NEW CULTURAL LANDMARKS FOR TREBINJE’S OLD TOWN IN 2024

Next year, Trebinje’s Old Town will gain new cultural and tourist attractions through a cross-border cooperation project with Croatia and Montenegro.

PHOTO: SeeSrpska

The project includes the reconstruction of the Summer Cinema at one end of the Old Town and the installation of a metal-and-glass platform over an archaeological site near the Herzegovina Museum at the other end.

The project, titled "Fortress of Culture," is led by Šibenik, with partners including Banja Luka, Bar, Ulcinj, and Karlovac. Trebinje’s portion of the project is valued at €300,000, with a 15% contribution from the city itself.

The Summer Cinema, once a vibrant venue for film screenings and other cultural events before the war, will be revitalized. This long-standing initiative aims to restore and modernize this historic part of the Old Town. Simultaneously, the new glass platform will allow visitors to view the archaeological excavations conducted around and inside the museum, showcasing the cultural and historical significance of the area.

Ivana Grujić, Director of the Herzegovina Museum, emphasized the vision to enrich the Old Town—a fortress dating back to the 18th century—with public spaces dedicated to cultural and artistic purposes, rather than limiting it to private homes and hospitality venues. Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy films, concerts, theater performances, and exhibitions within the town’s historic walls, while exploring archaeological remains via the glass platform.

The new cultural venue will mirror the pre-war Summer Cinema but with a modernized design. “The interior walls will be repointed, fixed seating with stepped rows will be installed, and the projection wall will be refurbished. Additionally, new greenery will enhance the ambiance,” Grujić explained. The elevated base of the cinema will also undergo initial archaeological research to prepare for more extensive work in the future.

The second component of the project involves the presentation of the archaeological site within the Herzegovina Museum courtyard, near the Clock Tower and beneath the museum building itself. This area contains remains of a monumental pre-Ottoman structure discovered several years ago.

“A glass-and-metal platform will be constructed over the excavations, allowing visitors to walk and explore the site while connecting to the tower. Visitors will also be able to climb to the top of the tower. Inside the museum, glass floors will be installed above the excavations in two rooms, one of which will house a souvenir shop and museum publications,” Grujić added.

Project plans and permits are already secured, with a tender for contractors set to be announced soon. Grujić anticipates that work on the ground will begin early next year.