The founding charter of FORTE CULTURA was signed on 24 November 2014 in Kostrzyn nad Odrą. This was preceded by a 2-year EU project in which the foundations of the new European Cultural Route of Fortified Monuments - FORTE CULTURA - were laid in international cooperation.
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of FORTE CULTURA, 60 members and guests from 9 countries came together at the founding location Kostrzyn nad Odrą (PL) to celebrate the anniversary of the Eruopean Cultural Route of the Cultural Heritage of Fortified Monuments. These included the FORTE CULTURA stations Ingolstadt, Königstein (Saxony), Terezín, Josefov, Prague, Gizycko, Fort Gorgast and Kulturbunker Strausberg.
As part of the Congress programme the representatives of the FORTE CULTURA Board and the Scientific Committee looked back on the fantastic development of the FORTE CULTURA European Cultural Route. In addition, current topics such as the war in Ukraine and FORTE CULTURA's education and inclusion work were presented and an outlook on the next goals and activities was given. Partner networks such as EFFORTS Europe and Liberation Route Europe offered their congratulations on 10 years of successful fortress cooperation.
Exciting excursions to the fortress heritage in the German-Polish Oder-Warthe region and an exhibition rounded off the two-and-a-half-day programme. Conference programme.
The event was co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the INTERREG VI A Brandenburg - Poland 2021-2027 cooperation programme and the PRO EUROPA VIADRINA Euroregion Small Projects Fund.
The project also included the development of a brochure on the cultural heritage of fortified monuments in the PRO EUROPA VIADRINA Euroregion.
Day 1: Presentations
Dr Andrzej Kunt, Mayor of Kostrzyn nad Odrą (PL), opens the anniversary congress.
FORTE CULTURA President Dr Frank Riesbeck addresses his greetings to the guests. He especially thanks the FORTE CULTURA Board, the Scientific Committee and the FORTE CULTURA members for 10 years of successful co-operation.
10 Years FORTE CULTURA - European Cultural Route of Fortified Heritage (4 MB)
Mayor Andrzej Kunt looks at the special history of the town of Kostrzyn nad Odrą and reports on the two EU projects "Baltic Fort Route" and "FORTE CULTURA", which laid the foundations for today's European Cultural Route.
Kostrzyn nad Odrą - where it all began
Ryszard Skałba, Director of the Kostrzyn nad Odrą Fortress Museum, presents the dramatic history of the former Prussian fortress of Küstrin at the confluence of the Warta and Oder rivers.
The Küstrin Pompei
Agnieszka Zurawska-Tatala, City of Kostrzyn nad Odrą, provides information on the cross-border funding project and the fortress heritage of the Oder-Warthe region.
Cross-border cooperation on the fortress heritage of the Oder-Warthe region (4 MB)
Brochure "Fortress Heritage Oder-Warthe Region" (pl/de/en)
Honouring the four FORTE CULTURA "founding fathers"
From left: Dr Hans-Rudolf Neumann, Hartmut Röder, Dr Frank Riesbeck and Mayor Dr Andrzej Kunt.
Wiktor Misiarz, Director of Nyski Dom Kultury, officially joined the FORTE CULTURA network. Nysa Fortress (PL) is thus the 60th station on the European Cultural Route.
FORTE CULTURA Vice Presidents Dirk Röder and Filippo Cailotto travel through 10 years of impressive FORTE CULTURA activities and networking.
Review of FORTE CULTURA milestones of the last decade (11 MB)
Day 1: Excursions
Kostrzyn nad Odra Fortress, PL
Guided tour of the former Küstrin fortress in Kostrzyn nad Odra.
Fort Gorgast, DE
Guided tour of Fort Gorgast, the best-preserved outer fort of the former Küstrin fortress, followed by a rustic dinner and a cosy get-together. The FORTE CULTURA anniversary evening at Fort Gorgast was co-financed by the German Foundation for Volunteering and Commitment.
Day 2: Presentations
Natasa Urošević and Marcin Gorski looked back on the work of the FORTE CULTURA Scientific Committee and gave an outlook on upcoming activities.
FORTE CULTURA Scientific Committee
FORTE CULTURA pilot and study tours (4 MB)
Dr Hans-Rudolf Neumann, ECCOFORT e.V., reports on 10 years of successful FORTE CULTURA pilot and study tours on fortress heritage in Europe and beyond.
Liberation Route Europe congratulates FORTE CULTURA on its 10th anniversary
Rémi Praud, Director of the European Cultural Route of Liberation 1944-1945 (Liberation Route Europe), sent his congratulations via video message and emphasised the excellent cooperation between the two cultural routes.
EFFORTS Europe congratulates on 10 years of FORTE CULTURA
Rafaël Deroo, Secretary General of EFFORTS, congratulates FORTE CULTURA and thanks them for the many years of fruitful co-operation.
Friedrich Wein, FORTE CULTURA Cluster Upper Rhine, sent his congratulations on behalf of the members on the Upper Rhine and looked back on a successful co-operation with FORTE CULTURA.
FORTE CULTURA - Fortresses for culture and peace (7 MB)
Vice President Dirk Röder spoke about the dissonance of the fortress heritage and the associated task of the FORTE CULTURA cultural route to convey history truthfully in order to learn from it.
The question of the preservation and revitalisation of bastion fortifications in Ukraine (24 MB)
Diana Akparshewa (Ivano Frankivsk, UA), gave an overview of the Ukrainian fortress heritage.
Stand with Ukraine
The participants reaffirmed their solidarity with Ukraine by taking a group photo with the Ukrainian flag.
Fortress Inclusive (3 MB)
Dirk Röder (FORTE CULTURA Vice President) and Tomáš Jirouch (Josefov Fortress (CZ); member of the FORTE CULTURA Board) provided information on measures to improve accessibility in FORTE CULTURA member fortresses.
Josefov 2024 - Survey - Tours for people with disabilities (3 MB)
Jelena Kölble (FORTE CULTURA Social Media Agent) and Dirk Röder, gave an overview of the current FORTE CULTURA marketing instruments and online tools for members
FORTE CULTURA Tools (5 MB)
Next dates (2 MB)
Filippo Cailotto (FORTE CULTURA Vice President) concluded the FORTE CULTURA anniversary congress with an outlook on important events in 2025.
Day 2: Excursions
Fort Zorndorf, Kostrzyn nad Odra, PL
Guided tour of the ruins of the outer fortress of the former Küstrin fortress in Kostrzyn nad Odra.
Międzyrzecki Rejon Umocniony - MRU, PL
Oder-Warthe fortress front: Guided tour of the museum, the outdoor facilities and the incredible underground bunkers of the Oder-Warthe Line.
Day 3: Excursions
Memorial and Museum Seelower Höhen and Museum Geschichtsstation Seelow (Mark), DE
Tracing the events of spring 1945 in the Oder-Warthe region, the guests watched a film about the Battle of the Seelow Heights in April 1945 and visited the associated Soviet war cemetery and memorial. They then visited the Seelow (Mark) History Station Museum. The exhibition there shows the dramatic history of the town and region between 1930 and 1960 from the perspective of the local population.
The group then travelled to Strausberg to visit the former GDR nuclear communications bunker.
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