The first phase of reconstruction and revitalization of the Kastel fortress in Banja Luka – financed with 2.5 million euro from the EU – has begun and should be completed in 24 months. The reconstruction is funded from the EU’s IPA 2011 programme and will be implemented in close cooperation with the Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The start of the revitalization of Kastel fortress was attended by the Mayor of Banja Luka, the Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Minister of Education and Culture of Republika Srpska, representatives of the European Union, the supervisory board and the contractor.
 
“This phase of reconstruction will apply to the historical museum with the courtyard and, hopefully, will be completed in scheduled time. In addition, we are preparing a feasibility study for further investment in other units, with total of nine units for revitalization foreseen on the Kastel” said Slobodan Gavranović, Mayor of Banja Luka.

“After the revitalization of City Hall  in Sarajevo, City Hall in Brčko, City Hall in Novi Grad, today we are approaching the project of revitalization of Kastel and we are very happy because the European Commission invested so greatly in the first phase of this project. Today we heard announcements of the Mayor of Banja Luka that the city and the RS Government will also contribute financially to the revitalization of this very significant facility” said Sredoje Nović, Minister of Civil Affairs of BIH.

The cycle of projects for protection of cultural and historical heritage in which the EU invested a total of 13 million EUR will be completed with the reconstruction of the first part of the Kastel fortress. The City of Banja Luka and the Ministry of Education and Culture of Republika Srpska announced that their institutions will contribute financially as much as they can and that they will nominate new projects in order to get money for the revitalization of the whole Kastel fortress.

“I believe that greater engagement of local municipalities and those that are in charge of protection of cultural heritage will have to be ensured. Local authorities will have to do more in terms of appropriate use of these facilities and their future role after the reconstruction”, said Vladimir Pandurević Programme Manager for Democracy and Human Rights, Youth and Culture in  the EU Delegation to BiH.

The Kastel fortress is the oldest monument in Banja Luka and one of the most significant monuments in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. For more than 60 years, it has been categorized in the first class of cultural and historical heritage and since 2002 it is on the list of endangered monuments in BIH.

To learn more about the Kastel fortress visit: http://www.banjaluka.rs.ba/front/article/337/