Tourist Association of Ivano-Frankivsk Region in partnership with Pasichna Village Council (Ukraine), City Hall of Ardud and Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture Satu Mare (Romania) is implementing the project ‘SHARING HERITAGE: Preserving Historical Legacy of Pniv Fortress in Ukraine and Ardud Fortress in Romania for Tourism Development’ 2SOFT/2.1/169. The mentioned project is being implemented until September 2023 under the Joint Operational Programme Romania-Ukraine 2014-2020 and co-financed by the European Union. The total budget of the project is 496 811,12 EUR (app 19 974 000,00 UAH, the grant amount is 444 195,10 EUR (app 17 858 500 UAH). The project has been implemented since December 23, 2020 and will be completed on December 31, 2023.
The project focuses on Nadvirna district of Ivano-Frankivsk region of Ukraine and Satu Mare County in Romania. The project general objective is to create additional opportunities for the economic and livelihood development of local communities on both sides of the border through the realization of the tourism potential of their cultural heritage, namely the Ardud fortress in Romania and Pniv Castle in Ukraine, which will ensure the preservation and sustainable use of these medieval buildings.
Over the three years of project implementation, the partners succeeded in achieving all planned results. To integrate natural and cultural heritage into the business environment for sustainable development, the project partners introduced effective management practices in the field of heritage preservation of the medieval castles of Pniv and Ardud, as well as tourism development based on these heritage sites. In particular, the Ukrainian partners prepared scientific and technical documentation for urgent conservation works at the Pniv Castle, including emergency stabilization and reinforcement measures. They also developed project documentation for the construction of the Pniv Castle Heritage Interpretation Centre, envisioned as a new tourist attraction — a “magnet” to draw numerous visitors to the region. The project’s experts elaborated the Pniv Castle Heritage Management Plan — a comprehensive document aimed at ensuring the preservation and sound management of the castle’s tangible and intangible heritage for the benefit of present and future generations, while also showcasing the potential of this heritage and the most effective mechanisms for leveraging it in support of sustainable local development. The Plan was approved by the Pasichna Village Council as a local targeted programme to be implemented in 2024–2026. In addition, work was completed on the concept for the Pniv Castle Heritage Interpretation Plan, which will be used in the future operations of the Heritage Interpretation Centre.
Within the framework of the project, Ukrainian and Romanian partners carried out a series of activities aimed at preserving heritage sites, ensuring visitor safety, and enhancing their comfort. In Ardud, high-capacity dehumidifiers were purchased and installed to provide ventilation and regulate humidity levels inside the fortress premises; a ground lighting system was installed in the fortress galleries; the entrance gates were repaired; and stone paving was laid. In turn, the Ukrainian partners installed an external lighting system around the ruins of Pniv Castle and placed informational and interpretive panels on its grounds, aligned with the content of the audio tour. In addition, a ground-penetrating radar survey was conducted, and a three-dimensional model of the subsoil was created, enabling the historical reconstruction of the site’s appearance.
At the same time, the improvement of the two aforementioned fortresses, together with the newly developed virtual reality tools for heritage interpretation, will enable communities to make more effective use of opportunities for local development. In particular, within the project, the Ukrainian partners created a virtual guide to Pniv Castle, available as a smartphone application. It includes a self-guided audio tour of the castle, a 3D model of the monument, and other relevant information for visitors. Meanwhile, the Romanian partners developed a 3D model of the old Ardud Fortress and a detailed physical scale model of the fortress based on it.
To promote the project and its results, the partners produced a variety of materials — project banners, leaflets about project achievements, and branded promotional products. Tourist guides, maps, and promotional videos created within the project for each heritage site have been successfully fulfilling their purpose: attracting the attention and interest of potential visitors to Pniv Castle and Ardud Fortress and encouraging them to visit.
As part of the information and training campaign in Ukraine, two cross-border international professional workshops for heritage specialists from both partner countries were held. These events fostered professional connections and helped shape the conceptual plan and exhibition content of the future Pniv Castle Heritage Interpretation Centre. In addition, two mutual study visits to Ukraine and Romania took place, alongside three training sessions for local stakeholders in Romania on harnessing heritage potential for local development. A joint study trip to Ireland was also organised, where partners had the opportunity to learn from international best practices in leveraging the tourism potential of cultural heritage. Furthermore, in July 2023, the International Forum of Partners United by Heritage was held in Ardud, presenting the project’s results and the experience gained by the partners. One of the key outcomes of the forum was the signing of a Cooperation Agreement between the city of Ardud (Satu Mare County, Romania) and the Pasichna Village Territorial Community (Ivano-Frankivsk Region, Ukraine). Valuing the partnership established within the project, the communities agreed to continue strengthening cooperation, initiating, and implementing new cross-border collaboration projects.
In addition, the Ukrainian and Romanian partners ensured the production of medieval costumes to be used for the interpretation and promotion of castle heritage within the target communities. In July 2023, the 11th edition of the International Festival of Medieval Heritage was held in Ardud, which has become a popular and anticipated event. In turn, the Ukrainian partners organised Medieval Historical Reenactments at Pniv Castle in September 2023.
More detailed information on the course of the project’s implementation is available on the website of the Ivano-Frankivsk Tourism Association: https://www.taif.org.ua/ and on Facebook Sharing Heritage: https://www.facebook.com/sharingheritage.roua.
Contact person – Iryna Novosilska, project director, tel. (0342) 542950, e-mail: office@taif.org.ua.
This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the Tourist Association of Ivano-Frankivsk Region and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or of the Joint Operational Programme Romania-Ukraine 2014-2020 management structures (www.ro-ua.net).
The Joint Operational Programme Romania-Ukraine 2014-2020 is financed by the European Union through the European Neighborhood Instrument and co-financed by the participating countries in the Programme.
