¡HITTS Project Publishes the Map and Good Practices Guide in the SUDOE Area!

Summary

The European project HITTS has successfully completed Activity 1.5: Identification of good practices in the SUDOE area on innovative strategies and initiatives, one of the key milestones in the project’s first implementation phase.

Description

The European project HITTS has successfully completed Activity 1.5: Identification of good practices in the SUDOE area on innovative strategies and initiatives, one of the key milestones in the project’s first implementation phase.

The work was coordinated by the Polytechnic Institute of Tomar (Portugal) with the participation of all consortium partners, and has led to the identification of 15 inspiring experiences that demonstrate how cultural and natural heritage can act as a driver of innovation, sustainability, and territorial cohesion in the rural regions of southwestern Europe.

This activity has resulted in two complementary and openly accessible outputs:

  • An online interactive map, which allows users to explore the recognized experiences across the SUDOE region through a dynamic and user-friendly geographic interface:

[View the HITTS Good Practices Map]

  • The HITTS Good Practices Guide, available in Spanish (ES), English (EN), French (FR), and Portuguese (PT), which compiles the selected cases with their context, objectives, methodology, and impact.

Good Practices Guide-ES-ebook

Good Practices Guide-FR-ebook

Good Practices Guide-PT-ebook

Good Practices Guide-EN-ebook

Both results constitute the final deliverable of Activity 1.5 and contribute directly to the HITTS objective of strengthening transnational cooperation around heritage as a strategic resource for more sustainable, inclusive, and high-quality tourism.

The documented experiences span Spain, France, and Portugal, and reflect diverse approaches—from industrial heritage recovery and community management to artistic reinterpretation of the landscape and the revitalization of intangible traditions.

Complete list of good practices in the SUDOE area:

  1. Sur le Sentier des Lauzes– Monts d’Ardèche Regional Natural Park (France)
  2. Las Médulas– Castilla y León (Spain)
  3. Caminito del Rey– Málaga, Andalusia (Spain)
  4. Associação de Vezeira de Fafião– Montalegre, Northern Portugal
  5. Valle Salado de Añana– Álava, Basque Country (Spain)
  6. La Beneficia de Piloña– L’Infiestu-Piloña, Asturias (Spain)
  7. Chemin faisantArtist Residency – Hautes Terres, Cantal (France)
  8. Romanesque Route– Sousa, Douro and Tâmega Valleys (Northern Portugal)
  9. Cathedral of Santa María– Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country (Spain)
  10. Church of San Lorenzo– Úbeda, Andalusia (Spain)
  11. Les Sentiers de l’Imaginaire– Carladez, Aveyron (France)
  12. Patios Route– Villanueva de los Infantes, Castilla-La Mancha (Spain)
  13. Barroso Ecomuseum– Montalegre, Northern Portugal
  14. Holy Week Interpretation Centre– Sardoal, Central Portugal
  15. Lapas Caves– Torres Novas, Central Portugal

A model for sustainable heritage tourism
Together, these experiences show that heritage, when managed inclusively, participatively, and creatively, can become a powerful tool for social innovation and sustainable development.