Project Claustra+

Cross-border destination of cultural and green tourism Claustra Alpium Iuliarum (CLAUSTRA+)

PROGRAMME: Interreg V-A Slovenija – Croatia

PRIORITY AXIS 2: Preservation and sustainable use of natural and cultural resources

THEMATIC OBJECTIVE 2.1: Active heritage preservation through sustainable tourism

TOTAL PROJECT VALUE: 1,779,988.15 EUR (ERDF: 1,512,989.90 EUR)

FINANCIAL SUPPORT: European Regional Development Fund (85%) within the INTERREG V-A Slovenia-Croatia 2014–2020 Programme

PROJECT DURATION: 01. August 2017–31. January 2020

ABOUT THE PROJECT:

Claustra Alpium Iuliarum is a late Roman barrier system that was controlling the passages to the heart of the Roman Empire. Archaeological remains of the system span in segments from Rijeka in Croatia to the Posočje in Slovenia; the barriers purposefully follow natural features of the rugged terrain. Claustra represents an outstanding example of integration of architecture within the natural environment. The archaeological remains are mainly located in wooded areas that often overlap with protected natural and woodland areas; therefore its experience is closely connected to the experience of nature.

Stakeholders of this heritage are fragmented and the remains are not properly conserved, displayed and accessible. Therefor it is necessary to increase their visibility as a joint destination of cultural and green tourism. The project provides a set of activities for the development of the tourism product CLAUSTRA. It includes the preparation of guidelines for its development, promotion plan, design of the cultural-touristic route and related itineraries, systematic promotion of the product (including a mobile app) as well as the development and implementation of a varied program for visitors (cross-border public events, experiential tours). In order to develop an integral product and for a stable management of the route it will be set up by bottom-up approach the CLAUSTRA consortium which will bring together all relevant stakeholders and local economic operators.

The second set of activities is aimed to improve the attractiveness of the destination CLAUSTRA. This will be achieved through active conservation and enriched presentation of the archaeological remains and the implementation of measures to enhance the physical and informational accessibility, including the creation of three didactic info points. In this way the touristic development of the program area will be increased and one of the most attractive destinations is going to be set up in this region of Europe that will be on par with abroad counterpart destinations such as the Hadrian’s Wall Country or the German Limes..

MAIN GOAL OF THE PROJECT: Establishment of the cross-border destination of cultural and green tourism “Claustra Alpium Iuliarum”.

MAIN PROJECT ACTIVITIES:

  1. Development of the product of cultural and green tourism CLAUSTRA:
    • establishment of guidelines for the development of the destination and preparation of the promotion plan of the product CLAUSTRA,
    • creation of the cultural touristic route and itineraries,
    • creation of the consortium CLAUSTRA and of the “Open Claustra” working group,
    • seminars for guides and tour operators,
    • preparation of a digital manual for guides and tour operators,
    • adventure guiding,
    • systematic promotion of the tourism product,
    • creation of a mobile application,
    • publication of a brochure and a map of the cultural touristic route, preparation of promotional material for tour operators,
    • field trip of 50 tour operators and travel reporters,
    • living history events (Roman day, Roman night within Nature, revival of a Roman camp),
    • thematic cross-border cycling-hiking events,
    • thematic workshops and public projections of the movie CLAUSTRA.

 

  1. Active conservation and enhancement of accessibility:
    • research and conservation of archaeological remains, field research of natural heritage and habitats as well as modelling of ancient vegetation in the areas of the barrier system,
    • participatory maintenance (cleaning actions on archaeological remains and on access paths),
    • preparation of a feasibility study for the treatment of archaeological remains for the purposes of reducing the negative impact of vegetation on archaeological remains,
    • establishment of a new hiking path next to the Ajdovski zid (Pagan’s Wall) near Vrhnika,
    • installation of signposts for existing paths,
    • installation of information boards and four “archaeostereoscopes” along the archaeological remains,
    • establishment of didactic info points in Vrhnika and Rijeka,
    • preparation of the project documentation for the establishment of a larger interpretation centre CLAUSTRA in the hinterland of Rijeka,
    • hosting of the existing exhibition “Claustra Alpium Iuliarum” at eight locations and installation of a new interactive exhibition at two locations.

PROJECT PARTNERS:

  1. Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia – Lead Partner
  2. Ivan Cankar Institute of Culture, Sports and Tourism Vrhnika
  3. National Museum of Slovenia
  4. Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation
  5. Croatian Conservation Institute
  6. Primorje-Gorski Kotar County
  7. Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Littoral
  8. Natural History Museum Rijeka
  9. Kvarner County Tourist Board