{"id":4085,"date":"2025-12-30T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forte-cultura.network\/?p=4085"},"modified":"2025-12-30T16:28:29","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T15:28:29","slug":"gizycko-pl-ltpl00354-fort-union-cross-border-interreg-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forte-cultura.network\/fr\/gizycko-pl-ltpl00354-fort-union-cross-border-interreg-project\/","title":{"rendered":"Gi\u017cycko (PL) : LTPL00354 FORT-UNION \u2013 projet transfrontalier Interreg"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Author: Jagoda \u017belisko<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cross-border interreg project FORT\u2011UNION is carried out by a coalition of partners: Municipality of Gi\u017cycko, Kaunas City Municipal Administration, Kaunas Fortress Park, Army Museum in Bia\u0142ystok, Boyen Fortress in Gi\u017cycko, Var\u0117na District Municipality and associated organizations: Biebrza National Park, and Var\u0117na\u2019s Entrepreneurship Education Centre (among others).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project runs for 36 months \u2014 from 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2028. Its total budget is \u20ac5,089,545.20, of which \u20ac4,071,636.14 is financed by the Interreg VI-A Lithuania-Poland Programme, and the remainder comes from other public contributions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What FORT-UNION Is About: A Network of Historic Fortresses for Tourism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

FORT-UNION aim is creating a network of cooperation and a common brand \u201eFORT \u2013 UNION\u201d in the cross-border area of Lithuania and Poland within the framework of the development of sustainable tourism products of Gizycko, Kaunas, Bialystok, Varena and Osowiec Fortress with the use of World War I fortification objects and related historical, natural and cultural heritage, in order to promote and popularize the area, affecting the improvement of the well-being of the cross-border community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main goals include:<\/p>\n\n\n

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  • Promoting cross-border cooperation and cultural integration \u2014 leveraging shared heritage and natural landscapes to strengthen regional ties and support local communities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Preserving and revitalizing former World War I fortifications \u2014 converting historical barracks, forts and military sites into accessible cultural and tourist destinations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Creating a sustainable tourism offering: this includes restoring and adapting fortress sites (e.g. renovating Barracks No. 1 at Boyen Fortress, Fort No. 4 in Kaunas, and military-heritage exhibition at the Army Museum in Bia\u0142ystok), establishing tourist trails, digital tools (3D models, virtual\/augmented-reality tours), cultural-educational programs, and a common website\/platform under the \u201cFORT-UNION\u201d brand.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n

    First Milestones: Renovation and Festival Kick-off<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    In October 2025, a contract was signed for the renovation of Barracks No. 1 and courtyard at Boyen Fortress under FORT-UNION. The renovation contract was worth 7,694,880 PLN (gross), with about 80% co-funded by the EU. Works are scheduled to complete by early 2027.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In September 2025, the first joint event under the project \u2014 the Fort\u2011Union Festival \u2014 took place in Kaunas. The festival featured historical-reconstruction performances, cultural heritage exhibitions, workshops, photo exhibitions, fortress tours, and public visits to fortress sites, marking a symbolic start of the cross-border cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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