With international participation, on 26th November 2014, the project FORTE CULTURA finished successfully with the final meeting in Kostrzyn nad Odra. During the two-day conference, the most important results of the project work packages were presented. These are the foundation of the association "FORTS-2-MARKET", the elaboration of the handbook "Capitalisation of fortified heritage" and of tools for effective e-marketing, the elaboration of the Culture Route FORTE CULTURA, cluster building of regional networks, the elaboration and description of more than 40 travel tours between the fortified heritage, several international conferences, among them the Third International Conference about Fortified Ideal Cities, a travel exhibition, a coloured printed guide book, two data bases and a handbook of typical historic technologies of fortress constructions, two internet platforms and some merchandising products.
In his welcome speech stated the Mayor of Leadpartner Kostrzyn nad Odra, that the aim of the project has been to show different ways to capitalize the fortified cultural heritage for sustainable development and competitiveness of cities and regions (download PDF file in English, German, Polish - 1 MB).
Representatives of the European Union like Joint Technical Secretariat of Vienna and the Monitoring Committee confirmed again the big potential of the European heritage of fortified monuments. A further promoting and support for FORTE CULTURA seems possible. Joseph Spiteri, president of the "European Walled Towns", expressed best wishes in a greeting for further development of the cultural route and looks for a good cooperation between both associations. He wrote literally: "I am sure that all of you agree with me, that our Cities have a huge asset in our Cultural and Historical heritage, which also gives us our own and European identity. Therefore each and every town and city, should strive to create an awareness about our Cultural and Historical heritage, within our own communities, particularly among our younger generations and also on a European Level. In the past, our Walls, Fortifications, and Fortresses served our towns and cities for defence purposes. Now, in this modern world, these same Walls, Fortifications and Fortresses are an economic tool, for the benefit of our communities and the Europe."
Two workshops were dealing with the development of new tourism travel programmes in the Culture Route FORTE CULTURA and the integration of new interested fortifications, and also with the creative fortress marketing with innovative marketing instruments. To the end of the conference, foreign speakers showed additional touristic potential of other fortifications, like in Przemysl and Torun / Poland, Pamplona / Spain and the Province of Namur / Belgium. Also the results of parallel running EU projects like HerMan, FORTIUS and AT Fort, could be presented. The Deputy Director of the European Institute of Cultural Routes in Luxembourg confirmed the right way of FORTE CULTURA and showed future perspectives.
Group foto with project participants of FORTE CULTURA. Foto: H.-R. Neumann
At the end of the conference, a part of the participants had have the occasion to visit the new exhibition about the fortress Kostrzyn in Bastion Philipp. Foto: H.-R. Neumann
