The partners in the action «SHARING HERITAGE: Preserving Historical Legacy of Pniv Fortress in Ukraine and Ardud Fortress in Romania for Tourism Development» summed up the results of the project launch conference held online on January 27, 2022. Although the project has been going on for 10 months, this event propelled the project activity on creating of an interpretation concept and management plan for future Pniv Fortress Heritage Interpretation Centre.
Professionals who attended the conference included a wide range of academic staff and experts in the field of heritage interpretation and management making it a high-profile cross-border event. In total, the event brought together 50 people, including experts and representatives of research institutions, architects, historians, heritage managers, representatives of various museums, reserves, and local activists from heritage communities.
The conference purpose was twofold: to determine the current state of scientific research and exploration work relevant for the Pniv and Ardud fortresses in Ukraine and Romania, and to involve professionals in generation of interpretation topics for the Pniv Fortress heritage site.
During the conference, the historian and manager of Ardud fortress (Ardud municipality, Satu Mare county) Stefan Berci presented results of research activities and existing practices of exploiting heritage of medieval Ardud fortress in Romania. The Ukrainian speakers shared the factual information found during several research works ever conducted on the architectural and construction features of the architectural monument of national importance from XV-XVI centuries, Pniv Fortress located in the Pniv village (Nadvirna district, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Ukraine). Mr. Zenoviy Sokolovsky, architect, graphic artist, member of the National Union of Architects of Ukraine and a full member of the International Council on Monuments and Sights – ICOMOS, associate professor of architecture at the King Danylo University drew attention of the participants to the nature of the building and the condition of the ruins. Volodymyr Hrynishak, heritage researcher from Nadvirna district, director of the Nadvirna Tourist Information Center, summed up all known information and data for analysis of buildings and the historical past of two castles located in Nadvirna city and Pniv village (Pasichnyanska community). The Ukrainian Research Institute of Cultural Heritage has provided the results of scientific research on the solutions used to build fortifications in Nadvirna.
The available in open sources array of local lore and historical information about the Pniv Fortress was quite sparse. In total, the project team managed to find 12 publications and personal articles that provide information about the monument, which is mostly duplicated, summarized or even distorted. This state of affairs is obviously due to the lack of historical material on the Polish and Austro-Hungarian past of Galicia in the Ukrainian archives, as well as the dominance of post-Soviet approaches to research of the past, lack of interest or prejudice against the cultural stratum and the nobility. In addition, past researchers lacked a certain vector of the study blueprint and purpose. The professional community had to declare the obvious lack of quality research on the heritage site in Pniv village and the controversy of many facts presented by researchers.
The conference also introduced participants to some innovative approaches in preservation and promotion of historic defence facilities and complexes in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. This topic was in focus of presentation made by Mrs. Zoryana Lukomska, Professor, Doctor of Architecture from the Architecture and Urban Planning Department of Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas.
The keynote speaker of the event was Mrs. Eliza Marin, National Coordinator in Romania of the European Association for Heritage Interpretation INTERPRET EUROPE. She focused participants’ attention on well-known practices in interpretation of fortress heritage in the European countries, in connection with the fortresses and their history. She demonstrated both successful and unsuccessful examples of heritage presentation to visitors and drew attention to the importance of adhering to the basic principles of heritage interpretation. In this context, the basic principles of heritage interpretation promoted by the Interpret Europe Association are encouragement of visitors to a deeper understanding and independent exploration, turning facts into personal experiences, and provoking resonance and involvement. According to Mrs. Eliza Marin one does not need to be afraid of heritage legends to successfully interpret a heritage site. It is necessary to have a wide database of reliable data and balance information with the stories that are spread in the community and the region. It is important to build links between the community members and the heritage, and look for the best options for interpretation.
During the next practical part of the conference, the participants, based on the information received from the speakers, expressed their ideas on what exactly (what topic) can be interpreted in relation to the Pniv Fortress.
So, this cross-border event became an opportunity to gather the most unexpected, even provocative ideas that can be used in heritage interpretation concept, which aims to create a unique visitor experience around the theme of Pniv fortress. The concept will be used for preparation of management plan for the future Pniv Fortress Heritage Interpretation Centre to be designed within the project.
The SHARING HERITAGE project team sincerely expresses its gratitude to all those who joined this intensive four-hour online event and look forward to continuing to work with each participant in the conference.
The interpretive tools and media of the future Heritage Interpretation Centre will cover a variety of new and traditional interpretive techniques, from interactive tours to modern multimedia facilities. As a result of the project, it is anticipated to create a well-structured, practical, interactive system of interpretation, which will contribute to improving understanding of a heritage site and increase in the minds of visitors the value of the past, which must be preserved and multiplied for present and future generations.
The project ‘Sharing Heritage’ 2SOFT/2.1/169 is implemented by the 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). The project is being implemented under the Joint Operational Programme Romania-Ukraine 2014-2020 and co-financed by the European Union. The project will last until April 21, 2023; its total budget is 496 811,12 EUR (app 16 643 000,00 UAH); the grant amount is 444 195,10 EUR (app 14 880 536 UAH).
The project activities are designed to integrate the cultural heritage of communities into the local economy, becoming the preconditions for sustainable development. Thus, the project envisages the development of a number of conceptual and technical documentation that should ensure sound management and use of heritage sites. In particular, it is planned to prepare design and estimate documentation for the construction of a new Pniv Fortress Heritage Interpretation Center as a key attraction for visitors, as well as to develop a management plan for the heritage site and the concept of its interpretation. The infrastructural component of the project envisages specific measures to preserve both monuments and ensure the safety of their visitors. It is also planned to prepare planning documentation for the conservation of the Pniv Fortress ruins. In Ardud, the high-power dehumidifiers will be purchased to control humidity and provide ventilation, ground lighting in the galleries of the Ardud fortress will be installed, stone paving will be laid and the entrance gate of the fortress will be repaired; at the same time the information boards / signs and lighting system around the ruins of the Pniv fortress will be installed.
The soft component of the project will include cross-border international professional workshops with historians, architects, heritage and information technology specialists, trainings for local stakeholders in Ardud, study visits to share experiences, a joint study tour to Ireland, international festivals and the International Heritage Partners Forum. In addition, project partners will prepare tourist guides and maps / schemes of fortresses, as well as produce promotional videos about historical sites.
The detail project information can be found at the official webpage of the project Lead beneficiary and on the FB page of the project.
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.
