New Heritage Group continue the search for ‘H’ and become ‘Friends of HeiM’

Heritage in Motion

By Javea U3A Vice-President Claude Grealy

Last month in our newsletter, I told you that I intended to start a Javea Heritage Group, and that our group would link to (be friends of) a project called HeiM (Heritage in Motion), which the University of Alicante has launched. Obviously Covid has put a bit of a damper on everything, but the HeiM Project has been working away and so I’d now like to tell you a little about this wonderful project by some very talented people.

The Project has grown out of the EU Active Ageing Project which was launched several years ago.

The HeiM Project has as its objectives:-

  • Encourage knowledge of heritage (locally and europe wide) among older adults to promote physical and mental activity
  • Find ways to continue developing life-long interest in investigating and collaborating together
  • Play an active part in society to promote social and inter-generational cohesion
  • Make a better, more inclusive society
  • Establish better links between countries
  • Recognize the value of cultural diversity and heritage

In other words ……… Get out of the house …. Meet interesting people …… Visit (walk) to a local heritage site ….. Get involved in learning how to put information about your local heritage sites up on the internet for others to visit too …..

So, HeiM have got together with the U3A in Iceland, volunteers in Poland, Croatia and here in Alicante to map out routes of interest in their respective countries (just the start), with the intention that local people would then take over the reigns and develop more routes.

Here in Alicante, HeiM have mapped out six walking routes:

  • Alicante Old Town
  • Alcoy
  • Vila Joiosa
  • Fontilles
  • Serra Gelada / L’Albir ….. AND – music please maestro !!!!!!
  • Javea / Xabia (With a walking route focusing on Tosca stone in local heritage).

Note: These are just a couple of routes in each individual area in order to show what could be done. There are hundreds of wonderful walking routes in this area, many of which have some cultural relevance to be explored and shared with everyone.

Would you like to walk these roads with us together ? If so, contact us.

Contact: heritage@u3ajavea.com