Abstract:
In January 2007 Gelnhausen — a small touristic town in Germany — became the new geographic centre of the European Union. In consideration of the fact that Gelnhausen did not apply for this label, the present paper describes the adoption, interpretation and inclusion of the new representative status. In particular it looks into the development of EU-related touristic measures and how EU symbols are incorporated in existing programmes and strategies to attract tourists. It will be shown how the new status leads to competition between different local actors about where exactly the centre is and who legitimately is entitled to profit from its promotion. Finally, it will be discussed to what extent the temporary nature of the title "geographic centre of the EU" is an expression of the mobile and inconstant character of Europe that several scholars have pointed out.

Keywords: Gelnhausen, Europe in transition, tourist place, EU symbols, local conflicts

Leseprobe (pdf)