Bar, Herceg Novi and Ulcinj marked Europe Day with the cultural event "Night of Fortresses", realized with the support of the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, through the "Municipalities for the EU" initiative.
The program in the Old Town of Bar began in the Archbishop's Palace, where visitors had the opportunity to view two solo exhibitions. "Ariadne's Thread" by Muharem Muratović deals with issues of identity and destiny through the motif of myth and labyrinth, while the exhibition "In the Heart of the Olive" by Vladimir Iličković depicts the olive tree as a symbol of nature and life. Both exhibitions are open until May 15.
"The event is funded by the INTERREG IPA HR-BA-ME GIFTSnet project, and this year it symbolically coincided with the celebration of Europe Day and carries a strong message of connecting cultural heritage with environmental responsibility. The central theme of this year's edition is raising awareness about the importance of preserving nature and cultural heritage, as well as the affirmation of sustainable development," the Municipality of Bar announced.
For the youngest visitors, an art workshop called "Green Art Creation" was organized, implemented by the "Dalijas" studio. "Through play and recycling, the children created ecological sculptures and painted the space of the Gavodolla Bastion with the colors of imagination and sustainability," said the local government.
The grand opening of the event was marked by the performance of the ballet school "Princesa Ksenija" through the performance "Small Ecological Suite Chippollino", while the musical part of the evening consisted of a concert by Filip Pato.
Stanislava Municipality Manager Tanja Bardić emphasized the importance of connecting cultural heritage with contemporary social issues such as ecology, and said that "together we should be ambassadors of a sustainable future." Opening the exhibitions and the event itself, she said that the Old Town of Bar will host a rich cultural program in the coming days as part of the "Night of Fortresses."
"The event is funded by the INTERREG IPA HR-BA-ME GIFTSnet project, and this year it symbolically coincided with the celebration of Europe Day and carries a strong message of connecting cultural heritage with environmental responsibility. The central theme of this year's edition is raising awareness about the importance of preserving nature and cultural heritage, as well as the affirmation of sustainable development," the Municipality of Bar said in a statement.
"EU accession negotiations are entering their final and most demanding phase"
In Herceg Novi, the program began with an educational lecture on the fortification heritage at the Forte Mare fortress, where archaeologist Željko Starčević presented to elementary and secondary school students the significance of local fortifications, their historical value and role in contemporary cultural trends.
The evening program at Forte Mare included a performance by medieval knights, a presentation of local crafts and culinary specialties, and a concert by the Alt Capella ensemble, which performed Renaissance music on authentic instruments, the "Municipalities for the EU" initiative announced.
"The fortresses that are the backbone of the Old Town, as well as Arza, Mamula, the fortress on Rosa and numerous others, represent important historical symbols of the city, testifying to the past because they date back to the time of Ottoman, Venetian, Spanish, French or Austro-Hungarian rule. Today, they are monuments of architecture, meeting places for artists and cultural events, an indispensable part of the tourist offer, a cultural heritage that we are proud of," said the Mayor of the Municipality of Herceg Novi, Stevan Katić, opening the event.
Laura Zampeti, Deputy EU Ambassador to Montenegro, stated that Montenegro has come a long way on its path to joining the Union, and that the accession negotiations are now entering their final – and most demanding – phase.
"This is a critical moment, when the country needs the contribution and support of local authorities and communities to move forward and in the same direction. Every bit of energy is needed and this celebration will also help," said Zampetti.
"Investments are important, implement them transparently"
In Ulcinj, the event was opened by the Mayor of the Municipality, Genci Nimanbegu, and the Austrian Ambassador Christian Steiner also addressed the attendees.
"Here today we all celebrate the victory over fascism. We should always remember that anti-fascist values are high moral and human values, and this day should unite Europe," said Nimanbegu.
Steiner emphasized that the EU is a project of peace, a project of values, politics, economics and solidarity.
"European projects are in all municipalities of Montenegro, including Ulcinj. Investments are very important, and of course we need investments to be implemented in a transparent manner for the local population," added the ambassador.
The event took place at the archaeological site of Šas, where an info point was opened that will serve as an information point for all visitors in the future.
"Night of Fortresses - Goes Green" was organized this year in parallel in ten European countries, at a total of 72 locations, six of which are in Montenegro.
Bonus video:
