For?
Veszprém is one of the oldest urban areas in Hungary. Its history dates to the Hungarian settlement of the country in the ninth century when Veszprém belonged to the estate of the ruling family. It became the City of Queens thanks to Giselle, the consort of Hungary’s first king, St. Stephen. In 1001, Veszprém became one of the most significant centers of the Catholic Church as the bishop’s seat.
Must-See Cultural Attractions
Don’t miss the Veszprém Castle, built on Castle Hill in the 10th and 11th centuries. The former fortress is circled by a wall on its steep, rugged hillsides. Saint Michael’s Cathedral, in the castle, is bordered by well-preserved baroque buildings. It’s the first and oldest cathedral in the country.
Other places of interest include the Archiepiscopal Palace and Saint George’s chapel. Want something a little less historical? Visit the Kittenberger Kálmán Botanical Garden and Zoo Park.
3. Timișoara, Romania
Where Is It?
Timișoara, erected on the site of an ancient Roman fortress called Castrum Regium Themes, is the largest city in western Romania. The city lies along the Bega River, with its many canals.
What’s It Known For?
Nicknamed “Little Vienna” or the “City of Flowers,” Timișoara is known for its many historical monuments and 36 parks and green spaces. Timișoara has the highest number of historic buildings in Romania (around 14,500).
The city has hosted a diverse mix of cultures for millennia. It was an important Muslim community in the 17th century (during Ottoman rule). Later, Hungarians, Serbs, Germans, and Jews found a home there.
In 1884, Timișoara was the first mainland European city (and second in the world – after New York City) to electrify the lighting on its public streets.
Must-See Cultural Attractions
Be sure to visit Victory Square, with its baroque buildings, including the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral. Next, see the Habsburg-era Union Square, including the ornate Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, built in the mid-1700s, and the Viennese baroque-style Roman Catholic Cathedral, built between 1736 and 1754. Also check out the Baroque Palace, the former governor’s residence that now houses the Museum of Fine Arts. Finally, don’t miss Castelul Huniade, the oldest building in Timișoara. It’s home to the National Museum of Banat.
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