Workshops as part of the Interreg project "Rural Monuments"

On Thursday, 24 June 2021, the Danube University Krems research workshop took place online. The workshop focused on the exchange of information, opinions and ideas, as well as discussions and contributions from experts in the fields of tourism, folklore, natural sciences, architecture and history, archaeology and art history.

More information at : Research Workshop Online Krems 24.6.2021 | AT-CZ

On Thursday, 14 October 2021, the opening conference for the new project "Venkovské památky/Rural Monuments" took place in the guesthouse in Holašovice. This project is funded by the cross-border programme INTERREG V-A Austria-Czech Republic 2014-2020. The guests were welcomed by Mgr František Talíř, 1st Deputy Captain of the South Bohemian Region, and Mr Jan Jílek, Mayor of the host municipality of Jankov-Holašovice.

The main items on the agenda were the presentation of the project by the representative of the project lead partner Jihočeská Silva Nortica, Mr Pavel Hložek, and the presentation of the current results of the study by Ms Darya Haroshka from the University of Continuing Education Krems. Mr Andreas Schwarzinger, Managing Director of Walviertel Tourismus, spoke on the topic of "Insights from the corona pandemic for tourism work". Oľga Königová, Director of Vysočina Tourism, and Zdenka Nosková, Chairwoman of the Association for Rural Tourism and Farm Holidays, also spoke on the same topic.

The aim of the project is to increase the number of visitors to small rural monuments and to better promote them to the public. The project ties in with the previous successful project "Denkmäler leben" (Living Monuments), which increased the number of visitors to castles, monasteries and palaces. The intention of both projects is to move visitors around the region, to show them the way from the large visitor centres to less visited places - to rural monuments, the rural baroque, mills, fortresses, ruins, crossroads, cultural and natural monuments in the countryside, etc. - etc.

On Thursday, 21.10.21, the 2nd application workshop took place as part of the project at the University Centre in Telč.

There were several keynote speeches by local tourism experts and knowledge carriers. Mr Michal Jarolímek, the deputy mayor of Nové Hrady and also the product manager of the destination company Novohradsko - Doudlebsko, spoke about rural monuments and their significance. Etnographer Jan Kuča spoke about folk architecture in the Horňácko region. The historian and archaeologist of the Jindřichohradecko Museum Vladislav Burian introduced the topic of "Genius Loci" using the examples of Deštná, Lutová and Žíteč. Ms Michaela Vlčková from the Faculty of Theology of the University of South Bohemia focused on the pilgrimage routes of the Novohradsko region as part of the rural landscape.

In the afternoon, the University of Continuing Education Krems presented the selection of monuments and a system model for the integration of rural monuments into future tourism offers.

In the afternoon workshop round, the project partners and the invited experts discussed the touristic utilisation of rural monuments and exchanged their opinions on the potential for the development of the region.

On Wed, 03.11.21, the 3rd user workshop took place as part of the project at the Horse Railway Museum in Rainbach im Mühlviertel.

The workshop was led by Managing Director Stefan Wunderle from the Mühlviertler Alm Freistadt Tourism Association.

There were several keynote speeches by local tourism experts and knowledge carriers. Mr Josef Plöchl from the Hirschbach Farmhouse Furniture Museum reported on the Stoabloß houses in the Mühlviertel. Mr Alfred Atteneder from the Gutau Dyeing Museum informed the participants about the intangible cultural asset of dyeing and its customs. Mr Martin Schrammel from Zukunftsraum Thayaland also spoke about his experiences in tourism.

This was followed by a guided tour of the horse-drawn railway museum, which was organised by the Friends of the Horse-Drawn Railway Association.

In the afternoon, the University for Continuing Education Krems presented the selection of monuments and a system model for the integration of rural monuments in future tourism offers.

In the afternoon workshop round, the project partners and the invited experts discussed the touristic utilisation of rural monuments and exchanged their opinions on the potential for the development of the region.