Visitor facilities at Medvednica Nature Park, near the Croatian capital Zagreb, have been substantially upgraded under an EU-funded project. Reconstruction work at the park’s Medvedgrad castle has led to the creation of the new Medvedgrad Visitors’ Centre. Eight cycle paths, a gift shop, a café and toilets were put in place. The project entailed preparation of educational activities and resources for children and staff, elaboration of a museum concept and promotional tasks such as development of a film and website, along with a marketing plan.
- 26 April 2021
We completed the reconstruction of Medvedgrad castle, resulting in the opening of the visitors' centre with a new, modern museological exhibition. We carried out basic strategic studies, drew up action plans and other documents related to the management of the centre, marked out bike paths and designed educational games and children's workshops that allow for innovative ways of socialising.
The visitors’ centre comprises three buildings: the great (western) palace and the small (eastern) palace house museum and exhibition spaces and facilities for interactive film projections; the southern tower of the castle contains multimedia presentations of the nature in the park.
In the castle courtyard, a stage and spectator areas able to host events, programmes and workshops have been built. In addition, the external and internal castle walls, footpaths and external lighting have been restored.
Boosting tourism
One of the main aims of the project was to protect, sustainably manage and promote the natural and cultural heritage of Medvednica and Medvedgrad, thereby raising the profile of the park and the 13th century fortress as a tourist destination.
By enhancing the attractiveness of the site and broadening its offer to tourists, the upgrades should increase visitor numbers, create jobs and contribute to local and regional socio-economic development.
Tourism at the park is to be developed based on a visitor management action plan. It is expected that, from the completion of the project in October 2021 to the end of 2024, more than 167 000 people will visit the park and nearly 37 000 visitors will take part in educational activities related to natural heritage.
One month after the end of the project, visitor numbers had already exceeded 16 000 and the number of visitors having participated in educational activities stood at almost 2 100.
Educational programmes
A series of educational programmes, interactive toys and puzzles, help children learn about the natural and cultural features of the park. Permanent and temporary museum exhibitions showcase the history of Medvednica and Medvedgrad. Exhibitions are adapted for people with disabilities.
Further aspects of the improvements include setting up of a free Wi-Fi hotspot, installation of signposting inside and outside of the park and acquisition of two hybrid cars with snow ploughs.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Improving visitor capacity for the purpose of sustainable management of Medvednica Nature Park” is EUR 4 963 980, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 3 187 302 through the “Competitiveness and Cohesion” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Environmental protection and sustainability of resources”.