Last Friday, May 10th, the lights came on for the third edition of the "Night of Fortresses" event. Gathering 8 countries and 40 cities across Croatia and the region, this event welcomed thousands of visitors who had the opportunity to enjoy a total of 135 diverse events at attractive fortified sites. The Night of Fortresses included 38 workshops, 34 expert-guided tours, 19 concerts, 14 lectures, nine films and performances, nine exhibitions, four gastronomic events, and much more!
From 2022 to 2024, three successful editions of this event connected and promoted programs at 50 fortified locations in eight European countries: Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. Recall that the "Night of Fortresses," an annual cultural and tourist event, was first held in 2022 in Croatia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina as a result of the joint European project FORTITUDE.
The aim of the event is to enhance the cultural and tourist amenities of European cities with fortified heritage, fostering cooperation and raising awareness of the importance of cultural heritage. In just three years, the Night of Fortresses has become a platform for networking, sharing experiences, and engaging audiences, bringing together fortified sites across Europe.
International organizations EFFORTS and FORTE CULTURA have also recognized the quality and significance of this event as a cross-border cultural event connecting fortified locations across Europe and included the event in the European manifestation "European Fortress Summer."
Below is the list of all the locations where the Night of Fortresses was held in 2024:
CROATIA Bakar (Hreljin Old Town), Bribir (Turan Tower), Brod na Kupi (Zrinski Castle), Desinić (Veliki Tabor Castle), Dubrovnik (Lovrijenac, Revelin Fortress, St. John's Fortress, Imperial Fortress), Duga Resa (Novigrad na Dobri Old Town), Hvar (Fortica Fortress), Karlovac (Dubovac Old Town), Klis (Klis Fortress), Knin (Knin Fortress), Korčula (Korčula Town), Kraljevica (Nova Kraljevica Castle), Makarska (Interpretation Center Veliki Kaštel in Kotišina hamlet), Momjan / Buje (House of Istrian Castles), Krka National Park (Trošenj and Nečven Fortresses), Našice (Pejačević Castle and St. Martin's Church), Ogulin (Ogulin Old Town), Omiš (Omiš Fortifications), Osijek (Osijek Fortress), Ozalj (Ozalj Old Town), Pag (Skrivanat Tower), Pakoštane/Vrana (Maškovića Han), Pašman (Pustograd Fortress), Preko (St. Michael's Fortress), Senj (Nehaj Fortress), Slavonski Brod (Brod Fortress and Tambura House), Svetvinčenat (Morosini-Grimani Castle), Šibenik (St. Nicholas Fortress, St. Michael's Fortress, Barone Fortress, St. John's Fortress), Trakošćan (Trakošćan Castle), Trogir (Kamerlengo Tower and Trogir City Museum), Varaždin (Stari Grad Fortress), Vrgorac (Vrgorac Towers), Zadar (Forte Fortress)
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Museum of Herzegovina in Trebinje, Kastel Fortress Banja Luka
MONTENEGRO Danilovgrad, Old Town Bar, Old Town Ulcinj, Forte Mare Fortress, Herceg Novi
CZECH REPUBLIC Terezin Fortress, Terezin
SLOVENIA Rajhenburg Castle, Brestanica
SERBIA Skobaljić Grad, Leskovac
ROMANIA Rasnov Fortress
UKRAINE Mezhybizh Castle
