In September 2025, the Ajdovščina Adult Education Center published a professional monograph entitled Thematic route as a strategy for lifelong learning. It was created as part of the cross-border project Interreg Italia–Slovenija: BEroots – Between Rivers and Lagoons: Artistic Routes. The BEroots project is co-financed by the European Union under the Interreg VI-A Italy-Slovenia Program.
The monograph provides an in-depth and systematic reflection on thematic trails as an innovative learning tool and form of sustainable tourism. The authors consider thematic trails to be more than just a tourist experience – they are a space for learning, intercultural dialogue, and community cohesion.
In its theoretical part, the monograph highlights several concepts. Among them, transformative learning (Mezirow) has a special place, as it enables visitors to change their perspectives through the experience of cultural heritage. The concept of public space, as developed by Habermas, Oldenburg, Jacobs, and Gehl, is presented as a framework for understanding learning in open spaces, where exchange, dialogue, and experiential learning intertwine. An important part of the discussion is also devoted to intergenerational learning and the role of social capital (Coleman, Putnam, Bourdieu), which can be strengthened through cooperation and trust in the community.
Methodologically, the monograph is based on design thinking, which combines the phases of empathy, challenge definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing. This approach enables user-centered and creative path design, which is enhanced with elements of inquiry-based and problem-based learning. The process described emphasizes participatory action research involving local communities, experts, and students, ensuring the authenticity and firm anchoring of the routes in the local environment.
The practical part of the monograph focuses on the presentation of three digital thematic trails developed within the BEroots project. The trails combine the cultural heritage and natural features of Vipava and Podnanos with innovative learning activities. The process of creation, content highlights, and examples of tasks that include audio-visual elements, artistic interpretations, and reflective activities are presented. The special value of these trails is their accessibility to different target groups – from families to the elderly and school groups.
The monograph makes an important contribution to the understanding of thematic trails as "living museums" where heritage is not only preserved but also recreated. It guides the reader through theoretical foundations, methodological approaches, and practical examples, opening up space for further research and development. It presents a vision of tourism that is not focused solely on the economic aspect, but on socially responsible and inclusive practices that connect people, places, and meanings.
The monograph is a valuable contribution for researchers, educators, local stakeholders, cultural policy makers, and anyone interested in the intertwining of heritage, education, and sustainable development. Its particular value lies in combining theoretical insight and practical experience to offer a clear model of how thematic routes can become a strategy for lifelong learning and sustainable tourism.
The professional monograph is freely available on the BEroots project website in Slovenian and Italian language.
