Relationships between geoheritage and cultural heritage are being increasingly explored and have become one of the mainstreams within studies of geoheritage and geodiversity. In this review paper, we identify the main and secondary themes at the geoheritage—cultural heritage interface and provide examples of specific topics and approaches. These themes include added cultural value to geoheritage sites, geoheritage in urban spaces, cultural landscapes, and the contribution of geoheritage to their identity, mining and quarrying heritage, linkages with natural disasters, history of science, and art. Intangible cultural heritage is also reviewed in the geoheritage context. In the closing part of the paper, various classifications of geoheritage—cultural heritage linkages are proposed, although it is concluded that themes and fields of inquiry are overlapping and interlinked, rendering one classification system not very feasible. Instead, a mind map to show these diverse connections is offered. The paper closes with recommendations for future studies, arising from this review and the identification of research gaps and under-researched areas.

In the West Sudetes (SW Poland), volcanic activity of Oligocene and Miocene age has left a suite of landforms of considerable geomorphological interest. Besides being relevant to the subject of volcanology, they illustrate how volcanism influences interplays with landscape development in the long-term. Three main geomorphological themes are explored: structural geomorphology of ancient volcanic terrain, volcanic remnants as markers of long-term denudation and hillslope evolution under periglacial conditions of the Pleistocene. Volcanic geosites are used as a resource for geotourism and promotion of geoheritage has intensified recently, with the region branding itself as the ‘Land of Extinct Volcanoes’. Ten localities are evaluated as geomorphosites of significant educational potential, taking into account geomorphological values, added values as well as physical accessibility and information supply. Successful interpretation remains a key challenge in further geotourism development, and several associated practical issues are pointed out such as choice of terminology, uncertainties in scientific understanding and stand-alone attractiveness of geoheritage.

This paper reviews recent developments focused on the promotion of geoheritage in the region of Kaczawskie Mountains and Kaczawskie Foothills in the Sudetes, SW Poland. Since ancient volcanic features are of primary interest, the brand name “Land of Extinct Volcanoes” is consistently used in territorial marketing, although geoheritage values cover much wider spectrum of geology and geomorphology. The scientific understanding of Earth history was long realized by restricted academic circles only, but since the 1990s, increasing attempts to develop regional tourist product based on geoheritage have been observed. They intensified in the twenty-first century, with the bottom-up approach evidently taking over, although close, formalized collaboration with scientists is a distinctive feature. The long-term goal of the Local Action Group is to join the UNESCO Global Geopark network and step by step the relevant criteria are being fulfilled. The case of Land of Extinct Volcanoes illustrates the crucial role of local communities and local leaders in the long-term strategy of geoheritage promotion and geotourism development.

Natural disasters may be considered as opportunities to learn about the magnitude of natural processes and to better understand the role of human factors, especially exposure to risk. In this paper, we look at sites of past natural disasters from the perspective of geotourism. In a number of archeological sites from antiquity, one may see evidence of thorough destruction, mainly due to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, although these sites are explored as glimpses into the past style of life rather than lessons about the power of nature. Twentieth and twenty-first century disasters are commemorated with monuments and plaques, but the tangible evidence of destruction is often quickly erased, both intentionally and due to post-event natural processes themselves. In this way, opportunities to use disaster sites as learning grounds are lost. However, there are examples of educational trails and museums, which illustrate the value of preserving some evidence of infrequent, but catastrophic events.