The International Conference on Greenways as a Tool for Sustainable Industrial Tourism

• Outstanding best practices and experiences in greenways and cycle tourism presented by 22 speakers from 9 countries

• Over 100 participants gathered to discover inspiring best practices and celebrate their shared commitment to greenways for a more sustainable future for tourism in Europe.

The international conference 

 

 

12th European Greenways Award Ceremony

The touching farewell

The amazing venue, the trophy, the food: strongly linked to the territory, showing the Basque imprint.

• The amazing venue in the heart of a mining region: Ekoetxea of Abanto-Zierbena, located next to the Concha  II mine, which was the last iron mine in Bizkaia. At its peak production, it was the largest iron ore mine in Europe, with a depth of about 150 meters, offering spectacular panoramic views from Ekoetxea.
• The trophy: made of birch wood and Corten steel, local materials.
• The food: a typical railway pot or ‘putxera’ as it is called in the Basque Country. Made with beans and other ingredients that was traditionally cooked in northern Spain. It became popular among railway workers, who used the heat from the locomotives’ coal to prepare their meals during long journeys.

Visit to the Basque Mining Museum

Study Visit by walking & cycling: two sections of the Greenways Itsaslur and Montes de Hierro, and to the Pobal Ironworks (Ferrería del Pobal)

 

 

See details of the autorities & speakers >> here , and awarded >> here

Credits photos: the vast majority are from @Basquetour–Quintas , complemented by @EGWA and members and @Enkartur

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MMZ – European Greenways Association