Ljubuški Fortress (Photo: ljubuski.ba/screenshot)
The presentation of the INTERREG IPA project HeritageREVIVED was held in Ljubuški, which is aimed at solving the common cross-border challenge of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, and refers to the integration of archaeological sites located on the outskirts of cities in the offer of sustainable cultural tourism based on good governance and authentic visitor experiences.
Project activities include the construction and equipping of an interpretation center at the Roman military camp in Gračine, conservation and restoration works in the Old Town of Ljubuški, modernization of the museum exhibition in Ulcinj, providing access to Rižinica in Solin, making VR models of Rižinica, Gračin, Shasa and Ulcinj museum as a joint product and presentation and promotion of all sites and projects through a joint media campaign, the City of Ljubuški announced.
The value of the project is EUR 1,965,441, of which 85% is EU co-financing through the INTERREG IPA cross-border cooperation program Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2014-2020. The leading partner is the Public Institution Development Agency of the West Herzegovina Canton HERAG, while project partners: Ljubuški, the City of Solin, the County Road Administration Split and the Municipality of Ulcinj.
For HERAG and the City of Ljubuški, this is the fourth cross-border cooperation project aimed at the restoration and presentation of cultural heritage. Through Theme Medieval, Connecting Separated and Fort Net, research and works have begun in the area of the Old Town of Ljubuški and the Roman military camp in Gračine. The Heritage REVIVED project is financially the largest and most important EU investment project in these localities so far.
– With it, we will make the most visible steps in the presentation of the Roman military camp in Gračine, which will get the first in situ visitor center in Herzegovina. Let us remember that until five or six years ago it was inaccessible and unknown to us who live here, let alone to our visitors. This is the largest investment in the physical renovation of the Old Town of Ljubuški, which through conservation and restoration works gets its old contours and which is our largest cultural and tourist resource. We still have a lot of work to do, but we are proud of everything we have done in cooperation with the City of Ljubuški in the last six years – said Radoslav Luburić, director of the Public Institution of the Development Agency of the West Herzegovina Canton and added:
– Through HeritageREVIVED, we are planning a series of trainings for children and experts in the field of cultural heritage and tourism in order to develop care for heritage and manage it in a way that reconciles preservation and tourism development. Next year, we will organize a regional conference in Ljubuški on the topic of heritage management and experience tourism, to which we will invite the most renowned experts – said Luburić.
By the way, this is the second project in which HERAG and the City of Solin are cooperating.
– This is a project that has great symbolic significance for Solin, but also for the whole of Croatia and the history of our country. Namely, the monastery from the 9th century in Rižinice is the place where the Croatian name was mentioned for the first time. It has not been accessible so far, and this will ensure access to the site and thus its better presentation. For us in Solin, heritage is extremely important and thanks to European projects like this one, we have the opportunity to valorize it. We would like to thank the County Road Administration for participating in the project and for building the access, i.e., rest area, as well as to the City of Ljubuški and the HERAG agency with whom this is our second cross-border cooperation project. We have already established a quality partnership with all of them and with municipality of Ulcinj – said Deputy Mayor of the City of Solin, Ivica Rakušić.
The project partner from Montenegro also commented on the importance of the project in terms of future joint cooperation.
– This project is very important for all of us because it opens the potential for future joint projects, especially when we know common European aspirations. It will be a great contribution to the promotion of the most important heritage sites in our municipality, the Museum and Shasa, and will contribute to the development of cultural and natural tourism. We are looking forward to cooperation in other programs – said Artan Cobi, a representative of the municipality of Ulcinj.
On this occasion, project activities in Ljubuški were also presented.
– Significant infrastructural interventions will be implemented at two archeological sites. The process of conservation and restoration works on the restoration of the central palace, popularly known as the Herceguša tower, the defensive tower and part of the southeastern perimeter is ongoing. Upon completion of the renovation, a staircase with a platform at the top of the defensive tower will be added as the first intervention at the site presentation. As for the Roman military camp in Gračine, the reconstruction of a modern building in the immediate vicinity is planned, which will have the role of a visitor center. The facility will have the capacity of three archaeological collections, in situ materials from a nearby military camp, physical models of reconstruction, 3D virtual reality, reconstruction of underfloor heating systems and more. The second collection will present replicas of Roman military equipment that are analogous to the site at Gračine. The last collection will be located in the basement, and will contain material from archaeological sites from different historical periods, which was collected during research in the wider area of Ljubuški region – said Mirko Rašić, expert associate on the project, archaeologist.
The mayor of the city also spoke about the importance of the project.
– We have already said many times how important this is for Ljubuški, to try to put what we inherited into function. Suffice it to say that a significant part of the total funds will be invested in our fortress, over 1.5 mil. BAM. We would not be able to finance it, only with the help of the EU, the Canton and other partners. This creates a new tourist value, the transfer of knowledge, this is a broader story, there will be a written trace, a general social benefit. Until now, the fortress was not safe for visitors – said the mayor of Ljubuški Vedran Markotić.
