Nearly 100 students gathered in Baden bei Wien, Austria, last week to take part in the first-ever youth project hosted by the Great Spa Towns of Europe (GSTE) – a UNESCO World Heritage collective established in 2021.

The GSTE – comprising 11 historic spa towns renowned for their natural mineral springs (see end of story for full list) – launched the initiative to engage the next generation in preserving and celebrating their shared cultural heritage.

The youth project, called INTERSPACE (Inter-Spa Town Celebration of European Heritage), is funded by the EU through the CERV Town Twinning Programme. Its goals include fostering intercultural dialogue, mutual understanding, and a deeper awareness of the unique European story embodied by the GSTE.

After a year of preparation, students from five GSTE towns participated in a three-day educational programme held alongside the GSTE Association’s autumn General Assembly on 14 November. The milestone event featured students from Františkovy Lázně, Karlovy Vary and Mariánské Lázně (Czech Republic), Vichy (France) and Bad Kissingen (Germany).

The event served as the first in-person phase of the project, following a series of online workshops where students aged 12–15 collaborated with teachers and site managers. These workshops, led by the Czech-based interdisciplinary group Socionaut, laid the groundwork for the programme’s central themes of collaboration, heritage exploration, and youth leadership.

A return exchange is planned for May 2025 in Mariánské Lázně, coinciding with the GSTE’s Spring General Assembly.

Heritage and connection

Baden bei Wien hosted students with a programme reflecting the town’s historic pillars of medicine, nature and fun.

The schedule included: • Heritage workshops exploring the importance of spa towns and their significance to young participants.

• A scavenger hunt through Baden bei Wien to introduce students to the town’s history.• Planning sessions for a GSTE Youth Forum, aimed at empowering young people to protect and promote the World Heritage site.

• Relaxation time at the Römertherme Thermal Baths.• A celebration of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy – written in Baden bei Wien 200 years ago – with a performance by the BG/BRG Biondekgasse school orchestra.

• A Beethoven piano concert at the Haus der Kunst, performed by Wolfgang Capek and Municipal Council Member Michael Capek.

The programme culminated in a presentation by students to GSTE mayors and state parties representatives during the General Assembly. Pupils shared their initial ideas for the GSTE Youth Forum, which they will continue to develop during the next phase in 2025.

Stefan Szirucsek, mayor of Baden bei Wien and chair of GSTE, said: “Through INTERSPACE, we’re not just preserving our UNESCO World Heritage site; we’re passing it on to the next generation who will become its future guardians. The Youth Forum offered a chance for students to exchange ideas, discuss solutions and get to know each other.”

Chiara Ronchini, GSTE secretary general, added: "It was wonderful to welcome our young participants to Baden bei Wien. Their ideas will be invaluable as we shape how GSTE engages with young people and ensures our heritage resonates with future generations."

The Great Spa Towns of Europe• Baden bei Wien, Austria.

• Spa, Belgium.• Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.

• Marianske Lazne, Czech Republic.• Frantiskovy Lazne, Czech Republic.

• Vichy, France.• Baden-Baden, Germany.

• Bad Ems, Germany.• Bad Kissingen, Germany.

• Montecatini Terme, Italy.• Bath, UK.