The Old Town and Citadela in Budva became part of a new tourist route that promotes the Balkan Fortress as some of the most important cultural and historical attractions in the region.
This, so far underrepresented and modernized fort, is becoming more visible for all tourists who are interested in the historical and cultural heritage of the Balkans thanks to the project "Creative History Balkans Tour" (CHBT).
The project, launched by EXIT Foundation with the support of the European Union and the Council for Regional Cooperation, aims to brand and promote four historic fortresses in four Balkan countries, relying on the creative industries and cultural heritage: the Old Town of Budva in Montenegro; Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad, Serbia; Fortress Kastel in Banja Luka in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and the Fortress Rozafa in Skadar, Albania.
In Budva, the first one in a series of events, was the launch of this initiative, and at the same time, a unique internet platform was presented, which will present cultural pearls of the Balkans' cultural heritage to the tourists around the world in a creative and contemporary way.
At the presentation of the project today in Budva, President of the UO Exit Foundation Ivan Petrovic emphasized that the Balkans possesses an extremely rich cultural heritage, which needs branding and contemporary promotion through the creative industries, as well as preservation and sustainability through the development of cultural tourism.
"The EXIT team believes and works to make the Balkans one of the most attractive regions of the world in the field of tourism and creative industries. With this project we want to present to millions of tourists around the world that this region is a cradle and a meeting place for numerous civilizations that have existed in this area in the past," said Petrovic.
The project "Creative History Balkans Tour" leads to the creation, promotion, and development of a regional tourist product innovatively, using a specialized internet platform that will attract new generations. Presenting the most beautiful legends and myths, discovering the history of these everlasting fortresses and developing their tourism potential through attractive internet contents will contribute to the Balkan’s tourism and economic growth.
Dr. Predrag Zenovic in front of the Municipality Budva believes that this project will open bridges between societies and states and their once, it seemed, irreconcilable past.
"Citadela in Budva is, for example, is the site of the ancient acropolis, once the seat of Zeta metropolis, and later the Austro-Hungarian military fort. Fortresses represent testimonies of past times, but their relation to the present space represents the creators of the creative and the place of art exchange," Zenovic said and added that the Budva Municipality's Management Service as one of its priorities aims to valorize the fortification architecture in Budva and its surroundings, and that the project "Creative History Balkan Tour" is an excellent guide.
For the academic sculptor Jelena Papovic from Budva, the Old Town is a special place because it is precisely where she creates artworks and believes that staying in old fortresses gives the privilege of living in a time-machine and every stone represents a portal into a new world.
"Enhanced sensitivity of the artist can summon the energy of such a place and transform the timelessness of artwork into eternity. That's why we may seem to be romantic and emotionally carried away to those who know that we are going through the same streets many times and we are thrilled all over again with the balconies, the drawings of time in the stone, the rooftops’ games and the blue sky," Papovic said.
At the promotion of the project "Creative History Balkans Tour" the audience was presented a new approach of affirming the Old Town of Budva, one of the most important and most remarkable fortifications in the Balkans.
Text by Vijesti online, on May 3rd 2019, read more at Vijesti
