Description
The Ljubljanica River is famous for its cultural heritage. The riverbed between Vrhnika and Ljubljana is classified as one of the most important of its kind in terms of abundance, quality and scientific value of the findings. But it is also one of the country’s most endangered cultural monuments. There is a unique ancient Roman cargo ship dating from the 1st Century AD trapped near the village of Verd, threatened to be destroyed by the erosion. Through our project its most vulnerable parts shall not only be protected, but also expertly preserved and made available to a large audience. Our further objective is to allow a considerably easier access to the cultural heritage and natural attractions of the Ljubljanica River for the public. This interactive experience and exhibition site located in Vrhnika has been designed to encourage the public to actively participate in strengthening common responsibility for heritage and for development of tourism, creative industries, revival of old crafts and local traditions. The present scheme is here to create a network and synergies between both cultural and natural heritage preservation activities within the Ljubljanica basin.
Summary of project results
The Ljubljanica River Experience and Exhibition Site project was aimed to protect the most endangered parts of the monument and to increase the accessibility of the heritage. The area of the Ljubljanica Basin has great potential in terms of cultural and natural heritage. The results will be sustained by permanent exhibition and programmes, site monitoring and new projects. The project represents the first phase of a broader and integrated project of revitalization of cultural and natural heritage of Vrhnika. Its objective was to protect, preserve, and present the heritage, but also to provide maximum accessibility and thereby long-term effects on a sustainable social development in the local, national and global context - including quality offer for the local residents, domestic and international visitors. The most important impacts are: (1) most vulnerable parts of the monument were not only protected, but also expertly preserved; (2) project results are available to a large audience. Following outputs were delivered: - the in-situ protection and monitoring of a Roman barge in the riverbed near Verd, discovered in 2008, the rescue excavation and lift of an approximately 14.3-m-long, up to 1.35-m-wide and 0.65-m-deep oak logboat from the riverbed at Vrhnika, .larger area around the monument protected, documented and sampled and establishment and opening of the Exhibition centre at Vrhnika with a permanent exhibition. Following the provisions of national legislation and promoting the concepts of the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (2001), a large project on sustainable management, safeguarding and promotion of the archaeological heritage of the Ljubljanica River was executed in the partnership of the Museum and Galleries of Ljubljana, the Municipality of Vrhnika and the Biotechnical Faculty of University of Ljubljana. The project was carried out in cooperation with Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia and International Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Zadar - ICUA (UNESCO Category II Centre). Encouraging the local community’s awareness and promoting quality leisure time are of crucial importance for the area’s identity. At the same time, these activities contribute to new opportunities for local tourism and the revitalisation of old crafts and local traditions. It also enables a more efficient protection and preservation of the heritage’s own value and potential for future generations.
Summary of bilateral results