When geology meets tourism: the historical routes of the geosciences in the Alps

One of the most evident problems related to cultural tourism concerning the geosciences in Alpine regions is the lack of coordination of relevant places, sites and routes. Geoparks, mining parks, ecomuseums, geosites, geotrails or mining trails are located in diverse areas and based on locally developed different projects. The main challenge of this paper is to provide a tool for connecting these resources on a transnational basis, through the revaluation of their history, establishment of new routes equipped with multimedia content and the promotion of an integrated network of websites. The history of geology, mineralogy and mining will provide a link between geosites and mines across the Alps for example explored by the same scientist in the 19th century, facilitate transfer of the geological and mineralogical knowledge as well as create new thematic trails and 'historical geosites' for improving the impact on transnational cultural tourism related to the Earth sciences. The project will undertake a new interdisciplinary approach in order to increase the valorization of the geological cultural heritage through the history of geosciences and mining. The aim is to define, create, coordinate and promote a network of routes based on a new concept of integrated cultural tourism, which will enhance traditional sectors of cultural heritage and scientific education, as well as the existing networks of alpine hiking trails. Within this context the history of geological travels, explorations and observations in the Alps from the 16th until the 20th century, which significantly contributed to the development of the Earth sciences, will be the basis of the innovative definition of "historical geosite" in order to identify new cultural touristic routes in the Alpine area.