Introduction 2

1. Cultural route Error! Bookmark not defined.

1.1. Cultural route - definitions 2

1.2. Cultural route - systemic approach 17

2. Cultural routes in documents Error! Bookmark not defined.

2.1. Cultural routes in the light of international documents and initiatives 18

2.2. Polish legal acts 20

2.3. Central strategic documents - National Culture Program "Protection of monuments

and cultural heritage" 21

3. Cultural routes and cultural tourism Error! Bookmark not defined.

3.1. Cultural tourism and culture 23

3.2. Cultural tourism - definitions 28

3.3. Cultural routes and tourism 32

4. Dear Saint Jakob in Poland 34

4.1. Motives of pilgrimage on the roads of St. Jakob 34

4.2. Saint Jacob road in Małopolska 35

4.3. Lubuski trail of the Way of St. Jacob 37

4.4. Dear Saint Jacob in the Gniezno poviat 37

[Link] Saint Jacob in the province Pomorskie 38

Summary 39

Bibliografia 42
Introduction

The concept of cultural heritage is relatively young. The origins of this term date back
to the 1970s, when the traditional concept of the monument was reevaluated. It did not adhere
to the holistic description of the world, in which an intangible heritage, having a subjective
character, not seen as a single isolated element, but a component of the whole on a much
larger scale, played an important role.
The phenomenon described is not a coiled process. On the one hand, the heritage
formula is still being completed, on the other - its meaning is being fully understood,
including for the development of regions, creating intercultural links, learning about the
human achievements, but also building the cultural identity of individuals and social groups.
This new phenomenon, dynamically developing and becoming more and more
important in the social space, requires the development of effective and effective
management tools.1

1. Cultural route

1.1. Cultural route - definitions

In circulation in professional literature, tourist journalism and in the common use of

colloquial language, there are a number of definitions and several criteria for the
classification of Polish tourist routes. In the light of their source definitions or (more
generally) in the context of the content of the documents establishing them, the main task of
these terms is to date distinguish routes as routes marked as part of the whole tourism space.
Moreover, they help the potential recipient to distinguish the routes in terms of their subject
matter and in terms of the way tourism is practiced on them.
In a sense, the use of trail markings also ensures the use of basic means of securing a
tourist using a given route. And so the instruction for marking PTTK tourist routes gives their
definition and then distinguishes the following categories of routes: mountain and lowland
hiking and walking, nature and didactic routes, skiing, cycling, canoeing and equestrian
trails2.
Both the definition of routes as well as their categorization and the principles of
running routes described in the above-mentioned instruction seem to be oriented towards the

1
T. Kotarbiński, Prakseologia, part II, Wrocław 2003, p. 43.
2
PTTK (ZG), Instrukcja znakowania szlaków turystycznych, Warszawa 2007, p. 4.
creation and functioning of local terrain routes, although the document envisages elsewhere
their considerable extent, and even linking to a national network and international.
Both the concentration on non-urban areas and the categorization of types of routes
used seem irrelevant today to existing tourist offers of this kind, as the defined routes do not
cover a range of new national and international tourism proposals, especially those focusing
on large parts of the country or continent; taking into account other means of tourist
movement, such as a car, a coach or a railway.
The nomenclature used on the basis of this definition does not, for a long time, be
compatible with the terms commonly used in European abroad as both tourist and popular
tourist routes.
This also applies to the Polish language, which is confirmed by the description of the
slogan "trail" in its separate aspect of the "tourist route", included in the most serious Polish
dictionary of modern language3.
The password is explained there with many aspects of its meaning. In the aspect of the
"tourist route", the authors give the following definition: "natural or specially marked route,
usually marked, serving tourism purposes".
Because the authors of encyclopedic publications are guided by the most common
meaning of a given word or phrase, appearing in professional literature and in colloquial
language, such a wording of the explanation of the password is proof of a real redefinition in
line with international trends.
That is probably why in one of the latest textbooks on Polish tourist geography4 - the
definition of the tourist route seems to take into account not only the more complex reality of
the various contemporary tourist routes, the diverse space in which they occur or the
heterogeneous range of their designation, but also indicates the most common actual route
designation: connecting them with attractive places and facilities from the point of view view
of the tourist.
In more general terms, the definition of J. Styperk is discussed here, who sees in them
simply a "linear tourist penetration system"5. In such a designated area of this name, all types
of trails serving tourism and tourists will fit in properly. Among the recently published works
in Polish literature, it is worth citing the list contained in an interesting publication on Polish
tourist routes in general, by Izabela and Robert Szewczyk.

3
H. Zgółkowa (editor), Słownik poprawnej polszczyzny, volume 41, p. 365.
4
Z. Kruczek Z., Polska. Geografia atrakcji turystycznych, Publishing House Proksenia, Kraków 2003, p. 277.
5
J. Śniadek, J. Styperek, Marka produktu turystycznego, “Studia Periegetica”, number 1/2007, p. 84-89.
 They propose (and implement in their presentation) obligatory use in the description
of routes information on their length and time of visit, availability in different seasons and
means of transport recommended when navigating them.
Then they divide the major tourist routes using the thematic criterion, indicating the
following categories: historical and archaeological, ethnographic and cultural routes,
architecture and industry, biographical, mountain, nature and water6.
This division provides the potential tourist with a significant facilitation in the
orientation of the offer of Polish routes - it takes into account their considerable diversity,
groups them thematically and allows to obtain some basic knowledge about their nature and
how they are visited.
However, it seems somewhat subjective and out of focus (which the authors admit),
and the concept of the cultural route is narrowed in it to offers covering only literary routes
and works related to art, handicrafts or crafts, and for example historical or architectural
routes included have been in other categories. The basis of this definition of nomenclature
does not, for a long time, befitting the definitions of tourist routes commonly used in
European abroad, both those used in colloquial and professional terms.
This also applies to the Polish language, which is confirmed by the description of the
slogan "trail" in its separate aspect of the "tourist route", included in the most serious Polish
dictionary of contemporary language. The password is explained there with many aspects of
its meaning.
In the aspect of the "tourist route", the authors give the following definition: "natural
or specially marked route, usually marked, serving tourism purposes". Because the authors of
encyclopedic publications are guided by the most common meaning of a given word or
phrase, appearing in professional literature and in colloquial language, such a wording of the
explanation of the password is proof of a real redefinition in line with international trends.
That is probably why in one of the latest textbooks on Polish tourist geography7 - the
definition of the tourist route seems to take into account not only the more complex reality of
the various contemporary tourist routes, the diverse space in which they occur or the
heterogeneous range of their designation, but also indicates the most common actual route
designation: connecting them with attractive places and facilities from the point of view view
of the tourist.

6
[Link], Szlaki turystyczne, Warszawa 2008, p. 6-7.
7
Z. Kruczek, op. cit., p. 54.
 In more general terms, the definition of J. Styperk is discussed here, who sees in them
simply a "linear tourist penetration system"8. In such a designated area of this name, all types
of trails serving tourism and tourists will fit in properly.
Among the recently published works in Polish literature, it is worth citing the list
contained in an interesting publication on Polish tourist routes in general, by Izabela and
Robert Szewczyk.
They propose (and implement in their presentation) obligatory use in the description
of routes information on their length and time of visit, availability in different seasons and
means of transport recommended when navigating them. Then they divide the major tourist
routes using the thematic criterion, indicating the following categories: historical and
archaeological, ethnographic and cultural routes, architecture and industry, biographical,
mountain, nature and water.
This division provides the potential tourist with a significant facilitation in the
orientation of the offer of Polish routes - it takes into account their considerable diversity,
groups them thematically and allows to obtain some basic knowledge about their nature and
the way they are visited.
However, it seems somewhat subjective and out of focus (which the authors admit),
and the concept of the cultural route is narrowed in it to offers covering only literary routes
and works related to art, handicrafts or crafts, and for example historical or architectural
routes included have been in other categories.
Issued to improve the implementation of the rules of the World Cultural Heritage
Convention, the Cultural Heritage routes include - alongside historic towns, cultural
landscapes and canals - natural applications for inclusion in the World Cultural and Natural
Heritage [Link] UNESCO understands in terms of cultural routes, the International
Council for the Protection of Monuments - ICOMOS specifies. This institution, affiliated
with UNESCO and has since 1998 its own International Institute of Cultural Routes10,
adopted a broad and multifaceted definition according to which the cultural route is a land,
water or mixed type of route marked physically and characterized by having its own
historical dynamics and functionality, showing the development of humanity as a
multidimensional and continuous exchange of goods, ideas, knowledge and values within
countries and regions as well as between them for significant periods of time; causing a
8
J. Śniadek, op. cit., p. 27.
9
UNESCO, op. cit., p. 72.
10
ICOMOS, CIVIC Annual Meeting Report 2003, Attachment 2. Internet address: [Link]
[Link]/INDEX_ingl.htm (access date: 2. 11. 2008).
mutual interaction of cultures in space and time, which is reflected in the material or
immaterial heritage."11
Although the concept of the cultural route seems to be much wider than the "cultural
heritage routes" thus distinguished, the mere fact of including only a few of the most valuable
among them as a separate category in the most valuable heritage objects of all mankind gives
the group considerable prestige and indicates it as unique and recommended goals for
tourism.
In turn, due to the dynamic development of cultural tourism itself and as a result of
institutional support granted in particular in Europe, in the last two decades in official
documents of international institutions and organizations, as well as in foreign publications
and Polish researchers dealing with cultural tourism, a separate category of European
Cultural Routes.
In the context of European cultural heritage, they are mentioned first by the resolution
of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted in 1985, followed by the
documents establishing the European Cultural Routes Program in 1987 and the Institute of
Cultural Routes in Luxembourg in 1997.12
In the light of all these documents and initiatives, the task of a new group of specially
identified routes: European Cultural Routes is to show through the concept of travel in time
and space how the heritage of individual European states co-creates the common heritage of
the whole continent, while promoting the core values of the European Council: human rights,
democracy, cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue through cultural tourism as a particularly
supported way of spending free time.
The routes were to pass through the territory of more than one country or region, be
organized around a topic defined by historical, artistic or social themes concerning European
affairs, based on numerous and diverse cultural attractions.
The main themes of the officially appointed routes were, among others, biographical
motifs of great Europeans, historical migrations and the spread of major civilization
achievements.13
Cultural tourism - understood here not only as a separate segment of tourism, but also
a specific type of offer to spend free time - is not limited only to the most important, most
popular or recognized as a common heritage of the world or the continent, but also uses it
11
Ibidem.
12
K. Orzechowska-Kowalska, Zasady tworzenia europejskich szlaków kulturowych, “Turyzm”, number 13/2, p.
69-78.
13
Ibidem, p. 79.
more and more local, regional and national routes - developing over the course of political,
social or economic history, or constructed as proposals or directly tourist products, and
focused around a leading topic in the broadly understood spiritual or material culture.
To define a cultural route in this sense, we will use here a well-known term by L.
Puczko and T. Ratz14. Co-authors of the publication regarded as a classic textbook in the field
of cultural tourism capture the essence of the cultural route as follows: "Cultural route is a
thematic path, having as its focal point cultural value or an element of cultural heritage,
where cultural attractions play a key role."
They also propose the division of cultural routes according to the reach criteria (local,
regional, national and international), ways of visiting, nature (eg pilgrim routes, historical
trade routes, historical borders, contemporary major cultural routes) and the topic.
In Polish professional literature, the attempt to compile and categorize the most
important tourist routes of a cultural nature was taken by A. Mikos v. Rohrscheidt 15.
Accepting as their basic criterion the above-mentioned definition of Puczko-Ratz and based
on a broad understanding of the concept of culture, he defines them collectively as "tourist
and cultural routes".
Thus, a category broader than the term "cultural routes" is proposed, more and more
often reserved for officially for such recognized routes of the Council of Europe. The routes
included in this category are in turn included in the above-mentioned definition by Puczko /
Ratz.
The purpose of applying the criteria for the description and distribution of these routes
and the resulting categories is primarily to distinguish them from other tourist routes, and
then to achieve far-reaching clarity in the formulation of their tourist offer.
Therefore, commonly accepted criteria for division can and should be applied to the
tourist and cultural routes. Therefore, applying the criterion of thematic subdivision, it
includes mainly historical routes (including military, archaeological, pilgrimage,
biographical), followed by historical trade routes, architectural and constructional,
ethnographic, technical and industrial routes, old crafts and others, corresponding to its topics
related to particular types of cultural tourism expeditions. It is precisely in this broad
enumeration that there is a certain novelty: the range of tourist and cultural routes outlined in

14
L. Puczko, T. Ratz, Trailing Goethe, Humbert, and Ulysses; Cultural Routes in Tourism, [in:] G. Richards
(editor), Cultural tourism, Global and Local perspectives, New York 2007, p. 131-148.
15
[Link] von Rohrscheidt, Turystyka kulturowa. Fenomen, potencjał, perspektywy, Gniezno 2008, p. 92.
this way corresponds to the wider definition of cultural tourism, including both high- and
universal cultural heritage objects as well as programs and intentions educational.
In this sense, the notion of tourist and cultural routes is also marked by the explicit
intention of the author of the accent on the idea of "intercultural exchange" about the seeds
mentioned so far in the context of these routes, aspects of learning about their own historical
heritage and thematic cultural education.
Therefore, the basic categories describing the trails are the actual range of the trail,
which is essential for the program and the way it is visited, so (for Puczko-Ratz) we can
distinguish local (which in Polish terminology to distinguish from the others the author
suggests to call routes, regional and national routes and international.
At the same time, regional routes within a given country, for thematic reasons going
beyond its borders only on the regional scale in the neighboring country or countries, the
author proposes to call cross-border routes.
Then, although this criterion may be subjective in individual cases, it actually breaks
down according to the importance of the routes, i.e. their references to cultural heritage with a
specific range of impact (thus dividing them into local, regional, national and international
ones, as evidenced by the categories used in their listing and description).
Using in the description of particular routes resulting from the criterion of official
recognition by the Program Board of European Cultural Routes as the Great Cultural Routes
of the Council of Europe, Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe and "Routes within the
Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe" indicates that the author (though not directly
discusses this criterion), it recognizes them practically as a kind of additional ennoblement
and confirmation of European significance for selected routes of international significance,
which in consequence may bring them wider popularity and gives places and facilities
classified to them a better chance of entering tour operators' offers and becoming the
destination of individual tourist trips.
However, for a more precise determination of the type and potential of the vast
majority of Polish routes, the combination of the two above-mentioned criteria may have
more practical significance.
For example, the Hanseatic Route has both international coverage and meaning in the
cited study, because the several countries (range) running through the area refer to the subject
of cultural heritage of international character and influence (meaning).
In practice, this means that the classification of the Polish section of this route
indicated in this way indicates both its traveling space outside the country (and therefore the
possibility of travel offers for Polish tourists as part of visiting this route) as well as the
potential to attract foreign tourists (arrival) for his Polish episode.
The same rank was awarded, for example, by the Polish section of the Holy Way.
Jacob or the Cistercian Route. In turn, for example, the Piast Trail or the Eagles Nests Trail,
in the light of both criteria, have the rank of a national route, crossing the geographical
boundaries of regions and at the same time referring to the cultural heritage of national
importance. Meanwhile, the Piast Castles Trail, although in terms of its range does not cross
the borders of one region, is in terms of importance qualified as a national route.
In the case of the international foundation of the Amber Greenways Route - which
has not yet been completed and consists of individual regional and local sections - in this
ranking the (currently) only regional rank is granted in terms of the coverage criterion.
Another example of a more accurate distinction is the cross-border "Via sacra" route,
which is growing in popularity, combining the common cultural offer of the Czech-Polish-
German borderland. The cross-border scope is indisputable, but due to the topics it exposes in
terms of importance Mikos v. Rohrscheidt gives it a regional rank.
Although the author does not expressly comment on the division of routes according
to the criterion of transport, the terminology used in the cited study for some routes indicates
that such a division, if it can be helpful in a given case, is also accepted and recommended.16
At the same time, however, in the cited publication, before the listing and description
of the most important cultural routes in Poland, a new postulate of the categorization of
routes is formulated and justified.
Concepts and categories used so far to define and divide tourist routes in general,
while tourism and culture in particular prove to be helpful in many aspects, but they are not
able to fully implement information tasks in relation to potential consumers, so their
functionality is limited.
The tourist, reaching for information about the routes, included in the official lists
and registers of routes, in their own printed materials and other sources (like tourist guides)
most often learns about the length and course of a given route, its most interesting attractions,
type of sign (or its absence), often also about the type and history of objects on the trail.
In some of the wider descriptions of tourist routes and individual towns, especially
those included in modern guides, potential visitors can also find additional information about

16
Ibidem, p. 130.
accommodation and catering facilities, opening hours of particular attractions, and even
curiosities, anecdotes and legends related to the subject of the route.
In the case of guides, however, there is no standardization of similar descriptions and
a related guarantee that the information provided there is up to date and can be based on
them, planning an individual trip along such a trail.
In turn, official information guides do not usually provide information necessary to
organize a trip, comparing at most links to the objects, hotels, eating places and others.
In the field, not all routes are marked at all or the markings only refer to fragments of
routes, which makes it difficult for an individual tourist to reach the towns and facilities
constituting their integral components.
Many of the routes included in the routes described in their guides and guidebooks are
not actually available for sightseeing or it is not known in what days and times they are
available, there is also no way of contacting the institutions or persons responsible for them.
Finally - which is perhaps the most severe drawback - many tourist routes (including
those that can be classified as cultural) do not have uniform coordination, ie an institution, a
self-government body, an association or an economic entity that would be responsible for the
functioning of the trail as a product tourist information, marking the trail in the field,
contacting individual objects and updating information about them, monitoring their status
and actual accessibility, provided tourist information for those interested in visiting the trail,
ran its internet portal and published information guides on its behalf, took care of its
promotion , not to mention organizing ready tourist packages as a specific offer of a route
addressed to a tourist or tour operator.
Additionally, often within a single route, there is a very uneven level of tourist
services (or even a level of courtesy towards a tourist) in various facilities. While in some
there are regular opening hours, full information about the facility is available in several
languages and, for example, a list of service facilities, in the second the visitor finds a closed
door and there is no contact with which it would be possible to visit.
These routes, in relation to which all or many of the indicated deficiencies occur (and
the majority of them are in Poland), can not fully meet the requirements of the modern
tourist.
However, the tourist himself often finds out about it on the spot, which may result in
his disappointment as a result of, for example, inability to visit the facility, for whom an
expedition was undertaken, and even stress, for example in the absence of accommodation or
catering facilities on the spot, lack of vacancies places in them, a much limited
communication offer and the related unexpected inability to get out of a small town later in
the day.
These problems concern all types of tourist routes. During the decades that have
passed since the designation of the first tourist routes in our country, understanding tourism
has undergone significant transformation.
For most people using its offer, a tourist trip is no longer just an adventure on a
foreign territory but a well-organized way to spend interesting and meaningful leisure time.
A significant part of cultural tourists are people not focused on visiting, above all,
routes in the suburban area, but in cities or regions with a tourist infrastructure at a certain
minimum level.
They await during the tour of the route of meeting their basic needs and also expect a
partner (coordinator) on their place that can provide them with the organization of their stay,
sightseeing and possibly also movement.
Therefore, especially in the offer addressed to them, there is an urgent need to
introduce in the categorization and description of tourist routes such a criterion, based on
which would clearly distinguish the offer of routes to meet the most important requirements
of today's tourists and those that (regardless of the interesting subject and cultural value of
their offers) meet them only in part or do not meet at all.
The additional division presented in the cited publication (applied by the author to
numerous tourist and cultural routes described therein includes two basic categories: material
routes and virtual routes, the latter may be additionally distinguished due to the fact that they
meet at least some of the route criteria in the field or (if they do not meet them at all) due to
the way they are designated17.
The author cites, as an example of a more precise definition of the tourist route, a set
of 10 criteria established by the German Tourism Federation from 1981, commonly
recognized in the German language area18, then, bypassing those of them, which it considers
to be obvious for each route (such as the requirement of unambiguous name, strict definition
of the route, or actual recognition by state, regional or local authority, even in the form of
public funds), proposes the use of several among them, included partly in the form expanded
into three criteria, and attached to them a fourth criterion, in his opinion, decisive, especially
in Polish conditions, of the full function of the tourist and cultural route.

17
Ibidem.
18
[Link], Kulturtourismus. Marktstrukturen, Fallstudien, Perspektiven, Oldenbourg Verlag, Muenchen-
Wien 2007.
 The criteria for the material path developed by Mikos-Rohrscheidt (this is how the
specific route will be defined) is: the postulate of the "in situ" designation, the legitimate
theme of the trail and its coordination, while the attached condition is the criterion of
accessibility.
In accordance with this proposal, the material route can only name such a route that,
apart from having a name, durability of the offer (and therefore not one-time, short-term or
seasonal) and own logo, meets the following basic criteria:
● The criterion of "in situ" marking: The material trail must have a uniform
designation of objects "in place", that is, information in the form of signs in
the area, routes leading between individual locations of the route and near its
individual objects, and also at the facilities themselves. In this way, the basic
condition of the tourist route is met, that is, its designation in the area. At the
same time, the sign should be so accurate and effective that everyone who
travels the trail without even having maps and guides could find out about the
location of his individual objects and was encouraged to visit them. Marking
the route not only makes it easier to visit by "culturally motivated" and
"culturally interested" tourists who consciously chose this offer as the theme
of their trip, but also serves as a showcase for a much larger group of
"culturally attracted" tourists, very numerous group of people who basically do
not plan their trip as cultural and whose offer may be of interest during the
journey. The designation should include on the same route on each
information board along the roads: 1. route logo, 2. name of the route, 3. route
category (as a subtitle) "material trail" or "material cultural trail", and on
larger boards at facilities or teams objects forming the trail in addition: 4.
address and telephone of the coordinator, 5. given length and placed route
map, 6. address of the official website of the route, 7. name of the given object
or set of objects,
● Accessibility criterion: It is to apply to all or "almost all" route facilities and
thus provide the users of the offer with a real opportunity to visit the selected
attractions of the route, in accordance with its declared offer. This criterion
should be considered as a particularly important test of the actual functioning
of the trail as a full offer of this kind. The reason for introducing this postulate
and assigning it such a special importance is the fact that in Polish conditions
the neglect of sharing the object with tourists, erroneous or outdated
 information about opening hours and the lack of immediate intervention on the
site regarding the opening of objects are the reasons for dissatisfaction of
visitors trails or a small degree of use of this offer by organizers of collective
tourism. However, the accessibility condition discussed here is not absolute -
it is not about the actual permanent or full opening of each facility. In the case
of smaller or less visited objects, it is sufficient to provide the possibility of
making them available to tourists on a daily or almost daily basis at designated
times, for example in the form of a "key for a telephone" - also if it would
entail the additional payment for the service of the staff taking care of the
object by tourists, however, according to a fixed price list. Clearly established
rules for the provision of smaller, or far from urban centers, facilities (such as
historic churches, small village museums, numerous valuable buildings
without permanent care on the spot) reduce frequent cases of treating tourists
as intruders in the Polish province or demanding arbitrarily set fees from them
for which they are not prepared,
● Criterion of justified subject matter: The trail should not only have a name
adequate to its subject, but also its course and selection of objects relevant to it
should be based on professional literature. Reliable compact publications (or a
collection of separate publications) of a scientific and popular science nature
justify the theme and course of the route. They are therefore a substantive
basis for its separation in a given territory and the inclusion of at least a
significant majority of the indicated attractions (towns, places and facilities or
repetitive events) to its so-called designated course on the ground. Due to the
necessity of constantly disseminating the subject of the route, at least once
every 3 years, one compact publication on the subject of a popular nature
(describing the subject of the trail and containing updated information) should
be published at least every 3 years,
● Criterion for coordination: The trail is under constant custody of a permanent
coordinator: public authorities, institutions, subjects of economic life,
associations or other formally defined team of people who has been specially
appointed or indicated on the occasion of creating a trail or giving it material
status. It may be an entity for whom the coordination of the route is both an
exclusive and main task, or only an additional assigned task (eg a regional or
local tourist information center). Important tasks of the coordinator are:
 monitoring the condition of the route (including the condition and the degree
of accessibility of facilities within its framework), production, collation and
publication, as well as updating tourist information useful to tourists about the
trail and its functioning (eg on the Internet or in paper materials information,
in the press), providing continuous information on the functioning of the trail
and the availability of individual facilities, managing joint ventures of
individual objects included in the route (eg in the area of promotion, creation
or maintenance of routes, markings, etc.) or initiating such ventures,
representing the route during trade fairs, conferences, etc. His tasks may also
include: organizing regular or one-off events related to the subject of the route,
initiating, co-creating and coordinating packages of tourist services related to
the trail or its individual facilities tami or sections or intermediation in the
provision of such services (such as intermediation in guide services or
accommodation), accepting complaints and requests in connection with the
functioning of the route and working towards eliminating shortcomings and
many others.
Routes that do not meet one or several of the described criteria may be referred to as
virtual tourist and cultural routes (but outside this group also, for example, virtual thematic,
geological and other routes), however only if simultaneously: a permanent (not one-time)
tourist offer in the form of a route with a clearly defined subject, have a separate logo and
contain in their own information at least:
● description of the trail and its attractions in accordance with the topic at least in a
significant part,
● accurately given (not necessarily already marked "in situ") course of the route and
● offer of excursions on this route (which should be understood as a suggestion of at
least one themed tour that is published as part of the route information, corresponding
to its course).
A significant number of currently existing Polish tourist and cultural routes of
national (and even international) range, as well as a large number of regional or local routes
(routes) belongs to this group.
The above-mentioned study also presents other tourist and cultural offers in the form
of trips on thematic or regional routes, existing only in the form of guide-type publications or
repeatable offers of travel agencies, which do not even meet the criteria of a virtual route,
which it proposes to call virtual routes.
 For a better orientation of designers and designating new tourist and cultural routes, it
is necessary to supplement the given division with the internal classification of components
in the fully developed route.
The publication on the routes already quoted provides four groups of their essential
components:
● attractions originally not created for tourism purposes; therefore, original attractions,
appropriate carriers of cultural values, (castles, temples, historic city centers, former
technical objects, etc.),
● attractions created for tourist purposes (museums, events, theme parks, etc.),
● places of services for tourists (accommodation facilities, restaurants, souvenir shops,
car and bicycle rentals, amphitheatres, etc.) and
● institutions, organizations and associations established for the purposes of operating
the route or performing this activity alongside other activities.
It is worth pointing out, in particular, that the objects listed in point "c" are treated as
an integral component of the routes.
In the Polish reality, this aspect is often underestimated: many routes are designed
and designated without considering this component, almost always service providers in this
sector are not included in their daily activities (and the overall offer of the trail), which
consequently hampers their functioning as full (material) routes and significantly limits the
acceptance and use of their offer by tour operators, especially individual tourists. The
existence of such a division of routes, commonly used and known, preferably also based on
official verification and certification, can have many positive effects on tourism, especially
cultural tourism.
First, it introduces clearly defined standards for the routes themselves, makes it
possible to differentiate material routes as tourist products in terms of the actual presence of
standards expected by tourists.
This, in turn, will make it easier for the tourist to make an orientation before choosing
the destination and the route of the trip. Deciding on the material trail he will know where to
get information on the availability of individual attractions, where he can intervene in the
absence of visiting objects, he will also be sure that he will get the current information
material about the whole trail and that during the stay on the trail he will find places that you
want to visit.
 In the case of many material routes through the coordinator, he will also be able to use
the prepared package, including modules that interest him (eg accommodation in selected
cities, guide services, bicycle rental, tickets for participation in a thematic event, etc.).
By meeting the standards of the material route (which will constitute some kind of
quality guarantee) many tourists will be additionally motivated to take advantage of the offer
of these routes. In turn, choosing a virtual tourist will be aware that a large part of these
services will have to be organized yourself.
Secondly, consistent application of the proposed classification (also using obligatory
certification of routes) will significantly increase the activity of the currently operating route
coordinators and probably appoint or appoint coordinators for many of the other Polish
routes, and in time will increase their level of daily operations.
For example, thanks to the internal monitoring of the route by active coordinators, the
availability of individual facilities will be improved, and the constant care for constant
updating of information will be improved.
Thirdly, thanks to the introduction of a new brand product, which will be a tourist
material trail there will be a positively understood rivalry between virtual routes to achieve
the status of a full route - i.e. a developed product, not only having an interesting theme and
covering valuable objects, but also corresponding to these needs and this itself that can attract
more interested people. The rivalry can be continued in relation to the range and quality of
services offered by the coordinators of individual routes, within the organization of the route
itself, in communication with consumers.
The importance of this argument results from the economic (ie functional) view of
tourist routes: they should be treated as tourist products, and these must have both their
profile and their quality. Otherwise their offer will not sell well and will not be able to
compete with less valuable leisure offers.
Fourthly, the introduction of standards and the development of unified coordination of
material routes, mediating additionally numerous tourist services will cause more interest in
tourist routes among Polish and foreign tour operators. They will obtain in their new and
active coordinators the routes of specific partners to which they will be able to turn to and
purchase through them the individual services (and their entire packages) for organized
tourist groups. This means a significant facilitation also in the functioning of tourism
organized along the route and may result in an increase in the number of group offers.
 At the same time, tourist packages created within the framework of the route or its
individual towns (constituting stand-alone products) will be more likely to be popularized if
they use the well-known brand of the trail itself.
Fifthly, the modification of the existing thematic routes to well-organized tourist
products and the creation of new products in the form of material routes will accelerate the
desired process of tourist market deglomeration, on the one hand extending tourist activity
beyond commonly known destinations, on the other bringing economic benefits and new
directions of development in new towns and microregions.

1.2. Cultural route - systemic approach

A full description of cultural routes and their place in public space must include
defrosting to the theory of systems. Generally speaking, it is about the conviction that a
whole is something more than the sum of the part building it. Although the Austrian biologist
and philosopher Ludwig von Bertalanffy escapes as the founder of the systemic
methodology, many thinkers and researchers, starting with Aristotle, notice the many
complex systems built of individual parts.
With regard to cultural routes, studies devoted to the theory of systems in the area of
social sciences are of particular interest. In this context, you can cite, among others
observations of Leszek Krzyżanowski and Witold Kieżun. The first of them stated that the
essence of research in the field of organization and management is "organizations created by
people and for people".19 The other, on the other hand, described the system as "a separate
part of the reality that surrounds us, having an internal structure, and thus consisting of parts
ordered according to established rules, defining their mutual relations."20
These two quotes perfectly reflect the essence of cultural routes, both in the
complexity of their structure and social impact. Cultural routes build components that take on
a new quality in the system, by creating a synergy effect. In this way, the trail is considerably
larger than the individual buildings that are being constructed individually.
This mechanism was perfectly described by Bogusław Nierenberg, analyzing the
medialen system: "It seems that people should use the effects of proper selection and proper
connection of all subsystems included in a particular system. Thanks to this combination, a

19
L. Krzyżanowski, Podstawy nauk o organizacji i zarządzaniu, Warszawa 1992, p. 166.
20
W. Kieżun, Sprawne zarządzanie organizacją. Zarys teorii i praktyki, Warszawa 1997, p. 13.
synergistic result will be achieved, ie achieving an effect that is greater than that resulting
from a simple summation of elements included in the system.”21
With regard to cultural routes, these observations have a double meaning. In this
system work there are not only individual cultural routes, but also the collection they create.
Only this perspective exhausts the importance of routes from the point of view of the
modernly managed cultural heritage.

2. Cultural routes in documents

2.1. Cultural routes in the light of international documents and initiatives

After the end of the 1980s, the Council of Europe launched a project called European
Cultural Routes. Their goal was to: make Europeans aware of their cultural identity and
European citizenship; preservation and protection of heritage as a source of social, economic
and cultural development of the environment in which they live, giving places related to
cultural tourism a special importance while maintaining the principles of sustainable
development, as well as granting priority to cultural tourism among the ways of spending free
time and promotion for the broadly understood European culture.
A detailed procedure for establishing routes and their subject matter has been
elaborated, which is included in three areas - People; Migration and the spread of major
European trends in the fields of philosophy, art, religion, science, technology and trade.
Currently, there are over 20 European Cultural Routes. One of them is the Cultural
Trail "Dziedzictwo Al-Andalus". It is a route designated in Spain, countries of North Africa
and South America. In line with the objectives and assumptions of establishing the routes of
the Council of Europe, the Theory of Al-Andalus has been involved in the development and
implementation of this project. This trail shows the richness and the role of cultural heritage
in relation to the Spanish-Muslim civilization and its influence on the Mediterranean area
over the centuries.
The need to develop cultural tourism, cultivate tradition, is today one of the main
demands of building a knowledge-based society, aware of its identity, its roots. It turns out
that the development of this type of tourism entails great benefits, both material and moral.
It creates wide opportunities for promoting cultural values and cultivating them,
while being an important economic foundation for their preservation. The concept of cultural

21
B. Nierenberg, Zarządzanie mediami, ujęcie systemowe, Kraków 2011, p. 75.
heritage, which is the subject of actions of many countries and autonomous organizations, the
creation of security institutions and international cooperation, become a chance to save the
common human heritage.
The invaluable role in building European unity, especially in shaping the awareness of
the European cultural community, has played over many years and continues to play the
Council of Europe. One of the basic aims of its activity has been to protect the cultural
heritage, to promote greater European unity and to implement the ideals and principles of the
common "European heritage".
Meetings of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe prepare 14
specialized committees. One of them is the Committee on Culture, Science and Education,
which manages works on culture, education and sport. Among the international heritage
protection programs undertaken by the said Committee is the initiative to create European
Cultural Routes.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has decided to set up a special
Council for the European Cultural Routes Program. She developed and established the
European Pilgrimage Route.
Proposing the concept of this first cultural route, reference was made to the oldest,
already existing in the Middle Ages, the road leading to Santiago de Compostela. The
pilgrims - who were dubbed this path by Dante, called the feeling of belonging to the
European community represented by the Christian religion, constituting a universal system of
values (interestingly, Dante called the pilgrims heading for Rome - Romer, and burned to
Jerusalem). At the same time, it was a route along which Roman architecture and architecture
developed, and new civilization ideas and achievements of the Middle Ages were spreading.
Since the beginning of the Cultural Routes Program, the Council of Europe has
stressed the need to shape the awareness of Europeans regarding the common heritage;
dialogue between religions, protection of national minorities, landscapes. Assuming these
assumptions, the Cultural Cooperation Council at the Council of Europe has defined the basic
goals that should be met by the established routes, which are, inter alia:
● making Europeans aware of their cultural identity and European citizenship,
● preservation and protection of heritage as a source of social, economic and cultural
development of the environment in which they live, giving places related to cultural
tourism a special importance while maintaining the principles of sustainable
development,
● granting priority to cultural tourism among the ways of spending free time,
 ● promotion for the wider European culture.

2.2. Polish legal acts

Protection of monuments consists, in particular, in actions taken by public

administration bodies to:
● ensuring legal, organizational and financial conditions enabling permanent
preservation of monuments and their development and maintenance;
● prevention of threats that could damage the value of monuments;
● thwart destruction and improper use of monuments;
● counteracting theft, disappearance or illegal export of monuments abroad;
● control of the state of preservation and destination of monuments;
● taking into account conservation tasks in planning and spatial development
and in shaping the environment.
Care over a monument exercised by its owner or owner consists, in particular, in
ensuring the conditions:
● scientific research and documentation of the monument;
● conducting conservation, restoration and construction works at the monument;
● secure and maintain the monument and its surroundings in the best possible
condition;
● using the monument in a way that ensures the permanent preservation of its
value;
● popularizing and disseminating knowledge about the monument and its
importance for history and culture.
Protection and care are subject to, regardless of the state of preservation:
● immovable monuments, in particular:
○ cultural landscapes,
○ urban and rural layouts and construction teams,
○ works of architecture and construction,
○ works of defensive architecture,
○ technical facilities, in particular mines, steel mills, power plants and other
industrial plants,
○ cemeteries,
○ parks, gardens and other forms of designed greenery,
 ○ places commemorating historical events or the activities of outstanding
personalities or institutions;
● movable monuments which are, in particular:
○ works of visual arts, artistic craft and applied art,
○ collections constituting collections of items gathered and ordered according to
the concept of people who created these collections,
○ numismatics and historical souvenirs, especially military items, banners, seals,
badges, medals and medals,
○ products of technology, especially devices, means of transport as well as
machines and tools that testify to material culture, characteristic of old and
new forms of economy, documenting the level of science and civilization
development,
○ library materials referred to in Article 5 of the Act of 27 June 1997 on
libraries22,
○ musical instruments,
○ creations of folk art and handicrafts and other ethnographic objects,
○ objects commemorating historical events or the activities of outstanding
personalities or institutions;
● archaeological monuments, in particular:
○ field remains of prehistoric and historical settlement,
○ graveyards,
○ burial mounds,
○ relics of economic, religious and artistic activity.

2.3. Central strategic documents - National Culture Program "Protection

of monuments and cultural heritage"

The National Culture Program "Protection of monuments and cultural heritage" is a

document serving the implementation of the National Strategy for Culture Development in
2004-2013 in the sphere of Poland's cultural heritage.
The premise for the preparation of the strategy was the conviction that also in culture
the time has come for the transition from operational management to strategic management

22
Dz. U. Nr 85, 539, from 1998. Number 106, 668, from 2001. Number 129, 1440 and from 2002. Number
113, 984.
based on a long-term vision of development. The scope of the strategy was subordinated
mainly to the regions as the basic units of territorial division.
The concentration of activities in regions results from the adopted state policy in this
area, as well as general European tendencies reserving regions as the most effective, target
places of influence of the implemented policies and programs.
For the formulation of the National Strategy for Cultural Development, a thorough
legal, economic, institutional and organizational analysis of the sphere of culture was carried
out. This analysis, firstly, allowed to define in economic terms the role of culture in Poland's
economic development, indicating that the culture sector and its industries generate almost
4.5% of GDP.
Secondly, it showed that the expenditure on culture in Poland is among the lowest in
Europe, an average of 24 euros per capita, while in Denmark 216 euros, in France 191 euros,
in Estonia 34 euros. Thirdly, the analysis showed that there are large disparities in access to
culture in the regional cross-section as well as between cities and rural areas.
Finally, the large economic and organizational paresis in many areas of culture has
designated those areas that require more tedious action than others. On this basis, taking into
account the financial possibilities of the state budget and European Union funds available for
Poland, five strategic areas of culture were identified and five national culture programs were
prepared for them, being the basic tools for implementing the strategy.
These are the National Culture Program "Protection of monuments and national
heritage", National Culture Program "Development of artistic education and promotion of
creativity - Maestria", National Culture Program "Development of artistic institutions",
National Culture Program "Promotion of reading and development of the book sector" and
the National Program Culture "Development of contemporary art - Signs of the times".
For each program, a strategic goal, actions (including legislative ones) for its
implementation and institutions responsible for their implementation were formulated.
Programs should be considered as action plans and serve to formulate guidelines for
implementation, as well as to prepare detailed action schedules.
This will allow monitoring and control of the correctness of implementation, making
assessments at each stage of implementation of the effects of actions taken. The basis for the
formulation of the National Culture Program "Protection of monuments and cultural heritage"
is the recognition of the heritage sphere as the basis for cultural development and
dissemination of culture, as well as the potential of regions to increase the competitiveness of
regions for tourists, investors and residents23.

3. Cultural routes and cultural tourism

3.1. Cultural tourism and culture

Culture is an ambiguous concept and extremely difficult to define. The word "culture"
very often appears in various contexts in colloquial language. The term is commonly used by
scientists, but in every field (history, sociology, archeology) it has a slightly different
meaning. So there are dozens of definitions of culture that differ significantly. This is due to
the fact that each of them only highlights certain aspects of this wide phenomenon, omitting
others.
A. Kłoskowska24 distinguishes as many as six ways to define culture:
● descriptive-enumerating - culture as a set of specific (calculated) components (eg
knowledge, art, morality, customs),
● historical - culture as a heritage, achievements, experience passed down from
generation to generation,
● normative - culture as a set of norms, patterns and values, which are subordinated to
the behavior of people,
● psychological - stressing the psychological mechanisms of shaping the culture,
● structuralist - culture as a certain structure (main elements and interrelations),
● genetic - explaining the origin of culture.
K. Przecławski25, for Stefan Czarnowski, understands culture broadly, as "the whole
of objectified elements of the social achievements, common to a series of groups and because
of their objectivity, determined and able to expand spatially".
The concept of culture is most often used in a narrow sense. It refers to a certain
period (old, modern, medieval culture), area (Polish, German, European culture), social
groups (folk culture, nobility) or the circle of recipients (elitist, universal culture).

23
Narodowy Program Kultury “Ochrona Zabytków i Dziedzictwa Kulturowego”.
24
A.Kłoskowska (editor), Encyklopedia kultury polskiej XX w. , volume 1, Wrocław 1991, p. 28.
25
K. Przecławski, Turystyka a kultura na przełomie XX i XXI wieku, Polskie Stowarzyszenie Turystyki,
Warszawa 1997, p. 25.
 Regardless of the approach, culture always includes elements of a spiritual nature
(traditions, customs, language, lifestyle etc.) and material elements that are both its
expression and creation (works of art, architecture, museums, etc.).
Difficulties with formulating the definition of culture make it virtually impossible to
clearly explain the term cultural tourism (commonly used though). In tourism literature, it is
basically avoided to give a finite definition, most often limited to a more or less detailed
description of this phenomenon.
For the needs of this work, cultural tourism has been distinguished in a narrow and
broad sense:
● sensu stricto - this is every form of tourism, the aim of which is to contact
tourists with the material and immaterial cultural heritage of the visited area
(works of art, architecture, monuments of history, folklore), making use of the
generally available cultural offer (museums, galleries, theaters, concerts)
festivals etc.),
● sensu largo - it is all kinds of tourism that are related to the widely understood
culture, including common, everyday and contemporary culture.
Thus, cultural tourism sensu stricto refers above all to a high, elite culture of
undeniable, universally recognized value and, to some extent, already institutionalized or
forms of culture popularized by mass media.
Therefore, it has a mass character (many willing to see recognized works of art or
places, events or phenomena known from television). Cultural tourism of the sensu largo also
includes travels, the essence of which is closer and deeper contact of the tourist with the
inhabitants, blending in with the crowd of autochthons, learning about and practicing their
lifestyle, absorbing the atmosphere of the place.
The assumption is therefore an elite, individual, not mass tourism. It is a bit of a
paradox that the wider understanding of culture in this case is answered by a narrower
audience.
The symbolic representative of the first variety of cultural tourism is the hasty
"counting" of the next museum on the route, the other - a leisurely visit to a pub or cafe
allowing contact with the everyday, living culture of the inhabitants.
The most frequently encountered and widely recognized form of cultural tourism is
sightseeing (cognitive) tourism, especially those whose aim is cities (urban tourism), cultural
institutions (eg museums) or cultural events (eg festivals, concerts). Other varieties are
certainly also: pilgrimage, spa and industrial tourism, as well as study, language and thematic
trips26.
At the end of these preliminary considerations, it is worth noting that certain
elements of cultural tourism occur during all tourist travels. We always deal with "entering
into personal contact with the visited environment"27.
The very fact that we are talking about cultural (cultural) tourism is evidence of close
links between tourism and culture.
These connections are strong and at the same time complicated, mutually coupled.
Undoubtedly, tourism owes a lot to culture - first and foremost, it benefits a lot from its
heritage and its heritage. Monuments, events and cultural institutions are an extremely
important part of the tourist product.
It is practically difficult to imagine any trip without even one visit to the museum,
without visiting historic buildings, learning about art or folklore. Various studies indicate a
constantly increasing share of cognitive travel.
On the other hand, culture also benefits a lot from the development of tourism. The
interest of tourists is conducive to the protection of cultural goods, in two ways. In order to
count on income from tourism at all, you must first invest in protection of monuments - only
restored and neat objects will become a magnet attracting tourists.
An important role is also played by the expenses of visitors in the recreation area.
With significant tourist traffic, even small purchases of souvenirs or folk handicrafts can
provide decent income to folk artists and contribute to maintaining regional culture or saving
endangered professions.
In addition, part of the income earned from visiting services (eg local taxes) may be
used to save other monuments. It is also worth emphasizing that some cultural institutions
exist only for tourists and thanks to tourists.
In the case of many museums or festivals, it is tourists who are the dominant group of
recipients, it is in terms of their needs and expectations that the offer is prepared. Without
tourists, the existence of these facilities and the organization of events would not make sense.
In the sociology of travel, it is emphatically emphasized that tourism fosters
intercultural contacts, mediates between cultures28.

26
W. W. Gaworecki, Turystyka, 4th edition, changed, Warszawa 2003, p. 92.
27
K. Przecławski, op cit., p. 65.
28
K. Podemski, Socjologia podróży, Poznań 2004, p. 25.
 Meeting tourists with residents is a meeting of two worlds, two most often different
cultures. It promotes the exchange of thoughts, experiences, enables mutual observation,
encourages reflection, comparisons, etc.
With such a meeting both sides, both cultures come out wiser, richer. It is also not
necessary to prove that travel is an inspiration for artists: writers, painters, musicians, etc.
Every change of place of residence, leaving a safe, familiar environment brings with it
specific experiences, emotions and experiences that can be the essence of a new work in
themselves. (eg, novels and films of the road, travel diaries).
In addition, countless many masterpieces arose as a result of the artist's personal
contact with other cultures, creative adaptation of the achievements of other masters. One can
not overlook the important role of tourism in education and the dissemination of culture.
And although, in the face of technical development, the importance of tourism in
facilitating access to cultural goods (cultural institutions, events, works of art, etc.) is
significantly reduced, even the most modern means of communication can not replace direct
individual experience.
Tourism will always be conducive to gaining knowledge about the broadly
understood culture of the motherland and other countries (values, norms, patterns), as well as
acquiring desirable models29.
Finally, it should be noted that tourism is also part of a broadly understood culture.
Travel for pleasure purposes are a product of society at a certain stage of civilization
development, occur in communities that do not have to worry about satisfying elementary
living needs, in which people are provided with decent living conditions.
Mass tourism and recreation are phenomena typical of developed countries and
constitute an important, almost irremovable element of the lifestyle of affluent societies. D.
Maccannell30 even calls tourists "a new class of vacuum cleaner".
In recent years, it has been repeatedly emphasized that tourism is a reflection of
contemporary (Western) consumer culture, which "(...) not only allows people to be
hedonistic, but it requires them from them. Pleasure, therefore, becomes the duty and
foundation of a new anti-Protestant ethic.31"

29
J. Merski, J. Kościelnik, Szlaki turystyczne i ich rola w upowszechnianiu kultury, [in:] Turystyka jako dialog
kultur, editor Z. Krawczyka, E. Lewandowskiej-Tarasiuk, J. W. Sienkiewicza, Warszawa 2005, p. 43.
30
D. Maccannell D., Turysta. Nowa teoria klasy próżniaczej, Warszawa 2002, p. 73.
31
B. S. Turner B. S., The Body and Society. Explorations in Social Theory, Sage 1996, p. 12.
 It is forced by pressure and expectations of the surroundings, the desire to impress
your friends, striving to confirm or improve your social position32. However, the links
between culture and tourism are not only harmonious cooperation, co-existence is mutually
beneficial. Tourism can support the development of culture, enrich it, but it can also become
a serious, real threat to it.
Massive tourist traffic is particularly dangerous, with which many unfavorable
phenomena are most often associated. Tourists are often carriers of negative behaviors,
disseminate pathological patterns, quickly absorbed by the residents.
For the local community this means an increase in crime (theft, burglary, robberies),
the development of prostitution, drug addiction etc., which quickly lead to the disappearance
of current values, norms of behavior, customs.
The inflow of more tourists is also associated with the increase in environmental
pollution (garbage, sewage, etc.), faster destruction of monuments, not to mention - not so
rare - cases of deliberate devastation of objects and cultural institutions.
However, even if the meeting of tourists and indigenous people is not criminal, it
poses a threat to the traditional culture of the reception area. Mass tourism is one of the forms
and manifestations of modern globalization.
As such, it promotes the unification of local cultures, the blurring of regional
differences. It is on the one hand the effect of a widespread and faster exchange of
information (which is also facilitated by today's tourism), and on the other hand - the need to
adapt the offer to the tastes and expectations of mass tourists shaped by global media.
The dictates of demand and unrestricted greed for profit create another threat: the
desire to please visitors at all costs, even at the cost of falsifying their own culture.
Traditions, customs, customs, crafts, folk art make sense only when they are
recognized by tourists, which directly translates into economic categories. This leads to
dangerous commercialization of culture - the development of "artificial" activities, "for show"
- activities that have no justification in history and tradition, but which bring significant
income.
Contemporary mass tourism is to a large extent chasing the fleeing time, stubborn
pursuit of the next points of the tour program. The other thing is that these programs are most
often overloaded, in a shorter and shorter period more and more attractions are proposed, so

32
P. Rymarczyk P., Turystyka jako zwierciadło współczesnej kultury konsumpcyjnej, [in:] Turystyka i rekreacja.
Wymiary teoretyczne i praktyczne, editor J. Kosiewicza i K. Obodyńskiego, Rzeszów 2006, p. 89.
as to provide the most experienced (and sometimes bored) tourist with maximum experience
(eg city break trips).
Lack of time and excess of diverse impressions make the reception of culture
relatively shallow, superficial. There are no conditions for reflection, contemplation,
exchange of views, because you have to "count" one more museum, one more gallery.
A hasty tour of the exhibition, impatient rushing by the pilot / guide of rubbing
tourists are typical pictures in many cultural institutions. It is worth mentioning the
phenomenon of understating the quality of the cultural offer.
The economic success of a tourist event depends primarily on the number of
customers ready to buy it. The tour program is therefore arranged with a view to a typical
tourist. Therefore, it is unlikely that there will be ambitious, elite, controversial proposals for
connoisseurs of art, etc.
Most often these are universally recognized, "classic" sets of works, objects,
institutions, events in a given city or region. As a result, non-supreme adulation, the so-called
average, the tastes of mass tourists promotes above all the average, bland, "plebeian" culture.

3.2. Cultural tourism - definitions

It is one of the oldest types of tourism, and at the same time one of those that have
been growing fastest in recent years. This is evidenced by, among others Tourism 2020 -
Vision document, developed by UNWTO (World Tourism Organization), forecasting on the
basis of visible trends in developed countries a significant increase in interest in educational
elements (excitement) and entertainment (entertainment) in tourist trips of the coming
decades.
These new demands on tourism (referred to by experts as the slogan "3 x E"), are
successfully implemented by modern cultural tourism. It is not (contrary to superficial
opinions, based on the long-term understanding of culture) only elitist tourism.
A large group of modern forms of tourism and cultural trips is a favorite way of
spending time actively for millions of people in Europe and beyond. In the light of the
commonly accepted criteria for defining culture itself, cultural tourism is no longer narrowly
defined (the former scope of the concept of cultural tourism included only the elite tourism of
high culture) but broadly.
 This wide range of cultural tourism also includes educational tourism and numerous
types of travel undertaken in connection with the purposes and motives of popular (popular)
culture.
Taking as a starting point the recognized definition of tourism and widely accepted
concept of culture seen as "the whole spiritual and material achievements of humanity,
created in general historical development, collected, preserved and enriched", as cultural
tourism is defined as "all these group or individual expeditions of tourist character, in which
the meeting of participants of the journey with objects, events and other values of high or
popular culture or enlarging their knowledge about the surrounding human world is an
essential part of the travel program or constitutes a conclusive argument for an individual
decision on taking or taking part in it"33.
In the light of this definition, cultural tourism distinguishes two important features
from other types of tourism, where the criteria for the occurrence of these features are
complementary to each other (thus it is enough to meet one of them).
In the first case, a tourist trip can be qualified for cultural tourism when its program
contains cultural content in the "essential" level, i.e. in the number or intensity clearly
prevailing, constituting a given travel offer and distinguishing it from other offers targeting
the same destination. In the second case, the cultural element should be decisive from the
participant's side, so he or she simply undertakes a (private) journey because of this value or
participates in a private journey undertaken on the basis of such motives.
Among the cultural values that determine the tourism and cultural nature of the
journey, the definition lists objects (such as monuments, monuments, buildings and urban
complexes, works of art, etc.), events (including festivals, concerts, exhibitions, festivities,
religious acts, etc.) .), but also very individual values, like the increase of participants'
knowledge (educational value of travel). In light of this wording, strictly educational tourism
is also included in cultural tourism.
It can not be denied that almost every type of humanistic education is open to one's
own culture as well as foreign culture, so if an educational activity is connected with a
journey, it always has the character of realizing such an opening.
In turn, a clear comparison of "high culture values" with "values of popular culture"
means that the definition wants to include both these realities within cultural tourism,

33
[Link] von Rohrscheidt, Turystyka kulturowa. Fenomen, potencjał, perspektywy, Gniezno 2008, p. 65.
therefore their demarcation (if necessary) occurs only during (internal) classification of types
of tourism.
Such a distinction on cultural tourism in the strict and broader sense (and additionally
on educational tourism) is undertaken in a detailed reflection on cultural tourism.
The scope of the concept of cultural tourism includes both group trips (which are
usually organized and run according to the established program), as well as individual trips,
whose participants often only take place on the spot spontaneous decisions on visiting
specific facilities or participation in a cultural event.
Such a clear indication of both groups of travels is necessary due to the need to notice
and unambiguous confirmation of belonging to cultural tourism an ever-growing number of
individual tourist trips, not using the offer of organized trips.
In many cases, their personal or private expeditions are directed to a large extent (ie
"essentially") to visit cultural heritage objects, familiarize with the material culture of a
specific place or region or to expand knowledge, thus meet the conditions necessary to be
included in cultural travels.
On the other hand, many of these trips with a pre-established program turn out to be
cultural expeditions only "post-factum", when it can be stated that the expedition finally
"realized" among its actual goals contained numerous and even prevailing cultural elements.
Therefore, it is not possible to avoid difficulties with the research approach and
statistical ordering of this type of trip. Nevertheless, due to the clear contemporary trends in
the development of tourism in general, and cultural tourism in particular, it is necessary to
include as cultural tourists also this group of travelers, undoubtedly tourists.
In cultural tourism, the following main types are distinguished, and in their
framework particular forms of expeditions:
● high culture tourism (including cultural heritage tourism, museum tourism, literary
tourism, event tourism (high culture),
● educational tourism (including study, thematic, language and seminar trips),
● universal cultural tourism (including the most popular urban tourism, followed by
rural and cultural tourism, ethnic tourism, military tourism, industrial and technical
tourism, live tourism history, popular culture event tourism, cultural and natural
tourism, exotic tourism, religious and pilgrimage tourism, culinary tourism, hobbies,
regional tourism).
Many cultural tourism expeditions also show a mixed character, with elements
characteristic of particular types.
 For Poland, the development of cultural tourism is one of the officially recognized
priorities in the field of tourism economy in general. The formulation of an official strategic
document, including "urban and cultural tourism" as one of the five brand products of Polish
tourism, seems symptomatic: it suggests that it is the visit of the city that the authors of the
national strategy have for years understood as the nucleus of all cultural tourism in our
country and a field requiring special support.
The most important goals of cultural tourism in our country are:
● Cities with a large collection of monuments, including Krakow, Gdańsk, Warsaw,
Poznań, Wrocław, Toruń, Lublin, Przemyśl, smaller cities with unique history or very
valuable monuments such as Gniezno, Sandomierz, Sanok, Lidzbark Warmiński,
Świdnica, and Płock.
● Places related to the history of other nations or ethnic groups, including: Tykocin,
Leżajsk, Nysa, Gierłoż, Bohoniki, and Kruszyniany.
● Polish objects from the UNESCO World Heritage List (incoming and domestic
tourism) and Polish Monuments of History (mainly domestic tourism). Museums with
the most valuable collections, including Wawel, the Royal Castle in Warsaw, National
Museums in Warsaw, Poznań, Gdańsk, Wrocław, Kraków) the most modern (eg the
Warsaw Uprising Museum) or with unique collections (eg Museum of Musical
Instruments in Poznań).
● The most valuable sacral buildings, including abbey in Krzeszów, Lubiąż, Mogila, a
monastery in Częstochowa, churches in Krakow, Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdańsk, Poznań.
The most famous technical monuments, including the Ostródzko-Elbląski Canal, the
Augustów Canal, the Steam Engine Station in Wolsztyn, railway museums in
Chabówka, Kościerzyna, Jaworzyna Śl., Historic mines in Wieliczka (UNESCO),
Bochnia, Zabrze, and Tarnowskie Góry.
● The best preserved military objects, as I say in Kłodzko, Przemyśl, Świnoujście,
defense lines and objects like MRU, Westerplatte and others, places of battles (like
Grunwald Fields) or martial arts (like Oświęcim, Treblinka and others).
● The most valuable Polish residences, including the following towns: Nieborów,
Kórnik, Rogalin, Łańcut, Kozłówka, Krasiczyn, Książ, Pszczyna, and Baranów
Sandomierski. strong ethnographic regions (like Kurpie, Podhale, Ziemia Łowicka,
Kaszuby) and important open-air museums, including in Wdzydze, Sanok, and
Lublin.
3.3. Cultural routes and tourism

The movement of people, ideas and cultural achievements along the historic trade and
pilgrimage routes was undoubtedly one of the basic methods of cultural exchange and an
important element of historical events.
Today's cultural routes, created in accordance with the course of authentic cultural
"corridors", are in themselves a testimony to these processes. Nevertheless, they themselves
(or at least should be, if they are to fulfill their task) constitute modern products in tourism,
which consists not only of a group of cultural attractions as a kind of magnet, but also a
number of additional service elements. , enabling the modern tourist to easily implement a
holiday or educational trip and provide him with accommodation, meals and other needs in
the expected standard.
The route as a cultural tourism product consists of four groups of relevant
components:
● attractions originally not created for tourist purposes (ie original attractions,
appropriate carriers of cultural values, (castles, temples, historic city centers, former
technical objects, etc.) These places and objects are decisive for the value of the trail
as a cultural proposition;
● secondary attractions, created for tourism purposes (museums beyond primary
attractions, cultural events, theme parks, etc.);
● places of services for tourists (accommodation facilities, restaurants, souvenir shops,
car and bicycle rentals, amphitheatres, etc.) and
● institutions, organizations and associations established for service purposes, trail or
performing this activity alongside other activities34.
Mikos v. Rohrscheidt35 points to the treatment by professionals of the service
facilities mentioned in item "c" as an integral component of the routes. This aspect of the
construction and operation of the route is often underestimated in Polish tourism practice:
many new routes are designed and created without taking into account this component,
service providers from this sector are not included in the overall offer of the route and
sometimes even in the creation of local packages, which consequently hampers their
functioning as full (material) products and significantly reduces the number of tourists and
individual tourists using their offer.

34
L. Puczko, op cit., p. 54.
35
V. Miks, op. cit., p. 64.
 Meanwhile, the possibility of efficient functioning as an attractive tourist product
seems to be crucial for the permanent existence of the route36. Some researchers in their
definitions of tourist routes even point to the marketing element as the main reason for
creating and supporting this form of tourism: The tourist route is the possibility of linear
connection of a number of places or points - possibly belonging to different territorial units -
by one topic to improve their position on The economic benefits enjoyed by the tourist region
traveling along the routes are significant.
Perhaps the most important of them (accompanying the expansion of the tourist
exploration) is the deglomeration of tourist traffic in a given area37. It brings economic
benefits and creates new directions of developing the services sector in numerous towns and
microregions, which - having no tourist magnet of supra-regional importance and the same
degree of popularity - have not benefited from the development of this branch of the
economy so far.
This particularly applies to the accommodation and catering services sector. New jobs
or additional income opportunities for already active service providers (such as transport
owners, creators and bidders of local cultural or entertainment events, creators of thematic
exhibitions, local and object guides, and many others) appear in connection with the diverse
needs of today's tourists and the creation of multi-module tourism packages in individual
cities or around individual objects along the route.
The functioning of routes as modern products facilitates conceptual and logistic work
of tour operators operating in the cultural tourism segment (ready-made tours, clearly defined
partners of individual services and entire packages)38.
In addition, due to the fact of the existence and promotion of not only basic, but also
expanded, and optional tourist packages as part of the trail, its offer "opens" to a new and
growing group of tourists.
It is made up of those who do not prefer to participate in group events with a ready
program, but thanks to modular packages they can independently "construct" their individual
travel program, without giving up on an interesting thematic proposal, which is a journey
along the trail and its possible educational values. The operation of the brand of a well-known
tourist product distinguishes and positively identifies both the whole product and its elements
by the fact of their affiliation.
36
Z. Kruczek, op. cit., p. 31.
37
C. Becker, Touristische Straßen, einige grundsätzliche Überlegungen, [w:] Touristische Straßen – Beispiele
und Bewertung („Arbeitsmaterialien zur Raumordnung und Raumplanung“), Zesz. 137, Bayreuth 1994, p. 1-14.
38
J. Kaczmarek, A. Stasiak, B. Włodarczyk, Produkt turystyczny, Warszawa 2005, p. 53.
 In the case of a route, these are individual towns and objects that make up the city,
and their identification in this way takes place in a national or even wider scale, which is also
difficult to estimate, but it also undoubtedly translates into the economic sphere an element of
public-specific cultural relations, i.e. modifications to the form of mature and efficiently
coordinated product are presented in a large part of the study by Mikos v. Rohrscheidt39.

4. Dear Saint Jakob in Poland

4.1. Motives of pilgrimage on the roads of St. Jakob

The term "homo viator" / man on the road /, briefly defines the motif of traveling and
pilgrimages. The scientific definition of the phenomenon of pilgrimage is formulated as "a
journey taken from religious motifs to a place considered sacred due to the special action of
God or deities in it, in order to perform certain religious, pious and penitential acts there"40.
For a Christian, a pilgrimage is a special form of travel, the purpose of which is to
seek God. Scripture He teaches that temporal life is a constant pilgrimage to the kingdom of
heaven. Roads leading to the tomb of Saint. Jacob was led by pilgrims from almost all of
Europe.
Those in the east of the continent were less frequently frequented due to long
distances and dangers - from Poland to Santiago de Compostela there is approx. 2,000 km.
Therefore, making a decision on pilgrimage required a lot of determination.
Medieval pilgrims believed that pilgrimage would allow them to avoid hell. For
many pilgrims it was important and the conviction that they are following in the footsteps of
saints. Going to Santiago was accompanied by the conviction that these paths were traversed
by many saints, including St. Francis of Assisi, Saint. Brygida Szwedzka, Saint. Portuguese
Elżbieta, Saint. Ignatius Loyola and many great people of the Church. An important thing
was to manifest the poverty of a pilgrim who gives up the standard conditions of comfort and
safety.
The basic and first motive of pilgrimage was faith in the intercession of saints. The
next motive was a private or public wedding, usually for a recovery or other special grace
received. Another motive was the desire to fulfill the last will, or pilgrimage in someone's
name. Another motif of the trip to Compostela was repentance.

39
V. Mikos, op. cit., p. 76.
40
[Link], Pielgrzymki i turystyka religijna w Polsce, Warszawa 1991, p. 87.
 Sometimes these pilgrimages lasted several years. After a period of medieval
asceticism, there was a desire to learn about the world, to look for adventures, contact with
other people - so a motif of pilgrimages appeared.
For many pilgrims, the pilgrimage was and is an opportunity for prayer - a continuous
prayer consisting in the daily direction of his thoughts to God. A separate motive was asking
for healing, especially for healing children.
An important motive for setting out on a pilgrim road was gaining the indulgence.
More and more often pilgrimages began to be made at crucial moments of life, for example.
transition from adolescence to adulthood or change of state.
The only cognitive motives that so often accompany people going to holy places,
including Santiago de Compostela, were almost non-existent in the Middle Ages and were
even condemned41.

4.2. Saint Jacob road in Małopolska

The network of the existing Polish Jacob routes is part of the Małopolska Droga św.
Jacob. It covers the area of the historic district of the first Piasts (the province of Kraków and
Sandomierz) and refers to the medieval route leading along the edge of the Vistula valley
from Sandomierz to Krakow.
This route was one of the branches of the so-called the Russian route leading from
Polesie and Rus to the capital of the Crown and Silesia. A project to recreate the Małopolska
Way of St. Jacob from Sandomierz to Krakow was formed in June 2007 during a meeting of
people from Krakow, Sandomierz and Tarnobrzeg who made pilgrimages to Santiago de
Compostela.
In the work on marking out and then marking the Małopolska Way of St. Jacob joined
in: members of the Brotherhood of Saint. Jacob the Elder Apostle at the parish of St. Jacoba
in Więcławice Stare (from Cracow, Sandomierz, Więcławice Stare, Michałowice and
Pałecznica), as well as voits and employees of the Commune Office in Pałecznica and
Michałowice.
Valuable help and tips were also obtained from the city authorities: Sandomierz,
Staszów, Busko-Zdrój, Skalbmierz, Słomniki and Kraków as well as the municipalities of

41
M. Robinson, Miejsca święte, szlaki pątnicze. Antologia pielgrzymowania, Poznań 2002, p. 92.
Czarnocin, Klimontów, Kocmyrzów-Luborzyca, Koniusza, Radziemice, Szydłów, Wiślica,
Zielonka and Złota.
The whole project was implemented thanks to the financial support of the Marshal's
Office of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship and the kindness of Mr Marek Nawara and his
colleagues. The most important meaning in delineating the main points of the Małopolska
Way of St. Jacob had the arrangement of the churches of St. Jacob the Elder Apostle.
Research carried out by historians showed that in the 16th century, there were 28
churches in the then diocese of Kraków. St. Jacob the Elder, of whom 18 on the left bank of
the Vistula. In the wide belt between Krakow and Sandomierz there are 12 of these temples.
Short distances between places with parish churches. St. Jacob the Elder the Apostle,
located on a clear continuous line from Sandomierz through Kotuszów, Szczaworyż,
Probołowice, Pałecznica, Niegardów, Więcławice Stare, Kazimierz, Sanka, Palczowice to
Bestwina, according to historians speak for the existence in the Middle Ages in the
Małopolska pilgrimage route to the tomb of Saint. Jacob the Elder Apostle in Santiago de
Compostela. Medievalists emphasize that the temples of St. Jacob's midwives along this trail
could be the rank of station churches.
Their location in close proximity to each other (not exceeding 30 km on the section
Sandomierz - Krakow) enabled the passage of subsequent sections of the road in one day.
Using the experience of organizations and people recreating the Way of St. Jacoba in
Western Europe and Lower Silesia, special attention was paid to delimiting the route along
dirt or paved roads, as well as the distribution of pilgrimage centers.
The natural and cultural values of the regions through which the trail runs are also
guided. Opening of the first section of the Małopolska Droga św. Jacoba in the Lesser Poland
Voivodeship, leading from Pałecznica through Więcławice Stare to Krakow took place on
October 25, 2008. The length of the Lesser Poland Way of St. Jacob from Sandomierz to the
Old Town Square in Krakow is 192 km.
The trail was marked - its symbol is the shell of Saint. Jacob, whose rays converge at
the point of the journey; in addition, a yellow arrow appears. They set the path for pilgrims
who, traveling the following kilometers, will feel the effort and fatigue, moments of
contemplation and emotions, will appreciate Polish hospitality in the homes and hearts of the
people they know42.

42
E. Mendyk, Droga św. Jacoba w Polsce - nowy początek starej tradycji, Janice 2006, p. 34.
4.3. Lubuski trail of the Way of St. Jacob

The Lubuska Road is part of a joint Polish-German project bearing the name: "Droga
św. Jacoba, east and west of Oder - Jakobsweg östlich und westlich der Oder ". In 2005-07,
it was prepared and developed by Polish and German students under the scientific
supervision of prof. Dr. Ulrich Knefelkamp from the European University Viadrina in
Frankfurt (Oder).
Its course on the Lubusz Land and in the west of Wielkopolska is largely determined
by the European Long-Distance Pedestrian Trail E-11. It is a natural extension of the Polish
Route (Camino Polaco) from Olsztyn through Toruń to Gniezno and the shortest pilgrimage
route leading from Wielkopolska to the west.
It starts in Murowana Goślina and leads to Frankfurt (Oder), it is about 250 km long
and consists of 12 stages. The trail leads through the agricultural landscapes of Wielkopolska,
so that from the area of Wronki and Sierakow along the edge of the Noteć Forest, you can
penetrate deeper and deeper into the vast forests of the Lubusz Land, only rarely showing
wider views of fields and lakes.
These beautiful surroundings also have an extremely interesting history, which is
proved not only by documents, but also great monuments of material and spiritual culture.
Churches of St. Jacoba on the route: Murowana Goślina, Ośno Lubuskie, and also Ostroróg.

4.4. Dear Saint Jacob in the Gniezno poviat

Wielkopolska Droga św. Jacoba, which links Gniezno with Prague, has a special
meaning among the Polish routes leading to Santiago. This is where Latin culture and
Christianity came to Poland; in 965 - Dąbrówka, and in 997 - Saint. Wojciech, former bishop
of Prague. It can be said that the route between Gniezno and Poznań and Prague was our
"door to Europe".
Few years later, when the young Polish state opened to its neighbors from the west,
Emperor Otto III reached Gniezno as a leading route through Lusatia. Returning to
Magdeburg together with the king Bolesław Chrobry, accompanying him on the journey,
somehow "marked out" the next leading route from Poland to the west.
Gniezno as the first capital of Poland and the spiritual center of the Polish nation was
from the beginning an extremely important pilgrimage site. Pilgrims coming to the grave of
Saint. Wojciech often left here on a pilgrim route - whether it was like Bolesław Chrobry to
Aachen, where the grave of Charlemagne is located, or whether they went further - to Rome
or Santiago de Compostela.
Also Trzemeszno and Mogilno located on the mission route of Saint. Wojciech to
Prussia were the destination of pilgrimages. Jan Długosz writes in his "Annales ..." that King
Władysław Jagiełło after the victory at Grunwald came to Trzemeszno from where he went
on foot to Gniezno to the grave of Saint.
To thank God for thanksgiving. Therefore, in 2007, the Way of St. Jacob from
Mogilno through Niechanowo and Trzemeszno, where it connects with the aforementioned
Polish Road running from the border with Lithuania through Olsztyn and Toruń.
On its trail there were churches dedicated to Saint. Jacob in Mogilno and
Niechanowo, and in its vicinity a beautiful wooden church. St. Jacoba in Kamieniec. To the
west of Gniezno, the road leads through Lednice Fields near Ostrów Lednicki - the site of the
Baptism of Poland.
It was at Ostrów Lednicki that the oldest shell on the Polish soil was found during the
excavations. Jacoba - trace of the pilgrim from the end of the 13th century. It is worth noting
that in the current borders of the Archdiocese of Gniezno there are the most churches
dedicated to Saint. Jacob from all dioceses in Poland, which speaks volumes about the
traditions of pilgrimages in this area.

[Link] Saint Jacob in the province Pomorskie

Pilgrimages to the tomb of Saint Jacob the Elder, the Apostle of Christ, whose tomb is
in Spanish Compostela, began in the ninth century. The first mentions from today's Poland
date from the 11th century.
Pomeranian Way of St. Jacoba refers to the route that once began in Königsberg, and
today from the region of the eastern part of Lithuania, from Kretinga and leads through
Russia (Kaliningrad region), Poland, Germany and further to the main routes leading to
Spain.
The total length of the route is 1142 km. Pomeranian Way of St. Jacoba in its present
form is the result of activities under the project "Revitalization of the European cultural route
in the South Baltic area - Pomeranian Route of St. Jacob "in the years 2010-2013. The Polish
section of the route is about 720 km long, the route leads from Braniewo to Szczecin and via
Świnoujście and further to Rostock.
 The route in Pomerania is divided into 7 sections covering 29 sections. Pilgrims
following the trail can admire the beauty of the Baltic landscape, visit valuable cultural
monuments and taste regional dishes.
On the trail, we can visit the churches that are patron saints. Jacob, patron of
pilgrims: Tolkmicko, Tuja, Niedźwiedzica, Gdańsk, Lębork (Sanctuary), Łeba, Szczecin43.

Summary

The above-mentioned benefits of developing material trails in Polish cultural tourism

should convince those responsible for tourism development to develop them. However, they
should not be seen in opposition to the further creation of a more modest variant of cultural
routes: virtual routes. They will have their place in tourism also when applying this proposal.
The author of the postulate of distinguishing material routes is of the opinion that the
virtual trail will retain its values as an interesting alternative to a highly organized material
path.
It can even in many cases be a natural level, leading from the idea of a cultural route
to its implementation in the desired, desirable form of the full trail. investment in capital
expenditures and financial resources (eg for marking routes, regular publication of materials,
paying for permanent coordinating facilities), the virtual route is already a separate thematic
offer and, at the same time, a test of its popularity.
If it enjoys visibility among tourists, it can be gradually transformed into a material
path. At the same time, it is a more flexible proposal, easier to adapt to the trends and
interests of tourists.
Such a trail can be easier and cheaper to modify, extended, combined with another,
reaching a greater range, even when modifying the topic, which is much more difficult in the
case of a more durable brand of material path. In the case of very small demand, it can
eventually be abandoned without any major social costs, such as loss of jobs.
Due to this, it is an ideal proposition for regional and local authorities who create and
implement their strategies for the development of tourism.
Further development of tourist cultural routes in our country should take place in
several directions and take into account a number of important postulates:

43
Lęborska Droga św. Jacoba, Lębork 2007, p. 18.
● The international cultural routes running through Poland and the already existing
main tourist and cultural routes of our country should be consistently developed into
the form of material routes. This should be done with considerable support or even
with coordination on the part of state agencies responsible for the promotion of
tourism.
● Also, with the support of the state and its agencies, several or several new tourist and
cultural routes should be created, with a national or even cross-border scope,
exploiting important Polish historical themes, heritage material culture and important
biographical themes.
● The names, themes and course of fourteen such routes have already been presented
and justified. Each region (identified in Poland with the province) should provide at
least one own regional route with the status of a material route, displaying one theme
(theme) leading region that would distinguish it from other regions of Poland and
become its attractive showcase for guests from the country and abroad.
● Examples of several such regional cultural routes with a proposal for their course and
justification are given. There is nothing to prevent regions that are potentially
attractive to cultural tourism from having two or even more of such branded regional
material routes.
● Exploiting the most interesting cultural threads of the regional and local virtual routes
should be extended with the support of regional authorities to the status of material
routes, with the use of domestic and foreign aid for tourism development.
● Other new routes should be created initially as virtual routes, their possible expansion
to the material routes should be preceded by a reliable study of the potential demand
and tourism and cultural valorization, the method of which (in the version intended
for microregions) the author presents in the cited publication Local and regional self-
governments (but also other entities) may, based on the tourism and cultural
valorization carried out and within their means, consider creating regional and local
virtual routes and routes, and even (at their own risk) material routes, however, they
should take care of them effective coordination and extensive promotion.
● New routes should be planned and constructed immediately as modern tourist
products, in cooperation of as many entities as possible (facility managers, regional
authorities, suppliers of individual tourist services, media), which on the one hand
will avoid unnecessary loss of strength and resources for not fully thought out
undertaking, it will shorten the process of their creation, and the routes itself will
 enable a successful start as a well-organized offer and related good opinions among
potential visitors.
● The methodology for the development, preparation and creation of material pathways
can be based on known examples, including on the process of creating one of the
European cultural routes described in the Polish professional literature: The Viking
Route tourist and cultural routes, which are an integral part of the tourist offer, should
be much stronger than previously promoted in the country and abroad, using the
broadest possible range of methods and projects. Among them should be: a
presentation at tourist fairs, publishing attractive information materials in several
languages, organizing media tours promoting a study tour, regular press releases and
other media on the foreground of tourist seasons and during them, regular thematic
events, related to the themes of the route, creating system projects of visiting the route
in the form of a tourist program (eg tourist passports for a given route), and finally
running attractive internet portals, maintained by the route coordinators and individual
towns and cities objects.
● In general, one should also pay attention to the correct construction of a brand of
cultural tourist routes.
● In addition to some of the above-mentioned aspects of such activities, it should also
take into account other demands of tourism economists, first and foremost give them
desirable features on the modern tourist market and a flexible response to the needs of
this market, enabling the name of the route to correctly identify its type and theme
among potential tourists , ensuring legal protection of its unique features and others.
● Local tourist and cultural routes are also historical, cultural and thematic city routes,
which in Poland appear more and more and which have their own diverse literature.
In their case, the material track status is not difficult to achieve, because as a rule, the
municipal government is not only the main creator or client for describing and
marking the route in the field, but also the headquarters (or directly employer) of the
potential coordinator, which is tourist information or other an agency responsible for
tourism in the city (municipality). The creation of these routes from the very
beginning as material routes and maintaining them in this form, as well as the creation
of packages of tourist services related to them should not pose difficulties or
excessive costs and is therefore highly recommended.
The suggestions presented here to supplement the criteria for the classification of
routes and their creation and promotion can refer in principle to all tourist routes in the
country. The proposal that the introduction of a new classification (new aspect) should start
from tourist and cultural routes results from the numerous experiences gathered during the
implementation of cultural tourism events.
Tourists oriented towards this type of tourism seem more likely than others to
compare individual offers (routes) and articulate the expectation of adjusting the quality of
the routes offered to the European standard44.
Finally, all those who perform tasks related to the functioning of tourist routes as well
as people and institutions involved in the modification of existing and planning as well as the
creation of new tourist routes are to be addressed.
The postulates presented here in relation to tourist and cultural routes are based both
on the experience of successful products operating in other European countries, as well as on
their own reflection of the organizer of expeditions in the field of cultural tourism.
They point to the existence of a serious development opportunity for modern
organized and properly promoted tourist routes in our country. In order to take advantage of
this opportunity, it is necessary for all interested parties to cooperate across the country to
establish uniform rules for the functioning and labeling of this type of tourism product, based
on a broadly understood cultural heritage.

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