Bangkok (Thailand) – April 11, 2016 (travelindex) – The Delegation of the European Union in Thailand, with the support of the European Union National Cultural Institutes (EUNIC), is publishing the updated 2016 version of its European Heritage Map and app. For the first time, it includes four new European Cultural Routes. The map and app, which highlight the deep-rooted cultural ties between Europe and Siam, will be launched at the historic British Club Bangkok in the presence of experts and professionals from the tourism and hospitality industries.

The 2016 edition of the European Heritage Map includes additional sites of historical and cultural significance in and around Bangkok. It has been enhanced with clearer graphics and striking photographs to create a harmonious overall impression and improve readability. First published in 2013, the map sold out within weeks of its release. Its unexpected success inspired the EU Delegation to develop and launch a mobile app, which has become an essential tool for modern tourism.

The new themed European Cultural Trails, encompassing an average of 12 to 18 sites around Bangkok, can be easily explored on foot, by bicycle, or using public transport. These trails take visitors on a fascinating journey through time, past untouched neighborhoods and otherwise inaccessible places, showcasing some of the most beautiful and striking examples of Bangkok's architectural heritage.

“The 2016 European Heritage Map and app, complemented by the four newly completed cultural trails, will certainly help us to better appreciate the unique diversity of our shared Thai-European heritage,” said Luisa Ragher, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Thailand. “The architectural treasures tell a great deal about our shared past, and we want to promote the preservation of these historic landmarks, which are an integral part of our shared history. We are confident that users of the map, the app, and the trails will greatly enjoy exploring and (re)discovering some of Bangkok’s architectural gems,” she added.

With a total of 217 listed sites and monuments, the European Heritage Map and app remain the largest source of free information on the shared cultural heritage of Thailand and Europe.

New locations in the 2016 map edition – SAB intersection and SAB building in Yaowarat; Songwat Road (Yaowarat) with the Luang Kocha Isahak Mosque; Maen Si Pumping Station in Dusit; St. Gabriel College in the Dusit/Samsen district; Bangkok Supreme Court along Sanam Luang in the Phra Nakhon district; Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, Thai Red Cross, near Silom; Sanam Chan Palace in Nakhon Pathom province; (see press release “New Locations 2016” for more information)

Four thematic European cultural routes: – Royal Palaces and Manor Houses – Religious Heritage – Technologies and Transport – Trade and Commerce

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