In September 2022, we travelled to the fascinating fortress heritage around the Bay of Kotor, with fortifications built by the Venetians, the Ottomans, the Habsburg monarchy, the Second World War and the Cold War. The fortresses in Trebinje, Herceg-Novi, Dubrovnik, Tivat and Budva were also visited. (Photos: H.-R. Neumann)

Expansion of contacts in Dubrovnik

During their study tour to Montenegro on 29 August, the German-speaking participants were able to take part in a joint meeting at Dubrovnik City Hall with Deputy Mayor Jelka Tepšić, Cultural Officer Dr Julijana Antić Brautović and the Director of the Dubrovnik Restoration Institute Mihaela Skurić. In the presence of the new president of the Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities and member of FORTE CULTURA, Vedran Kosović, Mrs Tepšić confirmed the continuation of this membership of the society. Topics for further cooperation were discussed together, which are to be explored in greater depth during the 2023 members' conference. The meeting was followed by another meeting in the Society's representative rooms at Gundulićeva poljana 6 with its Executive Director Maro Kapović and Technical Secretary Lukša Hanza, BBA, as well as a joint tour of the exhibition "70 Years of the Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities", which had been extended by one day especially for the occasion.

Turkish-Venetian fortress construction in Herceg Novi

In the presence of the local tourism manager Biljana Belusević and the local fortress guide Alen Filipović, the fortifications Forte Mare, Fort Kanli Kula and Fort Spanjola in Herceg Novi were also visited during the Montenegro study trip. While the latter is awaiting rediscovery, the other two forts are mainly used for event tourism. In a television interview with the local broadcaster Radio Televizija Herceg Novi, Biljana Belusević emphasised the need to become a partner and member of FORTE CULTURA.

The visit by an international group of specialists and researchers showed that interest in these historic buildings extends far beyond the city and the country. This needs to be expanded and is also proof of the importance of supra-regional marketing. This visit should also be discussed more intensively in the city council with a view to Europe and the associated funding opportunities.

Video report local TV

Cross-border talking

Fort Punto d'Ostro on the Croatian peninsula of Prevlaka was still a target in the days of the Yugoslav navy. The bullet holes are still visible today. During their study trip to Montenegro, the participants were able to visit the construction site under the guidance of Dr Neumann. The expert guides were the representatives of the owner, Ivo Radonić from the municipality of Konavle, and the Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities, which is responsible for the restoration, represented by its technical secretary Lukša Hanza.

The fort is located in a dominant position at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor, just a few minutes by boat from the Montenegrin fortress island of Mamula. A highly interesting discussion with the Montenegrin architecture professor and fortress specialist Dr Ilija Lalošević unfolded on the top of a total of five fire floors with regard to the tourist interaction between Punta d'Ostro and Mamula, should the fort really be developed as a future naval museum.

There was no doubt in anyone's mind that both facilities could play an exceptional and important role in a cultural route such as FORTE CULTURA.

Budva: a new partner in FORTE CULTURA ?

On the last day of their study visit to Montenegro on 3 September, all participants had the opportunity to visit the fortified heritage of the Adriatic city of Budva. These included the recently renovated Fort Mogren to the north, the Austro-Hungarian-era Fort Kosmač and the ramparts of Budva's old town centre. Public attention was drawn to the visit not only by Iva Pavlović from the city's EU Office for Integration and Cooperation, but also by the camera team from the local TV station "Radio Televizija Budva". They took the opportunity to record the positive impressions of the tour participants in the exposed Fort Kosmač. At the same time, it also conducted an interview with the young graduate architect Ivan Vratnica, who is currently working to revitalise the fort and sees good opportunities to develop this southernmost fortified monument in Montenegro into a highlight of the region. The interest in becoming a member of FORTE CULTURA is to be presented to the mayor of the town.