When ancient castles 'magically' transform into attractive destinations for sustainable tourism

Two ancient castles in Istria (Croatia) are being restored through a heritage conservation program linked to sustainable tourism. The ancient stone walls not only tell the story of the past, but also create jobs and boost the local economy.

Tourists visit Morosini-Grimani Castle. (Source: Facebook)

The Morosini-Grimani Castle and Petrapilosa Castle are the two focal points of the KulTERRA project. This is an initiative initiated by the European Union to revive ancient castles, both preserving history and creating new livelihoods for the people. The project has a total budget of 3 million Euros, of which 85% is funded by the European Cohesion Policy.

Situated in the village of Svetvinčenat, the Morosini-Grimani Castle is one of Istria’s best-preserved Renaissance structures. After years of neglect, it now welcomes around 45,000 visitors a year and employs 12 staff during the peak tourist season.

After a comprehensive restoration, the architectural space of Morosini-Grimani has become an ideal location for a series of activities such as escape games, weddings, culinary events, group bonding programs, concerts or medieval nights. The square in front also regularly hosts local markets or folk games.

Mr. Matija Ljuba, Creative Development Director at the castle, shared that this place is a witness of time and needs to be preserved to continue to exist sustainably in the future. Therefore, all activities at the castle must be planned towards sustainable development.

Petrapilosa Castle. (Source: Euronews)

The second building in the KulTERRA project is Petrapilosa Castle. Located isolated on the hills near the village of Buzet, this citadel dates back to the 10th century, once played a strategic defensive role, and is now a cultural and artistic destination with activities such as treasure hunts for children, poetry festivals, meditation programs and jazz, pop and rock concerts.

However, according to Matija Nezić, the castle’s cultural and artistic coordinator, the castle’s remote location, which once gave it a defensive advantage, now poses a challenge for organizing activities. The unique terrain makes it difficult for large tourist vehicles to move around, and the team in charge is looking for solutions to overcome this limitation.

Archaeologist Josip Višnjić, who has studied the history and directly participated in the restoration of Petrapilosa Castle, said that heritage preservation only really makes sense when the construction is put into use. Otherwise, after a while, those structures will deteriorate or be damaged again. At that time, it will be very difficult to find funds to repair them again. A space like Petrapilosa, when used properly and well maintained, will have the ability to attract many tourists.

Mr. Višnjić also emphasized that it is important for tourists to appreciate existing values ​​and be more aware of heritage preservation.

Managers and experts say the future of ancient castles depends on their ability to reinvent themselves as sustainable cultural tourism centers.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/khi-lau-dai-co-ho-bien-thanh-diem-den-hap-dan-cua-du-lich-ben-vung-331095.html