NETWORK INFORMATION |
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FORTE CULTURA Online-Member-Meeting (OMM2023)
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23 participants from 6 countries informed each other about current projects and activities in their fortress locations at the first FORTE CULTURA Online Member Meeting (OMM) at the end of November. Filippo Cailotto gave a vivid introductory lecture on the New European Bauhaus and Frauke Vos-Firnkes and Dirk Röder reported on current topics concerning the network and the cultural route.
The new online format is intended to bring FORTE CULTURA members together to learn from each other and start joint activities. The OMM will take place at least once a year in future. When registering, participants can book 10 minutes of speaking time in which they can report from their fortresses or present current topics for discussion.
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Rasnov (RO): Seminar, workshops and a medieval festival
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A medieval festival at Rasnov Fortress was the occasion for an international creative seminar with workshops to develop sustainable utilisation and management models for the fortress, which is currently being renovated. 30 participants from 8 countries, including the Fortress of Culture Šibenik (HR) and FORTE CULTURA, used the framework for new contacts and an intensive intercultural exchange of experiences and best practices. The excellently executed event was organised by Mioritics, Hands on History and the city of Rasnov.
The subsequent medieval festival with re-enactment groups from Norway, Sweden and Finland offered the public the opportunity to immerse themselves in European history in a fascinating location.
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Hornisgrinde (DE):
Project meeting of the FORTE CULTURA Upper Rhine fortress cluster
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19 partners of the Franco-German cooperation of fortresses and museums on the Upper Rhine met regularly on the Hornisgrinde to discuss current topics of cross-border cooperation. The guests of honour were Katrin Schindele, member of the Baden-Württemberg state parliament and deputy chair of the Committee on Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism, and Reinhard Schmälzle, mayor of Seebach. Under the direction of Frauke Vos-Firnkes (City of Germersheim, Vice-President FORTE CULTURA), joint advertising measures and tools were discussed, upcoming events, festivals and public dates were coordinated and the implementation of new educational tourism offers in the participating fortresses was discussed.
The Hornisgrinde is the highest mountain in the northern Black Forest and was a restricted military area from 1939-1999. Certified FORTE CULTURA tour guides lead you through the exciting history of the defence system.
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Rom/Latio (IT): FORTE CULTURA Pilot- und Studienreise erfolgreich durchgeführt
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The 10-day fortress tour led by Dr Hans-Rudolf Neumann included fortress monuments in Rome and the province of Latio, including areas of the Campo Trincerato fortress ring in Rome, Castel Sant'Angelo and Vatican City, Vejano, Ostia, Nettuno, Civita Castellana and Monte Soratte. The highly acclaimed pilot trip gave the international participants a deep insight into the fortress building history of the region, accompanied by renowned experts from the Joint Scientific and Expert Committee of FORTE CULTURA and EFFORTS, e.g. Fiorenzo Meneghelli and Teresa Colletta. (Picture: Tour group in the Rocca Borgia fortress in Vejano, with thanks to Prince Landolfo of Naples Rampolla as owner of the fortress).
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Maastricht (NL): EFFORTS 2023 Congress
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The EFFORTS 2023 annual congress took place in Maastricht at the beginning of October. The 4-day congress was once again packed with international lectures, discussion panels and workshops as well as exciting guided tours through the fortress heritage of Maastricht. FORTE CULTURA is a partner and member of EFFORTS, jointly organising the European Fortress Summer. The EFFORTS Congress 2024 will take place in Cluj (RO) in autumn.
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Ukraine aid fundraising campaign |
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Together with EFFORTS, FORTE CULTURA launched a European initiative in Terezín (CZ) in April 2022 to support fortress sites in Ukraine. The Medzhybizh fortress was declared an official member and station of the FORTE CULTURA European Cultural Route. Other Ukrainian fortress sites have been networked with fortresses from the rest of Europe in order to provide concrete support. Regular online workshops are held to discuss measures and forge concrete collaborations.
Employees of the Medzhybizh Fortress with the FORTE CULTURA welcome pack for member fortresses
Fundraising campaign "Protecting cultural heritage in Ukraine from the consequences of war"
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We are supporting our member fortress Medzhybizh with urgently needed donations in kind to protect cultural assets from the consequences of war. To this end, FORTE CULTURA has launched a donation campaign at betterplace.org.
During the Russian attack on Ukraine since February 2022, the historic Medzhybizh fortress has once again become a shelter and refuge for many refugees, especially women and children. The staff at the fortress support families fleeing war zones, collect donations, offer children's day programmes and accommodation and support their country as best they can. At the same time, attempts are being made to maintain a largely "normal museum operation" in order to offer the people and guests of the fortress some variety and support. Archaeology workshops are also offered as therapeutic measures to alleviate war trauma.
The fundraising campaign is intended to help purchase necessary equipment so that the people and cultural assets in the Medzhybizh fortress can survive the war, e.g. PV generators and solar modules, power banks, security technology and much more.
Please support us.
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PROJECT INITIATIVES |
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As European cultural route, FORTE CULTURA helps to preserve the important cultural heritage of fortified monuments and make it accessible to all people. Together with Aktion Mensch, FORTE CULTURA regularly initiates projects to make the fortress landscape in Germany more inclusive and accessible, e.g. with the help of the Aktion Mensch programme "#1 Barrier Less".
Fort Gorgast (DE): Tour opened in easy language
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Thanks to a grant of €4,674.50 from the "#1 Barrier Less" programme of the Aktion Mensch lottery, a new circular route in easy language was established at Fort Gorgast. Five German-Polish information signs were produced as part of the project. The signs mark the circular route and provide information on the history and function of the fort. QR codes lead to audio files in simple language in German and Polish to give everyone access to the information. The project was realised under the leadership of FORTE CULTURA, together with Fort Gorgast and the Golzow Office.
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Srebrna Gora (PL): Project for the UNESCO nomination of mountain fortresses
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Marcin Gorski, TU Warsaw and FORTE CULTURA Scientific Advisory Board, presented during the OMM2023 project activities for the preparation of a UNESCO World Heritage nomination of mountain fortresses. The project is based on the restoration progress in the national fortress park landscape of Srebrna Gora (PL) and currently includes mountain fortresses in Germany, Poland and northern Italy.
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Lviv (UA): EFFORTS platform for the Ukrainian fortress heritage
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Based on the contributions of Prof. Oresta Remeshylo-Rybchynska to the annual congresses of FORTE CULTURA in Šibenik (HR) and EFFORTS in Maastricht (NL) as well as a meeting of Rafael Deroo and Olha Tikhonova (EFFORTS) with the University of Lviv in August, the idea of establishing a platform for the Ukrainian fortress heritage was born. Illia Litvinchuk from Lviv Polytechnic University presented the concept and objectives of the new cooperation platform during OMMM2023. FORTE CULTURA supports the initiative, e.g. by visualising the fortress heritage in Ukraine.
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NETWORK MARKETING |
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European Fortress Summer 2024
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The European Fortress Summer 2024 is in preparation, don't forget to register your fortress events.
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FORTE CULTURA Tourism catalogue and travel sales platform
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The launch of the two new marketing tools had been postponed due to the high editorial workload. During OMM2023, Martin Kaule, tour operator (MK Reisen und Service GmbH) and operator of the Kulturbunker Strausberg, presented the current status of the new travel sales platform. We are confident that we will be able to present both new marketing tools in the new year.
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New FORTE CULTURA website(s)
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Two new FORTE CULTURA websites are currently being created. On the one hand, a tourism-focussed website will present the cultural heritage of the fortresses and the spectacular FORTE CULTURA world of experience within them. On the other hand, a network website will present the extensive activities of our network and serve as a communication and information platform. Both sites are due to be launched in January.
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FORTE CULTURA Actionbound App
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In cooperation with Actionbound GmbH, FORTE CULTURA has been offering all member locations the opportunity to create and offer digital-real scavenger hunts, fortress rallies, puzzle games and much more with the Actionbound app since spring 2023. For more information, please contact the network office.
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Euro note souvenir in the "FORTE CULTURA Edition"
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 In cooperation with EuroSchein-Souvenir GmbH, FORTE CULTURA has been offering the opportunity to create and sell customised souvenir banknotes (€0) since 2021. The fortress town of Germersheim successfully offers souvenir banknotes for sale at the tourist information centre for €3 each. Printing money has never been so easy. FORTE CULTURA members receive a 5% discount on the purchase price. For more information, please contact the network office.
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Certification programme for tour guides |
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FORTE CULTURA guides offer very special insights into the fascinating fortress worlds of our cultural route. Whether in historical costume, on underground paths or with exclusive content, the guided tours with certified guides are always an experience. You too can qualify as a tour guide with a FORTE CULTURA certificate.
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FROM THE MEMBER FORTRESSES |
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Information and projects from the member fortresses that took part in OMM2023:
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Oleg Pogorelets, Director of the Ukrainian fortress Medzhybizh, and Dirk Röder (FORTE CULTURA), met at the German-Polish border in November to exchange news and discuss upcoming activities. Oleg reported on the war and its effects on the fortress, which has already suffered some damage from misdirected projectiles and blast waves from major explosions in the surrounding area. He emphasised the urgency of aid from Europe and welcomed FORTE CULTURA's ongoing fundraising campaign on betterplace.com.
During OMM2023, Tetyana Vetrova emphasised that closer cooperation with FORTE CULTURA and fortresses in Europe is also desired in terms of projects and international museum work. Corresponding activities are being prepared for the coming year.
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The new educational campus in the newly renovated St. John's Fortress Šibenik was already the venue for the FORTE CULTURA Annual Congress 2023 in March. In addition to conference rooms, a kitchen and canteen, there are also 14 modern multi-bed rooms with showers in the fortress' cultural and creative centre. The sunset, which can be enjoyed from the fortress's viewing platforms, is also spectacular.
The institution Fortress of Culture Šibenik now offers FORTE CULTURA members a discount of 20% on bookings of the campus for events and seminars in 2024.
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Šibenik (HR): Night of Fortresses 2024
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The third Night of Fortresses will take place on 10 May 2024.
The international initiative, based on the Fortress of Culture Šibenik, is part of the European Fortress Summer and brings together fortress events on this day/night. To participate, the Night of Fortresses events must be accessible free of charge and registered with the organiser beforehand.
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Regional network "Fortresses and defence history on the Upper Rhine 1870-1999" (DE-FR)
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Friedrich Wein presented the latest news from the 8 stations of the fortress group on the Upper Rhine. These included the impressive progress of the project to restore the camouflage of the camouflage bunker in Kehl-Neumühl. The West Wall bunker was originally camouflaged as a residential building, but the "residential building" above the bunker did not survive the war. As part of a funding project, the second floor of the bunker has now been rebuilt and is available for club and museum work.
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Bavarian State Fortress Ingolstadt (DE)
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Maximilian Schuster, Chairman of the Förderverein Bayerische Landesfestung Ingolstadt e.V., presented the state fortress of Ingolstadt on both sides of the Danube and the diverse activities there. Ingolstadt is currently working with FORTE CULTURA on various marketing tools, such as a fortress flyer, the fortress portrait, content for the tourism catalogue and content for the Actionbound app. Participation in the European Fortress Summer and other activities are also planned for 2024. Mr Schuster is also the latest graduate of the FORTE CULTURA certification process for tour guides.
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Jiri Hofman presented many successful activities in Terezín 2023, including the Pirate Festival and the Josephine Festival, one of the largest re-enactments of the 18th century in Europe. A new Smart Guide app was established, which includes guided tours of the Terezin fortress in 6 languages. In addition, school and volunteer projects were organised to clean and restore the fortress. Together with the new FORTE CULTURA site flyer for the Bohemian fortresses, a joint fortress pass was also introduced. International fortress cooperation has been strengthened and a project approach for an EHL nomination for KuK fortresses is being prepared. Furthermore, national funding for the protection and restoration of 6 important historical buildings in the two ideal fortress towns of Terezín and Josfov is in prospect.
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Tomas Jirouch presented details of possible national funding and the results of other projects in Josefov. These include Interreg CZ-PL cooperation with the fortresses of Klodzko and Srebrna Gora (PL). Josefov would also like to participate in further co-operation projects and would like to be contacted if interested.
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SEASON GREETINGS |
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Thanks to you, FORTE CULTURA can look back on a successful 2023. We would like to thank you for the great cooperation
and wish you a Merry Christmas
and a healthy start to the New Year.
Please also think of the people who have to spend Christmas - the festival of love and peace - at war.
As the European Cultural Route of Fortified Monuments, one of our tasks is to tell the story of the fortresses, which are manifestations of war from many centuries like hardly any other building.
Use your influence to remind people that people have to live in war right now, that war harms everyone and benefits very few, that there is only one place where war belongs: in the (fortress) museum.
Your FORTE CULTURA Team
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OUTLOOK / DATES |
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Strasbourg (FR): FORTE CULTURA Annual Congress 2024 8 to 10 April 2024
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The FORTE CULTURA Annual Congress 2024 will take place on 9 April 2024 at the EU Parliament in Strasbourg (FR). Thanks to the initiative of the FORTE CULTURA Upper Rhine Fortress Cluster, together with the ADT (Alsace Destination de Tourisme) and the PAMINA Eurodistrict, we have succeeded in getting the Parliament to organise our event. The theme of the congress is: "Cultural heritage of fortified monuments - a building block in the history of the democratic movement in Europe".
The FORTE CULTURA General Assembly 2024 will take place on the afternoon of 8 April 2024 in the city of Strasbourg.
The supporting programme on 8, 9 and 10 April includes exciting excursions, guided tours and social get-togethers in the region of Strasbourg (FR) and Kehl (DE). Information and invitations will be sent out by the network office from mid-January. We look forward to seeing you there.
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- 26-29 February 2024, Aachen (DE):
Annual congress of the Liberation Route Europe
- 8-10 April 2024, Strasbourg (FR):
FORTE CULTURA Annual Congress,
Hosted by the EU Parliament
- April-October 2024: European Fortress Summer 2024
- 17-21 April 2024, Torun (PL):
Interfest e.V. annual conference
- 18-20 April 2024, Tirana (AL): FORTMED Conference 2024
- 22-27 April 2024, Poznan (PL): 5th Biehler-Forts Conference
- 29 April - 5 May 2024, Königstein Fortress, Saxony (DE):
Week of Democracy
- 10 May 2024: Night of Fortresses
- 2 June 2024: 21st International Day of the Forts
- 20-22 September 2024: 485 years of Fortress Ziegenhain
- 27-29 September 2024, Büdingen (DE): Westwall Day 2024
- October 2024, Cluj (RO): EFFORTS Annual Congress
- 25-27 November 2024, Kostrzyn nad Odra (PL):
FORTE CULTURA 10th anniversary celebration
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More news and previous FORTE CULTURA newsletters.
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Since July 2020, ordinary FORTE CULTURA members have automatically become associate members of EFFORTS and vice versa. FORTE CULTURA offers EFFORTS members a 20% discount on the annual membership fee so that EFFORTS members can enjoy all the benefits of the cultural route in future. For further information, please contact the network office. |
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