The Iron Route – The Ways of Metals
Lead partner institution: LOMBARDIA REGION – GENERAL DIRECTION CULTURES, IDENTITY, AUTONOMIES – Archive of Ethnography and Social History
Programme and call for proposals: Interreg IIIB SPAZIO ALPINO – Call for proposals 2004
Short description
IRON ROUTE is a transnational project concerning the cultural and tourist enhancement of the Alpine mining areas, co-financed by the Community programme INTERREG IIIB – SPAZIO ALPINO within the 2004 call for proposals. InEuropa srl carried out the planning and supported the lead partner in the management of the project.
Objectives
IRON ROUTE intends to promote the revitalization of old mining sites within the Alpine space to solve structural and management problems, enhancing the resources of the Alpine cultural and environmental heritage.
It also intends to promote an efficient and zero environmental impact management of the natural resources of the area, making the metal routes (iron) accessible and passable by operators, local residents, tourists.
Actions
WP1 – Preparatory Activities
WP2 – Transnational Project Management
WP3 – Local Project Management
WP4 – Information and Advertising Activities
WP5 – Study and Research
WP6 – Feasibility Phase
WP7 – Network Activities
WP8 – Pilot Actions: Creating Metal Routes in the Alpine Space
WP9 – Monitoring and Evaluation
Results
The main results of IRON ROUTE have been:
– Opening of a constructive dialogue between public administrations and private actors involved in the valorisation and management of the Alpine territory
– Creation of a common management model for mining areas located in Alpine areas
– Stopping environmental degradation in Alpine mining areas
– Identification and activation of tourist-cultural itineraries and increase in the number of visitors
– Activation of Centres of historical and cultural documentation and tourist information
– Creation of a European information platform on Alpine mining areas
– Creation of new jobs
Beneficiaries
Local authorities, cultural and environmental officials, tourists from the Alpine area
Partnership
The partnership is composed of 9 public and private entities from 3 different countries. The lead partner is the Lombardy Region (ITALY). The other subjects are: Mountain Community of Trompia Valley (ITALY); Gorenjski Muzej (SLOVENIA); Marktgemeinde Hüttenberg (AUSTRIA); Podzemlje Pece D.O.O. (SLOVENIA); Autonomous Region Friuli Venezia Giulia (ITALY); Autonomous Region Valle d’Aosta (ITALY); Cooperativa Leader Plus delle Valli Seriana e di Scalve s.c.r.l. (ITALY); University of Insubria (ITALY).
Duration
The project had a duration of 36 months (01/01/2005 – 31/12/2007)
Website
www.ironroute.org (no longer active)
Total Budget
The project has a total cost of €1,758,240.00
Contribution
€ 945,120.00 co-financed by the EU
Funding body
European Commission – Directorate-General for Regional Policy
