Nathan Domon

We visited both cities to see how the programme works: who pays for it, what it means for local communities, and what's left once the spotlight moves on. First things first: what is the European Capital of Culture? The initiative under EU oversight dates back to efforts by former Greek culture minister Melina Mercouri and her French counterpart Jack Lang (who is also behind the Fête de la Musique) to bring Europeans closer together by celebrating the continent's shared cultural diversity.

Our best, timeless journalism Missing the way we never were “Life used to be better in Yugoslavia.” It’s a common refrain across the region. Three decades after the violent breakup and turbulent transition to democracy, what people are remembering, and what they’re missing, says more about today than it does about the past. How the Netherlands led the dance revolution No sound has united Europeans quite like dance music. For the past 15 years, it’s been the continent’s shared soundtrack.

Our best, timeless journalism Missing the way we never were “Life used to be better in Yugoslavia.” It’s a common refrain across the region. Three decades after the violent breakup and turbulent transition to democracy, what people are remembering, and what they’re missing, says more about today than it does about the past. How the Netherlands led the dance revolution No sound has united Europeans quite like dance music. For the past 15 years, it’s been the continent’s shared soundtrack.