Step by Step, Event by Event – Night of Fortresses Goes Green
Registrations for this year’s edition of the international event Night of Fortresses, which will take place on Friday, May 9, 2025, are now open. Applications can be submitted via online form available on the official event website: https://nightoffortresses.org/en/registration/. The call is open to all cultural organizations, local and regional governments, tourism boards, and managers of fortified sites across Europe.
This year’s edition brings a new challenge – raising awareness among visitors about sustainable tourism and eco-friendly practices, encouraging active participation in environmental protection, and promoting cultural heritage as an essential part of sustainable development. That is why the event now has a new name – “Night of Fortresses Goes Green”, emphasizing the connection between cultural heritage and environmental responsibility.
Organizers are invited to create a variety of activities such as open days, guided tours, lectures, workshops, exhibitions, concerts, dance performances, and other programs that contribute to the preservation of both cultural and natural heritage.
Over the past three years, Night of Fortresses has gathered more than 50 locations in 8 countries and 40 cities, including coastal and inland fortresses, castles, museums, galleries, and fortified towns. Through this successful project, the event has shown great potential for developing sustainable cultural tourism and strengthening international cooperation.
Based on past experience and knowledge, the organizers recognized the important role of cultural events in promoting sustainable practices. With “Night of Fortresses Goes Green”, the goal is not only to promote rich cultural heritage, but also to draw attention to environmental responsibility – because small but consistent changes shape a sustainable future. The small steps we take today can make a big difference tomorrow – every event, every initiative, and every new idea is a step towards preserving both heritage and the environment for future generations.
Night of Fortresses Goes Green Event is a part of the GIFTSnet project (Network for Green and Inclusive Fortified Tourism Solutions) that started on September 15, 2024, with duration until March 14, 2027. Project is led by Public cultural Institution Fortress of Culture Šibenik, with partners City of Banja Luka, Municipality of Bar, City of Karlovac, Public institution Main Museum of Herzegovina in Trebinje, and Municipality of Ulcinj. Total project budget is €2,244,442.80, 85% of which is co-financed within Interreg IPA Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2021–2027 programme.
GIFTSnet will enhance sustainable and inclusive cultural tourism development in the programme area by implementing green, sustainable and nature-based investments in 7 cultural tourism sites in Šibenik, Karlovac, Banja Luka, Trebinje, Bar and Ulcinj, by developing socially inclusive place-based tourism offer on sites, and by building capacities of cross border stakeholders for sustainable economic, social and environmentally friendly development of cultural tourism in the programme area.
This year’s edition of Night of Fortresses Goes Green is expanding to Italy, with the municipalities of Cervia and Vieste joining the event through the project FORTIC – From remains Of the war to the aRchiTecture of peace in the cross-border area of Italy-Croatia, funded by the Interreg Italy-Croatia 2021-2027 program.
At the same time, the Night of the Fortresses expands and strengthens cooperation between cities and organizations that manage the fortified monumental heritage. The event takes place with the support of the international associations EFFORTS (European Federation of Fortified Sites) and FORTE CULTURA, which included the Night of Fortresses in the European Fortress Summer Event.
This material has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this material are the sole responsibility of PCI Fortress of culture and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.
