O conceito de usar uma rota européia de patrimônio industrial nasceu em 1999; Foi reconhecido que não houve um evento único para moldar a paisagem européia maior que a Revolução Industrial. Isso mudou a cultura de trabalho de todos os europeus e deu experiências comuns a comunidades em toda a Europa, seja carvão profundo em minas que trabalha no Rühr ou no South Wales. Quatro países, Grã-Bretanha, Bélgica, Alemanha e Holanda solicitaram com sucesso o financiamento interregável da UE (noroeste da Europa) para elaborar um plano mestre. O plano demonstra o potencial econômico como uma marca principalmente de marketing. Ele também mostra uma estrutura possível. Seu raciocínio era que muitos sites individuais tinham ótimos passos que outros tinham um perfil muito baixo. Eles usaram a analogia de pequenas lojas se reunindo em grandes shoppings para promoção conjunta. Na linguagem das propostas da UE, os hubs são chamados de pontos de ancoragem; Estes podem ser cidades ou locais industriais existentes com uma infraestrutura de turismo desenvolvida.
O plano culminou na declaração de Duisburg
Com o plano adotado, sua implementação foi financiada pela Interreg IIIB-North-Western Europe, e o esquema foi lançado; começando no noroeste e progredindo para o sul e o leste. Erih é uma associação registrada sob a lei alemã. Quando o financiamento acabou, havia 850 atrações de membros, que aumentaram para 1.850 locais nos países da UE28. Em outubro de 2014, foram obtidos mais financiamento do programa da UE Creative Europe. A rota européia de patrimônio industrial tem sido uma rota cultural do Conselho da Europa desde 2019.
A rota principal virtual-é construída pelos chamados pontos de ancoragem. São locais de patrimônio industrial, que são os mais importantes e mais atraentes para os visitantes. A rota lidera por 13 países até agora (em 2014): Reino Unido, Holanda, Bélgica, Luxemburgo, Alemanha, França, Espanha, Itália, República Tcheca, Polônia, Suécia, Noruega, Dinamarca e Portugal (em 2017).
Os sites de âncora em são:
NationLocationSiteTheme(s)AmsterdamHeineken Experience – Heineken BreweryProduction and ManufacturingAugsburgTextile and industrial museum (tim)TextilesBirminghamMuseum of the Jewellery QuarterProduction and ManufacturingBlaenavonBig Pit National Coal MuseumMining, LandscapesBlegnyBlegny-MineMiningBocholtTextilWerk Bocholt LWL Industrial MuseumTextilesCalaisThe International City of Lace and FashionTextilesCarboniaItalian Centre for Coal Mining, CultureMining, LandscapesChemnitzChemnitz Museum of IndustryTextiles, Production and Manufacturing, Transport and CommunicationCopenhagenVisit Carlsberg / Carlsberg Visitors CentreProduction and ManufacturingCornellà de LlobregatMuseu Agbar de les AigüesWaterCromfordDerwent Valley MillsTextiles, LandscapesDelmenhorstNordwolleTextiles, Housing and ArchitectureDortmundLWL Industrial Museum Zollern II/IV CollieryMining, Housing and ArchitectureDuisburgNorth Duisburg Landscape ParkIron and Steel, LandscapesDundeeVerdant WorksTextilesDuxfordImperial War Museum DuxfordTransport and Communication, Industry and WarElsecarElsecar Heritage CentreMiningEnschedeDe MuseumFabriekTextilesEssenZollverein XII Colliery & Coking Plant World Heritage SiteMining, Housing and ArchitectureEuskirchenLVR Industrial Museum Mueller Cloth MillTextilesFalunFalun Mine, World Heritage SiteMining, LandscapesFurtwangenGerman Clock Museum, German Clock RouteProduction and ManufacturingGentMuseum of Industrial Archaeology and TextileTextilesGoslarMines of Rammelsberg World Heritage SiteMiningGräfenhainichenFerropolis - Town of IronMining, Iron and SteelGrimetonWorld Heritage GrimetonTransport and CommunicationGrossouvreCharcoal halle of GrossouvreIron and SteelHaarlemmermeerSteam Pumping Station De CruquiusWater, Housing and ArchitectureHamburgHamburg Museum of WorkProduction and Manufacturing, Transport and CommunicationHoornHoorn-Medemblik Steam Tram MuseumTransport and CommunicationHoyerswerdaLusatia Mining Museum, Knappenrode Energy FactoryMining, Application of Power, LandscapesKerkradeDiscovery Center Continium, KerkradeMining, Production and ManufacturingKongens LyngbyBrede WorksTextiles, Production and Manufacturing, Housing and ArchitectureLageWestphalian Industrial Museum Brick Works LageProduction and ManufacturingLanarkNew LanarkTextiles, Housing and ArchitectureLichterfeldOverburden Conveyor Bridge F60Mining, Iron and Steel, LandscapesLlanberisNational Slate MuseumProduction and Manufacturing, Housing and Architecture, LandscapesŁódźManufaktura, Museum of the FactoryTextilesLondonLondon Museum of Water & SteamApplication of Power, WaterMarcinelleBois du CazierMiningMedemblikNetherlands Steam Machine MuseumProduction and Manufacturing, Application of PowerNarvikMuseum Nord, NarvikTransport and CommunicationNorthwichLion Salt WorksMining, SaltOberhausenGasometer next to CentrOIron and Steel, Application of PowerOsloNorwegian Museum of Science, Technology, Industry and MedicineTextilesOstravaMichal MineMiningPapenburgMeyer ShipyardProduction and Manufacturing, Transport and CommunicationPeenemündeThe Peenemünde Historical MuseumProduction and Manufacturing, Application of Power, LandscapesPendeen, PenzanceGeevor Tin MineMining, LandscapesPetite-RosselleCarreau Wendel MuseumMiningPilsenPilsner Urquell Brewery and MuseumProduction and ManufacturingPratoCampolmi Factory, Lazzerini Library, Textile MuseumTextilesRedruthHeartlandsMiningRjukanNorwegian Industrial Workers MuseumApplication of PowerSheffieldKelham Island MuseumIron and Steel, Production and Manufacturing, Application of PowerSolingenLVR Industrial Museum Hendrichs Drop ForgeIron and SteelSouthamptonBursledon Brickworks Industrial MuseumProduction and ManufacturingSpillumNorwegian Sawmill MuseumProduction and ManufacturingSt AustellWheal MartynProduction and Manufacturing, Landscapes, MiningSwanseaNational Waterfront MuseumMining, Iron and Steel, Production and Manufacturing, Transport and CommunicationTarnowskie GóryTarnowskie Góry silver mineMiningTelfordIronbridge Gorge MuseumsIron and Steel, Production and Manufacturing, Transport and CommunicationTerrassaCatalan Museum of Science and IndustryTextiles, Transport and Communication, Application of PowerTychyTyskie Brewing MuseumProduction and ManufacturingTyssedalNorwegian Museum of Hydro Power and IndustryApplication of Power, LandscapesVölklingenWorld Heritage Site Voelklingen Iron WorksIron and Steel, Application of Power, LandscapesWakefieldNational Coal Mining Museum for EnglandMiningWaltham AbbeyWaltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder MillsProduction and Manufacturing, Transport and Communication, LandscapesZaandamZaanse SchansApplication of Power, WaterZabrzeGuido historic coal mineMiningZehdenickMildenberg Brick Work ParkProduction and ManufacturingZevenaarBrick Works De PanovenProduction and ManufacturingZwickauAugust Horch MuseumProduction and Manufacturing, Transport and CommunicationŻywiecŻywiec Brewery MuseumProduction and ManufacturingAs rotas regionais (como a rota der Industriekultur no Ruhr) cobrem regiões como onde a história industrial deixou sua marca. Atualmente (2017) existem dezessete:
AustriaStyrian Iron TrailGermanyNorthwestRuhrgebietIndustrial ValleysEuregio Maas-RhineSaxony-AnhaltLusatiaRhine-MainSaar Lor LuxNetherlandsHollandRouteEuregio Maas-RhinePolandSilesiaSpainCataloniaUnited KingdomSouthwest YorkshireSouth WalesCornwallTreze rotas temáticas européias mostram a diversidade de paisagens industriais em toda a Europa e as raízes comuns da história industrial:
Application of PowerHousing and ArchitectureIndustry and WarIron and SteelIndustrial LandscapesMiningPaperProduction & ManufacturingSaltService and Leisure IndustryTextilesTransport & CommunicationWater