The main goal of our project entitled "Promoting Magic Places in Europe - Living Europe past, present, and future", is to promote interest in the European historical heritage and at the same time enhance the identification with the local and the European community, in the sense of unity in diversity (In varietate Concordia). Diversity is crucial as a counterweight against tendencies towards loss of identity and cultural roots in our age of globalization. Unity emphasizes our common European values as a result of a common heritage from antiquity to today. Our method will involve the promotion of "magic places" in different regions of Europe, places with special historical, archaeological and cultural impact on local communities, which embody parts of both local and European identity. Promotion is understood both in the sense of attracting the interest of our students for places and their physical characteristics, and in the sense of the concept of sustainable tourism, that is the authentic experience of locations in their historical and present cultural dimension, as well as of their people and present way of life, combined with economic aspects like local job markets. Mobilities of both students and teachers across Europe constitute an integral part of our approach, along with the use of information and communication technologies. High school students will participate in activities in multinational teams and acquire active, hands-on experiences by engaging with exploring, evaluating, mapping, meeting volunteer teams, restoring monuments, music, dance and art. Finally, the results of our interaction will reach our schools through products such as a virtual museum, a website, exhibitions, ideas for lesson plans, a celebration "Europe Day", workshops and presentations.

by Oswald Franz