25 January 2008
The town of Sartene in southern Corsica has been awarded the prestigious status of "artistic and historic town" by the French minister of culture and communication, Christine Albanel.
The title creates a long-term partnership between the state and the town, which will then ensure the promotion of its heritage and engage in the development of its territory.
Bastia was the first town in Corsica to receive the status, and Sartene is now part of the 131 other towns in France gifted with an important cultural heritage.
The broad term of heritage can designate monuments, but also natural, industrial and maritime heritage.
Projects will be set up to promote the town's heritage and architecture, and professionals will be asked to organise all sorts of events to raise awareness on the importance of cultural heritage among the locals.
The ministry of culture and communication, which has been awarding "artistic and historic town" labels since 1985, has also recently awarded six other towns in France: Dijon, Limoges, Pays de Saone-Vallee, Pays Mellois, Pays des Vallees d'Aure et du Louron, and Pays de Lens-Lievin.
