The Network of routes of Emperor Charles V has held a Board of Directors meeting, characterised by the high level of participation of members, as well as by the number of topics discussed. Among others, the presentation of upcoming activities to be developed by the network, as well as the information and updating of the various programs underway.
Thus, with regard to the activities planned to be carried out, the Network of routes of Emperor Charles V will launch the Carolus V Magazine in April, a bimonthly magazine in English and Spanish, with the possibility of extending it to other languages, with news related to the network of routes, interviews with personalities and those responsible for the network, as well as scientific and academic articles related to the Emperor, written by members of the scientific committee of the network or experts on the figure and times of the Emperor.
Work is also underway on the publication of the papers from the 4th International Forum on the Routes of Charles V: 500th anniversary of the coronation of Charles V: dreams and nightmares of an empire, in collaboration with the Yuste Foundation. It should be remembered that these conferences were held on 23 October, 5 and 19 November, and 3 December in online mode, and were characterised both by the great success of their audience and the quality of the presentations. Moreover, in view of the success of the event, the Network is considering the possibility of repeating it annually and also in the same format as long as circumstances do not allow otherwise.
In addition to these activities, a photographic competition on the Routes of Charles V and the possibility of creating a travelling exhibition with the finalists for all its members; and the edition and publication of a biography on the life of Emperor Charles V, by the writer Víctor Fernández Correas, told in an entertaining and amusing way. To which we must add others such as an exhibition at the Coudenberg Palace (Brussels), to be held next October; the summer courses on Charles V and Diplomacy, and Charles V and the University; and the project to develop a Network of Carolingian Cities founded by Charles V in Latin America and a Network of Carolingian Universities.
But it doesn't end here, as in 2021 the Laredo-Yuste Cycle Tourist Route, suspended in 2020, will also be resumed. To this end, in the coming weeks, meetings will begin to be held with the different actors involved, with the intention that the route can be held in the first fortnight of October, as long as health conditions allow it.
On the other hand, the Network of Routes of Emperor Charles V plans to launch a tourist website of the routes in the coming weeks, with the aim of promoting tourism on them together with the Network of Spanish Cultural Routes.
Finally, the Board of Directors approved the incorporation of two new members to the Network of Routes of the Emperor Charles V, such as the town of Horcajo de las Torres (Ávila) and the Old Tercio of Cartagena 1595, following the opinion issued by its scientific committee.
Report on ongoing projects
During the Board of Directors, the president of the Network of routes of Emperor Charles V, Miguel Ángel Martín Ramos, and its managing director, Quintín Correas, also informed the members present about the status of the projects currently underway - Erasmus+ KA105: Let's cook our heritage, let's cook our future, Erasmus+ KA105: Circular Cultural Tourism, WalkEUR, Fab Routes and The Routes of Charles V and Latin America; and the situation of the tourist marketing of the Routes of Charles V, with the reactivation of the creation of tourist packages with A6 Route Travel, a partner agency of the network. There are three such packages: "Extremadura, Imperial Retreat", "The Emperor's Passage through Cantabria, discover its treasures" and "Charles V on the Rueda Wine Route". In addition to these packages, work has begun on new ones in Burgos, Logroño and Villaviciosa (Asturias).
