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Baltic Manors Route: Baltic Manors Association launches new initiative across the Baltic Sea Region towards Council of Europe recognition
2026 04 20The first Baltic Manors Route Day on 23 April 2026 will mark the official announcement of the Route, connecting living manor heritage, regional tourism offers and shared perspectives across the Baltic Sea Region.
Lithuania, April 23, 2026 - On the first Baltic Manors Route Day, the Baltic Manors Association, which unites national and regional manor associations, tourism organisations and research institutes across the Baltic Sea Region, today officially announces the next step in its long-term cooperation: the Baltic Manors Route. Within the EU-funded project “Baltic Manors ROUTE”, supported by the Interreg South Baltic Programme, the initiative aims to establish the Route by 2027 and achieve certification by 2028 as a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. Lithuanian Castles and Manors Association is a member of Baltic Manors Association.
The Baltic Manors Route is designed to make the region’s shared manor heritage more visible, more accessible and more sustainable in the long term. For visitors, this means easier access to sites and experiences. For the people bringing new life to these historic places, it provides stronger support and greater visibility. For local communities, manor houses become even stronger places of identification and open up new prospects for rural areas in the hinterlands of the Baltic Sea coasts. With well over 10,000 manors across Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden and Denmark, the Baltic Sea Region has the highest density of such sites anywhere in the world. Around 1,000 of them already welcome guests and offer tourism experiences. The Baltic Manors Route is intended to connect these places through regional visitor offers, shared themes, cooperation and exchange across the Baltic Sea Region and a stronger common voice vis-à-vis public authorities.
Building on the well-established umbrella brand “Baltic Manors – Old places, new life”, the Route highlights a modern manor culture: places that are open to visitors, rooted in local communities and shaped by a pluralistic, outward-looking European spirit, often brought to life by committed so-called space pioneers who adapt and reimagine historic buildings and sites. In doing so, the Baltic Manors Route supports cultural exchange and engagement with younger generations, both key elements of the Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes approach.
“This is a major step we’re taking now – and a brave one. The Baltic Manors Route brings our countries closer together through a shared cultural heritage while supporting the people and local initiatives that give these historic buildings a future. It creates a framework for cooperation across the Baltic Sea Region, helps visitors discover the region´s shared manor heritage more easily and promotes core European values through a new rural spirit” says Manfred Achtenhagen, Chair of the Baltic Manors Association.
How the Route will work for visitors and regions
Rather than following one fixed path, the Baltic Manors Route will grow through regional clusters of visitable, bookable experiences and gateway sites that encourage visitors to explore further – supported by shared communication, quality development and thematic storytelling across borders. In addition, the organisations involved will expand formats that bring the shared heritage to life through joint themes, educational exchange and international visitor offers, such as the transnational Baltic Manors Festival or the Baltic Manors Exhibition, presented at seven locations in five countries. An initial exchange with the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR) in Luxembourg has helped partners clarify the pathway and requirements towards certification. The aim is to consolidate the Route concept by 2027 and work towards certification by 2028.
The Route helps connect what happens here locally with a wider Baltic Sea story. It creates visibility, encourages cooperation, and invites visitors to discover more than a single site,” says Gintaras Karosas, President of Lithuanian Castles and Manors Association.
The Baltic Manors Route Day
The first Baltic Manors Route Day is a milestone event, taking place simultaneously in all participating countries on 23 April 2026. The day will focus on political dialogue and exchange, bringing together manor owners, tourism stakeholders, researchers, public authorities. The format is intended to become an annual event and to keep the interests of manor owners and managers the significance of this shared cultural heritage firmly on the agenda. The programme in Jurbarkas Manor include presentation of the Baltic Manors Route project, political dialogue. There will be lectures for manor owners and managers, an in‑depth exploration of Jurbarkas Manor, and an opportunity to learn about experiences from another certified European cultural route.
Being part of the Baltic Manors Route means joining a network across the Baltic Sea Region that strengthens both heritage and community life. It helps us share knowledge, attract visitors and invest in the future of these places.
About the Baltic Manors Association and the initiative
The Baltic Manors Association promotes manor heritage around the Baltic Sea Region under the umbrella brand “Baltic Manors – Old places, new life.” The cooperation is carried by national and regional manor associations, which are supported by tourism organisations and research institutes.
The Baltic Manors Association aims to establish the Baltic Manors Route by 2027 and to achieve certification by 2028 as a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. The Route is being developed within the project “Baltic Manors ROUTE”, supported and co-financed by the EU through the Interreg South Baltic Programme.
More information: www.baltic-manors.eu Press / media contact: info@baltic-manors.eu
About the cooperation in Lithuania
In Lithuania, the Baltic Manors Route is advanced by Lithuanian Castles and Manors Association. in cooperation with Vilnius Art Academy, and in close cooperation with local communities, manor owners, cultural institutions and tourism actors. Together, they contribute to developing regional visitor experiences, strengthening cooperation across the Baltic Sea Region and supporting the long-term preservation of manor heritage as living, community-connected places.
More information: lietuvos.dvarai.lt Press / media contact: projektai@dvarai.lt, Gintaras Karosas, +370 69830925