Cyril and Methodius Route

Cultural Route of the Council of Europe

EXPERIENCE | KNOWLEDGE | AWARENESS

Discover a profound, eleven-century-long impact
on the cultural history and cultural identity of the Slavs

Get to Know
the Cyril and Methodius Route

Exploration connected with movement in nature and visiting cultural sites and institutions that preserve cultural heritage of the Slavs. Hike on the trails of the Route, discover cultural heritage of Cyril and Methodius or get acquainted with the Association. Then find out more information about this unique Cultural Route of the Council of Europe.

Hiking Trails

Welcome to the Route with more than 5000 km of hiking trails.

Heritage Alive

Discover locations connected with Cyril and Methodius Cultural Heritage.

Association

European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius (ECRCM)

Prepare for Your Hiking along the Route

Prepare for your adventure! Whether you’re planning a day hike or a multi-day trek, careful preparation is key. Ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey along this historic path.

Help Us Enhance the Cyril and Methodius Route!

If you’ve explored the beautiful trails of the Cyril and Methodius Route and would like to share your experiences or information, we invite you to contribute to our tourism project! Your input can help us create a richer, more informative experience for future travelers.

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Explore Archaeologically and Culturally Significant Localites

Beyond the trails, discover a wealth of archaeologically and culturally significant sites that illuminate the legacy of Cyril and Methodius. From ancient basilicas and monasteries to medieval castles and open-air museums, these locations across Europe offer a fascinating glimpse into the world of the two saints and their enduring influence. Each site tells a unique story, enriching your understanding of this pivotal period in European history and culture. Begin your journey of discovery today!

Latest from Cyril and Methodius Route.

Are you interested in what has been happening on the Route? We provide you with news about cultural events, itineraries, conferences and workshops and much more. Scroll down with the mouse and click on any image below. You can check out the calendar of events which can be found in the main menu of the website.

Bulgarian Cultural Institute in Bratislava Celebrates St. Clement of Ohrid's Feast Day with a New Musical Piece

25th November 2025, Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Cultural Institute (BCI) in Bratislava is celebrating the feast day of St. Clement of Ohrid and the 1170th anniversary of the creation of the Glagolitic script by releasing a brand new musical composition.

Titled “INVOCATION”, this short clip features Bulgarian artists Daniel Ivanov, Ivan Shopov, and Martin Lyutskanov, and was initiated by Ms. Vanya Radeva, director of the BCI in Bratislava. These young artists uniquely merge Old Bulgarian liturgical music with electronic sound by drawing on their own inspiration and extensive professional experience across various musical genres.

International Meeting on the Cyril and Methodius Route Took Place in Brno

19th November 2025, Brno, Czech Republic

A meeting of the members of the international association European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius was held at the headquarters of the South Moravian Region. Representatives from four European countries—the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and North Macedonia—attended, with others participating online.

The association welcomed a new member in Brno, the St. Cyril and Methodius National Library in Sofia, and now consists of 44 members from 10 European countries. Furthermore, the ranks of the association’s Scientific Committee were expanded by Prof. Anna-Maria Totomanova from Sofia University in Bulgaria and Dr. Angela Borzacconi, director of the Archaeological Museum in Cividale, Italy.

Discussions on the Cyril and Methodius Route at the Embassies in ROME

7th November 2025, Rome, Italy

Representatives of the Zlín Region and the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius association discussed the Cyril and Methodius Route and other topics at two Roman embassies. Representatives met with a very friendly reception at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Italy. They spoke about possibilities for cooperation in promoting the Cyril and Methodius Route during the embassy’s activities. The meeting with Jiří Jilík, Deputy Ambassador to Italy, concerned not only existing cooperation but also the future programming period and opportunities for new projects with Italian partners, as well as the potential cooperation between Tomas Bata University and the space agency ESA. They also received a very pleasant welcome from the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Holy See, Pavel Svoboda.

New Milestone Stone Unveiled at Velehrad: A Reminder of European Heritage on the Cyril and Methodius Route

7th October 2025, Velehrad, Czech Republic

Today, one of three new pilot milestone stones on the Cyril and Methodius Route was ceremonially unveiled at the Velehrad pilgrimage site. This act symbolically culminated the international conference held at Velehrad to mark the re-certification of the Cyril and Methodius Route as a Council of Europe Cultural Route.

Focusing on ...

The Association focuses on different developing and sustainable activities. They are as a result presenting variety of the cultural heritage of Saints Cyril and Methodius and their followers.

Network of Slavic heritage

From the first Slavic script - Glagolitic - and the Old Slavic language to the present.

Network of locations

Interesting places connected with the spread of the Cyril and Methodius legacy.

Network of trails

Inspired by the journey of Slavic missionaries and their followers.

Network of events

Cultural and educational activities throughout the year.

Network of products

Tourism products - coordinated under the common logo of the Cyril and Methodius Route.

Network of institutions

Maintaining the heritage of Saints Cyril and Methodius.

The Essence of the Cyril and Methodius Heritage

The main focus of the Route is cultural ideas and cultural content. These were introduced by Cyril and Methodius during the mission they led primarily among the Slavs of Great Moravia from 863 to 868. (Their mission activities also included the Slavs of the polity of Lower Pannonia).

The mission led by Cyril and Methodius was undertaken as a response from Byzantine Emperor Michael III to the request of Duke Rastislav of Great Moravia. Firstly, introducing an intelligible language for the sacred and public use in that Slavic polity. Secondly, buttressing and strengthening Christian faith of their inhabitants. Cyril and Methodius, however, not only refined the Slavic vernacular (by supplementing vocabulary and grammar) to meet the needs of theological, philosophical, legislative, administrative, and literary discourse. In fact, they boldly went even further, with Constantine inventing a script tailored to fit the Slavic phonemic system – the Glagolitic script.

At the end of the 9th century, the Cyrillic script was created in the South Slavic lands. Most likely in the Bulgarian Khanate. While the Glagolitic script was still relatively widely used during the 11th century (especially within the Ohrid Literary School), from the 12th century onward the Cyrillic script prevailed. It served as the equivalent of the Greek alphabet for Slavs of the Eastern Rite, who lived in the civilizational and political environment of the Eastern Roman Empire. The Glagolitic script remained in use among Croatians, with the last Glagolitic text printed in 1927.