[wzslider autoplay=”true”]The Stone Building in the Kastel Fortress was opened yesterday in Banja Luka with the exhibition of photographs “On the Paths of Modernism”, and the completion of works on the reconstructed part of the fortress was also made official.
The Stone Building and the reconstructed part of Kastel were opened within the marking of the Day of Banja Luka by the Head of EU Delegation and Special Representative of EU to BiH Lars-Gunnar Wigemark and the Mayor of Banja Luka Slobodan Gavranović.
The exhibition “On the Paths of Modernism” features more than 70 works by Banja Luka artists Bekir Misirlić, Dušan Simić, Alojz Lojz Ćurić and Enver Štaljo, which are usually preserved in the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Cultural Center “Banski dvor”. The exhibition will be opened until June 19. Modernized area of the old Stone Fortress was renovated with the aim to accommodate the future Museum of the City of Banja Luka.
“The EU invested around seven million in this project and the city invested about 2.170.000 BAM. These walls reconstructed with the forts, ramparts, the stone house, they are just the beginning of reconstruction of the entire Kastel Fortress. Now we see the vistas of the future Kaste, it looks amazing,” said Gavranović and thanked the European Union who financed the reconstruction through IPA funds, and everyone else who participated in the execution of works.
Gavranović highlighted that Banja Luka must continue the project of reconstruction of the Kastel Fortress because only then it will be a powerful city potential in natural, tourist, cultural and sport sense.
Wigemark pointed out that this is an important step for the entire cultural-historical heritage of not only Banja Luka, but the entire region.
“I hope that places such as Kaster Fortress will be used not only as a testimony to a rich cultural-historical heritage, but that they will also speak of future perspectives. One of such examples is the possibility of organizing concerts at this place,” Wigemark said.
Wigemark announced that the European Union will, among other things, mark the Day of Europe on May 12 at the Kastel Fortress with a concert that will be opened for everyone.
The Kastel Fortress is the oldest historical monument in Banja Luka. The present look of the fortress dates back to the 18th century, more precisely to the year 1714 when Turkey, which ruled this area at the time, was preparing for a new war against Austria.
(Source: klix.ba/ photos radiosarajevo)