Cultural heritage offers tangible expression to the shared cultural past of European countries: it forms part of the 'source DNA' of the spirit that became the phenomenon Europe. Ultimately it represents the evidence and justification of Europe as a geo-cultural entity. Consequently, in the process of forging greater European unity, heritage institutions can play a significant role. However, their functioning is legally strictly limited to national borders. If these institutions want to play a social role in Europe, these boundaries have to be transcended. The project Cradles of European Culture (CEC) wants to give this breakthrough a boost.This 5 year project starts from a historical case study: the Realm of Francia Media, extending from the Mediterranean to the North Sea going through the heart of Europe between 850 and 1050. The motivation for this choice is that the countries that belonged to the Middle Carolingian realm also stood at the cradle of the European Union in the middle of the previous century. The project intends, through a cooperation between heritage partners of 10 European countries, to highlight the importance of Europe's geo-cultural past in the functioning of contemporary European society. It also aims at linking the processes of identity creation, the sense of belonging and the intercultural dialogue to the valorisation and understanding of the remains of our past. The research will feed the core part of the project, dedicated to the sensibilisation and the involvement of the general public. The Francia Media Heritage Route plays a central role in the public outreach. The sites selected for the route are truly Cradles of European Culture. They will be developed into European 'interpretation centres'. Permanent facilities on the pilot sites and sustained educational and public outreach programmes will ensure that the project's results will also be continued after the end of the EU financed scheme.