The Lithuanian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted (LASS) has become a member of the European cultural route network “Romea Strata.” This is a significant development, as organisations representing blind and partially sighted people rarely become part of the European cultural routes network. “Romea Strata” is a historic pilgrimage route connecting Northern and Southern Europe – from Tallinn to Rome.
Joining this network opens new opportunities to develop inclusive pilgrimage and to share the experience gained in Lithuania with other European countries. LASS brings to the “Romea Strata” network unique expertise on how cultural and pilgrimage routes can become spaces for social inclusion, community building, and mutual learning.
In Lithuania, blind and partially sighted people have been actively involved in cultural route activities since 2020, when they began participating in joint hikes and contributing to the development and activation of Camino Lituano – a pilgrimage route crossing Lithuania. Over time, these routes have revealed themselves not only as tourism paths but also as spaces for social interaction, community, and informal learning.
Walking together along a pilgrimage route creates situations in which blind and sighted participants become equal partners. Travelling together fosters natural mutual assistance, trust, and opportunities to learn from one another. Such experiences help change societal attitudes towards visual impairment and promote greater understanding and empathy.
In recent years, valuable practical and methodological experience has been accumulated in Lithuania on how to organise inclusive hikes involving both blind and sighted participants. In these activities, blind people are not merely participants – they actively contribute to the development of cultural routes. This includes educational activities, community events, the creation and distribution of souvenirs, and other socio-cultural initiatives that strengthen connections between people and local communities.
These activities demonstrate that pilgrimage routes can also be understood as multisensory experiences. Sounds, touch, movement rhythm, smells, and embodied presence allow the environment to be experienced beyond vision alone. Such experiences enrich the journey for all participants and offer a new perspective on the meaning of pilgrimage and travel.
An important step in this year’s activities is the planned establishment of a symbolic 100 km LASS route along Camino Lituano and “Romea Strata” routes in Lithuania. This section will be marked with special LASS anniversary signs and QR codes presenting the LASS community, its history, and its activities. It will become a lasting legacy both at the national level and within the European cultural routes network, and its opening will be marked by a ceremonial hike.
As a member of the “Romea Strata” network, LASS plans to share its experience with partners from Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia, and Latvia. Future joint projects will focus on developing more inclusive solutions for cultural routes, such as adapted heritage descriptions, audio orientation elements, and tactile and sensory wayfinding tools.
LASS becoming a member of “Romea Strata” is not only an important recognition but also a message that cultural routes can become spaces where blind and sighted people travel together, learn from one another, and build more open and inclusive communities.