Accessible Cities | ENAT

Madrid, Spain

Ivor Ambrose — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 19:18:35 GMT

Madrid is a top tourist destination, offering everything from art and culture to leisure and sports, as well as restaurants, shops and green spaces. There are so many places to go, so many things to do… And the city continues to improve its accessibility provisions so that all visitors can make the most of their trip to the Spanish capital.

The Madrid Council, in conjunction with Predif (an NGO representing people with disabilities) and other tourism organisations, has developed the Accessible Travel Guide, containing information on tourist sights for disabled visitors. The Guide is designed to help tourists plan their visit to Madrid, whether on holiday or business, providing information on accessible tours, useful tips, museums, theatres, cinemas, restaurants, etc.

At the city's official tourism website there is a dedicated section on Accessible Madrid.

Sub-sections of the Accessible Madrid website lead to the 300-page Accessible Accommodation Guide, Accessible Public Transport section and Useful Links.

Madrid Destino Cultura Turismo y Negocio S. A. is an Associate Member of ENAT

City of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Ivor Ambrose — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 00:20:18 GMT

Over the past 25 years Barcelona has steadily gained a reputation as one of the world’s most attractive and visited cities. It has become the fourth most popular city destination in Europe by visitor numbers, having 7.5 million visitors in 2013.

Photo. Palau Nacional, Barcelona by "Palau Nacional Barcelona Pano 2013" by Felix König - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Commons

Over the past 25 years Barcelona has steadily gained a reputation as one of the world’s most attractive and visited cities.

It has become the fourth most popular city destination in Europe by visitor numbers, having 7.5 million visitors in 2013. and its number and variety of tourism offers has grown year-by-year to include sports and cultural events, heritage attractions, city-breaks, conferences, meetings and business tourism.

In more recent years, cruise tourism has shown strong growth in Europe and Barcelona has become the most favoured port for embarkation, disembarkation and port-of-call passengers with a total of 2.6 million passengers in 2013. Cruise tourism has a significant impact on European tourism both in terms of passenger numbers and economic turnover for cruise lines but also for shore destinations. Ports of call and the beginning and end points of the cruise can profit directly from tourists, as well as other services including, port infrastructure investments, shipbuilding and repairs and other related activities. The demographics of cruise passengers show a higher proportion of older persons who benefit from the comfort and ease of a ship-board holiday.

Barcelona has achieved a high level of provisions in terms of general accessibility of the built environment, accessibility information and itineraries for visitors, a well-designed and accessible public transport system and adapted services for visitors with access needs. This combination of factors contributes strongly to Barcelona’s position as a desirable, year-round accessible tourism destination. Also, the Catalan region has a well-developed range of accessible, inclusive destinations with activities and venues for visitors, acting as a magnet for cruise ship tourists from Spain, Euro and overseas.

This case study explains the approach taken by the City of Barcelona, tourism operators and local businesses to become an attractive and welcoming cruise destination. The services for passengers who need good access are described and evaluated, in particular by an American, John Sage, who is a disabled wheelchair user and travel agent, specialising in European destinations.

Overall, the study shows the successful results of the city authorities’ plans and programmes and explains the benefits these actions have brought to the cruise industry, the visitors and suppliers.

Download the Barcelona Accessible Cruise Destination Case Study in PDF format, produced by ENAT and Partners for the European Commission (2015).

Paris - Ile de France, France

Ivor Ambrose — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 18:56:00 GMT

The regional tourism board of Paris Ile-de-France has worked with accessible tourism since 2002. The initial objective was to render accessible the world’s number one tourist destination. As part of this strategy, the regional board was involved in the work on the “tourism and handicap label”. Introduced in 2001, this label has the aim of awarding the institutions and businesses that have made their businesses accessible. The label is divided into four categories, taking into account the main types of disability. Through the work with the label, the regional tourist board gained valuable knowledge and experience in the sector at an early stage and despite the fact that the board is no longer working with the label, it is assisting and encouraging businesses in becoming accessible, through a universal approach to accessibility which includes anyone with special needs, and highlights the economic importance that the market for accessible tourism implies.

The Ile-de-France region covers the whole tourism supply chain to some extent. The weak links seem to be accommodation and catering, where the will to invest resources and time in accessibility often is missing due to the limited size of businesses, with exceptions of larger hotel or restaurant chains. Another weak link is transports, and in regards to Paris particularly, the metro network. The very old structures would be extremely costly to make accessible. On the other hand, accessibility in museums and cultural institutions is better and improving further, and extensive work has been done in information and communication, e.g. through the launch of the Handistrict website providing a database on accessible tourism businesses.

The regional tourism board is cooperating significantly with associations representing people with disabilities in order to improve communication and to learn about the specific needs related to each disability. The board also works with businesses and support them in their efforts to improve accessibility through assistance, training and guidance documents. The business case of accessible tourism is also highlighted by the board and one example of this is the Parisian tour operator Yoola which started its activity in 2009 with focus on accessible tourism and international sports events. The company has registered important growth in these years and an increasing clientele.

To conclude, it seems reasonable to say that the region has achieved a strong progress in accessible tourism, even though there are still numerous improvements to make, in particular regarding weak links in the tourism supply chain and incentives for smaller businesses.

Download the Paris - Ile de France Accessible Tourism Case Study in PDF format, produced by ENAT and Partners for the European Commission (2015).

Visit the Website of VisitParis Region

Visit the Website of ParisInfo: Visiting Paris with a Disability

Stockholm, Sweden

Ivor Ambrose — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 18:06:00 GMT

Stockholm has carried out extensive works on improving accessibility for people with disabilities and continues to do so to this day.

Photo. Stockholm, Storkyrkan by Jürgen Howaldt - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 de via Commons.

Stockholm has carried out extensive works on improving accessibility for people with disabilities and continues to do so to this day.

The case of Stockholm is rather specific in that all accessibility related policy has been made in order to improve the quality of life for local residents and is enshrined in the City Council’s daily work.

In the years 1999-2011, improvements in accessibility were carried out through the project “Easy Access”. This project targeted mainly improvements in the urban environment, buildings and public spaces through a design for all approach. The driver for this initiative originated at political level based on Swedish ratification of the UN Convention of Rights for People with Disabilities as well on the City’s strategic vision for 2030. The overarching goal was to make Stockholm the world’s most accessible capital by 2010.

Accessibility has been improved in various ways along the supply chain. Public transportation, public spaces, retail, accommodation and resturants have all been targeted through either the application of building legislation, but also information campaigns and awareness raising about the economic gains to be made when improving accessibility. Accessibility seems to have been built into many regulations, but also promoted by different industry association such as the Swedish industry association for commerce.

While many improvements have been made and the city is continuously working with further increasing, mainly, physical access the greatest piece missing to turn Stockholm into an accessible destination is the lack of coordinated information and marketing efforts. It appears that no destination management organization or "visitor’s board" actively engages in attracting tourists (with access requirements) to the region.

This organizational bottleneck is one of the most pressing barriers for tourists wanting to visit the city, but also for businesses who would wish to expand into this market.

The challenge going forward for Stockholm is to go from a destination with scattered accessible offers and turn this into a holistic tourism product.

Download the Stockholm Accessible Tourism Case Study in PDF format, produced by ENAT and Partners for the European Commission (2015).

Frankfurt, Germany

Ivor Ambrose — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 17:11:37 GMT

Frankfurt am Main is recognised nationally and internationally as a global city located in the heart of Germany and Europe. It is a major air, rail and highway transport hub as well as the largest financial centre in continental Europe, ranking among the world's leading financial centres. Tourism plays a key role in Frankfurt.

Frankfurt Am Main-Saalhof-Ansicht vom Eisernen Steg by Mylius - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons.

Frankfurt am Main is recognised nationally and internationally as a global city located in the heart of Germany and Europe.

It is a major air, rail and highway transport hub as well as the largest financial centre in continental Europe, ranking among the world's leading financial centres.

Tourism plays a key role in Frankfurt. Most travellers to Germany from the overseas markets enter via Frankfurt or Munich. It is also home to the fifth largest exhibition centre in the world (MesseFrankfurt ) which plays host to the world’s largest book, auto and music exhibitions. Frankfurt is also home to numerous museums, galleries, historical sites, shopping centres, restaurants, Opera Houses, cafes and great entertainment venues. The Frankfurt Tourist and Congress Board is the primary point of contact for visitors of Frankfurt am Main.

The Frankfurt Tourist and Congress Board is the marketing company for the city of Frankfurt am Main relating to tourism and conventions. It is the board’s responsibility to promote a positive image of Frankfurt around the world. The Board has recognised that the demographics of the world are changing and that older people and people with disabilities cannot be ignored in promoting Frankfurt as a tourist destination. With this in mind, one of the Board’s strategic objectives is to make the city’s touristic offers fully accessible to people with disabilities.

The Tourist and Congress Board has been working on a number of accessibility initiatives mainly focused around the ‘Frankfurt am Main barrier-free’ Brochure which was launched in 2012.

A case study conducted by ENAT and Partners for the European Commission explores the work carried out by the Tourist and Congress Board and highlights how the Board is promoting Frankfurt as an international accessible city, increasing awareness amongst service suppliers, contributing to the improved accessibility of Frankfurt and how it is becoming one of leaders in promoting barrier free travel within Europe.

Download the Frankfurt Accessible Tourism Case Study in PDF format, produced by ENAT and Partners for the European Commission (2015).

London, United Kingdom

Ivor Ambrose — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 16:46:54 GMT

London is a world tourist destination. The city has a mix of old and new infrastructure. This presents a challenge that all historic cities face when addressing accessibility, investing in changes while maintaining a ‘sense of place’ and identity.

Photo: "London from a hot air balloon" by Daniel Chapma - Flickr. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Commons

London has a policy of inclusive design for the benefit of both residents and visitors to ensure that as many as possible can enjoy the city. New build can incorporate accessibility from the outset, however it becomes more costly to change a public realm, much of which was developed in the nineteenth century. This requires long term investment, which London has made and continues to make, as it undertakes a programme of change that takes it into the future. The Mayor of London champions accessibility and supports changes through a framework of policy and strategy that the Greater London Authority has developed.

The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games proved a catalyst for some accelerated change and investment to make London more accessible, with the eyes of the world watching. This brought many benefits for the provision across the supply chain with improvement in: information, the public realm, transport and accommodation. This has provided a legacy that London can build upon.

Disabled people believe that overall there is better accessibility in the supply chain and the visitor experience in London. They also believe though that more still needs to done, as London has not yet reached its goal of being fully accessible.

Information about accessibility needs to be collated and marketed better. Improving the basic facilities like wheelchair access and accessible toilets have to be pushed harder. The transport programme continues to make more of the old tube system accessible. More needs to be done to ensure that London's Boroughs work more closely together to ensure a more homogenous public realm. There also needs to be greater engagement with small and medium enterprises to ensure they improve their accessibility.
There is also a requirement for getting disabled people to work with organisations, not just to help get it right but to lose historical mistrust and doubt about the next 'accessibility solution'.

Download the London Accessible Tourism Case Study in PDF format, produced by ENAT and Partners for the European Commission (2015).

Lousã, Portugal

Ivor Ambrose — Sat, 05 Dec 2015 17:27:00 GMT

Lousã, a small country town in the north of Portugal, is included here as an "Accessible Tourism Destination” due to the project conducted in this town and region in 2008-2011.

Photo. Lousã wheelchair downhill event, 2012. Accessible Portugal

Lousã, a small country town in the north of Portugal, is included here as an "Accessible Tourism Destination” due to the project conducted in this town and region in 2008-2011.

The project was an important first step of providing accessible tourism services from a destination perspective in Portugal and sought to develop a model for other towns to follow. One of the key aspects of the project was the collaborative approach that sought to include a diverse range of stakeholders in order to make the entire tourism supply chain accessible. This approach engaged the local authorities, private consultancies, organisations for people with disabilities as well as private businesses in different sectors of the tourism market. The organizational aspects of the projects were highly innovative and well-suited for creating an unbroken supply chain. In particular, the project produced an innovative approach to networking between different actors who both compete and collaborate with one another.

The key driver for this project was to exploit the economic potential of accessible tourism at a destination that was well-suited for nature, rural and sports tourism. In addition, the town had a long-standing tradition of including people with disabilities into society and was one of the first towns in Portugal to appoint an Ombudsman for Disabilities. Accessibility was in this vein a well-known concept already at the start of the project, which is believed to have had a positive influence on the project development and outcomes.

It is difficult to evaluate whether the project was successful in achieving its main goal of harnessing the market potential of accessible tourism. In particular, the economic crisis seems to have a major impact on the demand from tourists with accessibility needs, while from a supply perspective many of the planned adaptations works by both public and private sector actors have been put on hold. Nevertheless, the project has been instrumental in raising the importance of accessible tourism in Portugal as well as having developed some interesting approaches on how to encourage the development of an accessible destination.

Download the Lousã Accessible Tourism Case Study in PDF format, produced by ENAT and Partners for the European Commission (2015).

Arona, Tenerife, Spain

Ivor Ambrose — Sat, 05 Dec 2015 15:51:00 GMT

Arona one of the first and best examples of Accessible Tourism in Spain.

Photo Los Cristianos, Arona, Tenerife. By Mataparda, licensed under the terms of the cc-by-sa-2.0.

Arona one of the first and best examples of Accessible Tourism in Spain. Arona is divided in four clearly defined areas.

Playa de Las Americas, which presents a good quality tourist offer.
Playa de Los Cristianos, the commercial and cultural driving force of the town.
Playa de Las Galletas-Costa del Silencio, offering peaceful walks and beautiful gardens and Arona Rural, conjuring up the traditional Canary Islands.
Punta Salemas, the southernmost point on the island of Tenerife.

The case of Arona is quite unique due to two reasons; firstly, it was a destination made under the demand of tourists with disabilities that travelled to the municipality back in the 1960’s and secondly the destination has evolved over time to continuously remove barriers and encourage accessibility in the tourism sector.

Arona benefits from the underlying conditions of 3S tourism, Sun, Sea and Sand, with good weather beaches. However, it has been assisted through the effort of different entities (Arona municipality and Tourism Board, ONCE Foundation, SIMPROMI, and different private business) so that the municipality has been actively involved in implementing and monitoring accessibility measures.

It is noticeable how the tourism chain works in this destination and offers a wide range of possibilities to make the stay in Arona safe, comfortable and enjoyable for all. This includes , for instance, the assistive service for people with disabilities in Tenerife airport with around 200.000 services every year, the different options for transport, including the adapted taxis (Eurotaxis), to accessible accommodation, beaches and shopping centres and a wide range of sports and activities adapted for everybody.

This is, like other successful cases of accessible tourism in Spain like Ávila, Madrid or Barcelona, (among others) shows that one of the key factors for the achievement of accessibility in the tourism sector is the involvment of the DMO, together with the support of representatives of people with disabilities and the private sector.

Download the Arona Accessible Tourism Case Study in PDF format, produced by ENAT and Partners for the European Commission (2015).

City of Sozopol, Bulgaria

Ivor Ambrose — Sat, 05 Dec 2015 12:33:00 GMT

Sozopol is a town in south-eastern Bulgaria located on the Black Sea coast, situated on a few small peninsulas in the southern part of the Burgas Bay. With a population of 4,767 people, it is within the Burgas Province and is the administrative centre of the Municipality of Sozopol, which has a population of 14,833 people. It is a member of the League of Historical Accessible Cities.

Sozopol. Photo www.sozopol-foundation.com

Sozopol is a town in south-eastern Bulgaria located on the Black Sea coast, situated on a few small peninsulas in the southern part of the Burgas Bay.

With a population of 4,767 people, it is within the Burgas Province and is the administrative centre of the Municipality of Sozopol, which has a population of 14,833 people. Sozopol is divided into the Old and New Town, between which lies the Sea Garden. The Old Town is located on the small peninsula of Skamniy and has been declared an archaeological reserve. The boundaries of the Sozopol bay include the island of St. John and next to it the small island of St. Peter, which have also both been declared as archaeological reserves as well as a protected areas under Natura 2000.

A beautiful coastal town, Sozopol is the successor of the Greek colony Apollonia Pontica which was founded in 611 BC and is one of the oldest Bulgarian towns. It was named after Apollo, the Greek and Roman god of music, dance, poetry, prophecy, and medicine. His 13.2m high statue used to be a symbol of the town from 460 BC until Sozopol was conquered in 72 BC and the statue was brought to Rome. From antiquity to the 17th century Sozopol was a thriving commercial centre. The town has had an important role in the trade of fish from the Black Sea, as well as grain and copper from Thrace. From late antiquity Sozopol has been an important religious centre with many monasteries, as well as a centre of fine arts. For centuries it has been the most important port in the region.

The town attracts many tourists from around the world thanks to its cultural and historical past, its preserved architecture from the 18th and 19th century, its 4-14th century fortress, its beaches and annual Apollonia art festivals, and with the relics of St. John the Baptist found in the monastery of the same name which is the largest Christian centre in medieval Sozopol.

Sozopol Accessibility Project

Provision of accessible environment for people with disabilities to the natural and cultural sites on the territory of Archaeological Reserve Ancient Town of Apollonia in the town of Sozopol.

The main objective of this project is to allow a large number of people from Bulgaria and abroad to visit natural and cultural sites in Sozopol.

Some of the concrete measures of the project are the installation of tactile marking along strategic touristic points in the city. Furthermore, the provision of accessibility measures for people is also foreseen in many of the strategic point of the city such as: a urban park, the southern panoramic alley, the central beach, the architectural-historic complex southern fortress wall and tower, the municipal ethnographic museum, a tourist pier with panoramic view; the St. Cyril and Methodius’ church, the archaeological museum.

Sozopol Foundation has significant experience in development and implementation of projects related to providing access for people with disabilities to cultural heritage and natural sites. Since 2003 has developed great expertise in the use of EU structural funds and realised a great number of projects.

Working with government and municipal authorities of the Republic of Bulgaria and the National Agency for People with Disabilities, Sozopol Foundation maintains also regular contacts with NGOs, groups of people with disabilities and civil society.

► Download the document describing Sozopol's activities in favour of the people with disabilities

► Download the power point presenting Sozopol's activities within the League of Historical Accessible Cities

Athens, Greece

Ivor Ambrose — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 10:00:00 GMT

Athens' historical centre was developed and renovated in preparation for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to the Greek Accessibility Guidelines and urban planning requirements. Today, the legacy of the 2004 Games can be seen in the accessible pedestrian environment and public transport network of the city centre.

Photo. Acropolis of Athens, ENAT

Athens is a world-renowned destination for tourists and attracts visitors from all over the world. The historical monuments of Athens and its museums are the most visited sites in Greece. 1.5 million people visited the Acropolis World Heritage site in 2012 and over 5 million people visited the New Acropolis Museum in the first 3 years after its opening in 2009.

The historical centre

The city’s historical centre was developed and renovated in preparation for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to the Greek Accessibility Guidelines and urban planning requirements. The International Paralympic Committee’s expectations for an accessible city were also a motivating factor for creating an accessible environment for all. Today, the legacy of the 2004 Games can be seen in the accessible pedestrian environment and public transport network of the city centre.

This case study shows how the city of Athens achieved significant improvements in the accessibility of urban spaces, heritage sites and public transport for people with disabilities, within an overall plan which has re-defined the historical centre, its monuments, historical sites and streets, leading to a higher quality tourism offer. The planning process took into account the requirements of different disabled groups, strongly focusing on mobility and visually-impaired persons for movement in the public spaces. The so-called “Unification of the Archaeological Sites” by a pedestrian route was an innovative plan, creating a new, attractive accessible environment in a city centre that suffered greatly from motor traffic. This is a model of good practice that other Greek cities are now preparing to follow. The new Metro system is regarded as one of the most accessible in Europe, combining high technical standards with art and cultural exhibits at the stations. Together with the accessible trams and buses, this has contributed strongly to the success of the overall project.

One of the outstanding achievements of the project, in terms of accessibility, was the installation of a lift for wheelchair users to access the Athens Acropolis – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the symbol of Greek civilisation. This intervention has broken the boundaries of what was considered possible in adapting heritage sites, resulting in world-wide recognition that people with disabilities have right to visit and enjoy cultural heritage sites on equal terms with others. The lift solution was carefully planned and executed as a “reversible” intervention with minimal intrusion. In the beginning, only wheelchair users were allowed to use the lift but the policy has been widened to allow pushchairs and people with walking difficulties to use it, making the Acropolis truly “Accessible for All”.

For Athens itself, the city’s heritage area has gained even more popularity than before as it gives better access to everyone. It has become the focal point for citizens, with new tourist offers and it is a particular attraction for disabled visitors, seniors and families.

Improved access has brought other benefits, with the establishment of small enterprises and new activities, including bicycle rentals and guided walking tours. The renovated area also supports many local tavernas, cafeterias, hotels, museums and an open air cinema.

The case study also draws attention to weaknesses in the strategy of marketing Athens, as the city centre is not promoted as an ‘accessible destination’. Although Athens’ historical centre can be considered accessible to a high degree, there has been no significant follow-up in terms of marketing access as a quality product for visitors.

Download the Athens Accessible Heritage City Centre Case Study in PDF format, produced by ENAT and Partners for the European Commission (2015).

City of Salzburg, Austria

Ivor Ambrose — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:38:00 GMT

The City of Salzburg is located on the banks of the Salzach River, at the northern boundary of the Alps. In December 2011 the city won the EU Access City Award for 2012.

Photo: Old Town Salzburg across the Salzach river by Jiuguang Wang.

The City of Salzburg is located on the banks of the Salzach River, at the northern boundary of the Alps.

In December 2011 the city won the EU Access City Award for 2012.

The Access City Award is given to the European city over 50,000 inhabitants which, in the judges opinion, has made the greatest contribution to achieving accessible to people with disabilities. The prize honours efforts to improve accessibility in the urban environment, services, transport and information and communication technologies, in order to foster the equal participation of people with disabilities.

The European Commission commended Salzburg's excellent results in improving accessibility, achieved with the direct participation of people with disabilities.

View the Salzburg Access video - hosted on the European Commission website

In recognition of its outstanding cultural attributes, Salzburg was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997. The city, known as the birthplace of Mozart, contains many examples of Baroque architecture, museums, festivals and sports events.

City of Ávila, Spain

Ivor Ambrose — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:35:00 GMT

The City of Ávila, Spain, won the first EU Access City Award in 2010. As a tourist attraction it is especially known for its well-preserved medieval city walls and many heritage sites. Ávila is a member of the "League of Historical and Accessible Cities", a project established by the European Foundation Centre.

Photo. Walls of Ávila. (City of Ávila / LHAC)

The City of Ávila, Spain, won the first EU Access City Award in 2010.

As a tourist attraction it is especially known for its well-preserved medieval city walls and many heritage sites which have been carefully adapted to make them accessible for visitors with disabilities.

Ávila is a member of the League of Historical and Accessible Cities (LHAC), a project established by the European Foundation Centre.

The main aim of the League of Historical and Accessible Cities is to improve the accessibility of historical towns promoting, at the same time, sustainable tourism development and the protection of cultural heritage.

The City of Ávila was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985.

To learn more about the urban accessibility programme of Ávila and the LHAC, visit Ávila's webpage on the LHAC website

Download the Ávila City Access Guide in PDF format (Spanish) from the right-hand panel.

City of Turin, Italy

Ivor Ambrose — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:34:59 GMT

Turin (Torino) is the capital of Italy's north-western region of Piedmont (Piemonte). Geographically located at the cross point of the Po River and the Dura River, the city is surrounded by the snow-covered Alpine arch, which offers an impressive backdrop. With a population of 909,000 inhabitants, which reaches 2.2 million people in the wider metropolitan area, Turin is a major business, industrial and cultural centre.

Photo of Turin. (City of Turin / LHAC)

Turin (Torino) is the capital of Italy's north-western region of Piedmont (Piemonte).

Geographically located at the cross point of the Po River and the Dura River, the city is surrounded by the snow-covered Alpine arch, which offers an impressive backdrop.

With a population of 909,193 inhabitants, which reaches 2.2 million people including the metropolitan area, Turin is a major business, industrial and cultural centre.

In 2006, Turin successfully hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, after years of careful preparations by the city authorities, local industries and NGOs.

Turin is a member of the League of Historical and Accessible Cities (LHAC), a project established by the European Foundation Centre.

The main aim of the League of Historical and Accessible Cities is to improve the accessibility of historical towns promoting, at the same time, sustainable tourism development and the protection of cultural heritage.

To learn more about Turin's accessibility programme and the LHAC, visit the city of Turin's webpage on the LHAC website

City of Mulhouse, France

Ivor Ambrose — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:34:36 GMT

Mulhouse, a city of 112,000 inhabitants, is located between the Rhine river and the Vosges mountains, close to Germany and Switzerland. It offers unique attractions and quality of life to visitors and citizens alike.

Photo of visitors in Mulhouse. (City of Mulhouse / LHAC)

A pioneering city at the time of the industrial revolution in France, Mulhouse has flourished thanks to the textile, chemical and mechanical industries.

As a result of such an exceptional history, the city boasts an impressive selection of museums covering a broad range of topics (including the Automobile Museum, the Railway Museum and the Fine Arts Museum), as well as several private mansions and the largest technical museum in Europe.

Mulhouse is a member of the "League of Historical and Accessible Cities" (LHAC), a project established by the European Foundation Centre.

To learn more about the urban accessibility programme in Mulhouse and the LHAC, visit the city of Mulhouse's webpage on the LHAC website

City of Lucca, Italy

Ivor Ambrose — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:34:09 GMT

Lucca is a city of approximately 85,000 inhabitants in Tuscany, Italy. It is renowned for its Renaissance-era walls, houses, towers, churches, Renaissance palaces and 19th-century little piazzas.

Lucca. (City of Lucca / LHAC)

Lucca is a city of approximately 85,000 inhabitants in Tuscany, Italy.

It is renowned for its Renaissance-era walls, houses, towers, churches, Renaissance palaces and 19th-century little piazzas.

Today Lucca is an important tourist and commercial centre, known for its art and traditional culture, as well as for its paper, chemical, metal, textile and agricultural (olive and wine) industries.

Lucca is a member of the League of Historical and Accessible Cities (LHAC), a project established by the European Foundation Centre.

The main aim of the League of Historical and Accessible Cities is to improve the accessibility of historical towns promoting, at the same time, sustainable tourism development and the protection of cultural heritage.

To learn more about the urban accessibility programme of Lucca and the LHAC, visit the city of Lucca's webpage on the LHAC website