The AEPJ participates in the Slovak Jewish Heritage Route Conference
On 4 June 2025, the city of Trnava hosted the conference “Slovenská cesta židovského kultúrneho dedičstva” (The Slovak Jewish Heritage Route), held at the Synagogue – Center for Contemporary Art of the Ján Koniarek Gallery. The event brought together experts, local authorities, cultural professionals, and community leaders to explore the development and promotion of Jewish heritage in Slovakia, and its integration into a broader European framework.
The conference was held under the auspices of the Trnava County Governor Jozef Viskupič. It was co-organised by the Regional Tourism Organization of the Trnava Region, in cooperation with the University of Trnava and the Slovak Jewish Cultural Heritage Foundation Menorah, which also serves as the coordinator of the Slovak Jewish Cultural Heritage Route.
The AEPJ was represented by its President, François Moyse, and its Director, Victor Sorenssen. François Moyse introduced the work of the AEPJ, sharing its vision for Jewish cultural heritage across Europe and the importance of transnational cooperation through the European Routes of Jewish Heritage. He emphasised the strategic role Slovakia plays in this shared European effort. Victor Sorenssen presented the AEPJ network and its strategic development plan, highlighting the value and potential of the European Routes of Jewish Heritage in fostering local engagement, sustainable tourism, and cultural dialogue.
The programme also included presentations from twelve Slovak initiatives, showcasing work in the preservation and promotion of synagogues, cemeteries, museums, and cultural centres. These case studies illustrated the vitality of Jewish heritage in Slovakia and the grassroots commitment to its long-term preservation.
Currently, the Slovak Jewish Cultural Heritage Route includes 29 partner sites across the country. In the Trnava region, four significant sites are part of the route: the Synagogue – Center for Contemporary Art of the Ján Koniarek Gallery in Trnava, the Synagogue – Center for Contemporary Art in Šamorín, the synagogue in Šaštín-Stráže, and the Jewish cemetery in Hlohovec.
The Slovak Jewish Heritage Route is a key tool in raising awareness of Jewish history and culture as an integral part of the shared European heritage, while also enhancing Slovakia’s appeal as a cultural tourism destination.
We would like to extend our warmest thanks to our Slovak partners, in particular Maroš Borský, for the invitation and for the outstanding success of the project and the conference.
