How can the 25 historic fortresses along the Elbe support each other in marketing themselves to tourists? This was the key question at a  conference that brought together 15 representatives of important Elbe fortifications from Germany and the Czech Republic at Königstein Fortress. Along the Elbe, these include the Czech cultural sites of Josefov, Terezin and Hradec Kralove as well as the German fortresses of Königstein, Dresden, Torgau, Wittenberg, Magdeburg, Dömitz, Stade, Glückstadt and Cuxhaven. There are also rare castles with for- tress architecture, such as the castles of Pardubice, Sonnenstein in Pirna and Hartenfels in Torgau.

The participants discussed the creation of a joint umbrella brand “Cultural Heritage Elbe Fortresses” and various themed travel offers on the European cultural route Fortified Monuments – FORTE CULTURA® as a way of increasing competitiveness  on the tourism market. Joint campaigns are to be launched under the new “Elbe Fortresses” umbrella brand as early as the 2020 season.