Autore: Tomáš Jirouch

In late August 2019, the historic Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad, Serbia, hosted an interdisciplinary international conference titled “Fortresses of Tomorrow: Balance between Cultural Heritage Safeguarding and Entertainment.”
The event was organized by the Art Association Inbox with the support of the Central European Initiative (CEI).
Its main goal was to explore how historic fortresses across Central and Eastern Europe can be preserved as valuable cultural heritage while being revitalized as sustainable, living spaces for the public and tourism.

The conference took place on 29–31 August 2019 in the cultural space Prostor (11 Beogradska Street) at the Petrovaradin Fortress.
It gathered experts from numerous European countries — including Croazia (Tvrđa, Osijek), Repubblica Ceca (Terezín and Josefov), Romania (Alba Iulia), Italia (Palmanova), Austria (Bad Radkersburg), Ucraina (Brody and Lviv), Polonia (Zamość and Poznań), and Serbia (Petrovaradin). Organizers emphasized that these fortresses share many features: they are located near urban centers, represent major architectural and historical assets, and hold strong potential for tourism and community use.

The conference discussions focused on several key themes:

• Balancing heritage protection and public use.
  How to ensure fortresses remain vibrant and accessible while preserving their authenticity and historical integrity.
• Sustainable management of fortress sites.
  The importance of comprehensive management plans that integrate conservation principles, public engagement, financing, marketing, and cultural programming.
• Creating a “Fortress Network.”
  Participants proposed establishing stronger cooperation and knowledge exchange among European fortress cities to share experiences and develop joint projects.
• Tourism and commercial challenges.
  The debate highlighted that commercial use can help finance preservation, but it must not undermine the site’s cultural and historical values.

The conference concluded with a shared declaration emphasizing that a strategic, holistic approach to fortress management is essential for their long-term preservation and revitalization.
A booklet and photo exhibition were prepared as outputs of the conference, showcasing best practices and case studies from participating sites.

For more information, visit the CEI webpage.