Maglicgrad regeneration project
Basic information
Project Title
Maglicgrad regeneration project
Full project title
Rejuvenation of Maglic castle locality with culture and care
Category
Reconnecting with nature
Project Description
Maglicgrad is a self-sustainable commune set at the site of a historical Maglic castle. It is bound together by the Maglicgrad cultural center, bringing a new dimension to what used to be a forgotten town separate from the rest of the world by the River Ibar.
Geographical Scope
Local
Project Region
Kraljevo (Maglic), Serbia
Urban or rural issues
Mainly rural
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
The Maglicgrad project was set on the historical locality of the Maglic fortress, bordered on three sides by the Ibar river and Stolovi mountain on the 4th. It was established by a group of enthusiasts and led by an archeologist and explorer. It is a hub and a community where people from all over the world can come, be one with nature, and be creative throughout our cultural center in this pristine and unique environment.
The project aims to primarily help the conservation of the locality. The fortress was inaccessible for years, since the collapse of the only bridge across the river. As a result, the time has paid its dues to the condition of the fortress, as well as the locality around it. Since no other actors showed interest, this initiative had to happen before this magical place was lost for good.
Besides setting up the raft and operating free tours of the fortress and the locality, the group serves as a certain damn when it comes to the pollution of the Ibar river. Pollution continues to be one of the major ecological problems in the area with litter inflowing to Maglicgrad locality throughout the whole year. Thus we have set up a system that stops it from flowing from the locality and run seasonal actions where we collect the litter around the river where even people who are not part of the community get involved. We further use this material collected for the construction and art building.
Due to all of this, we believe that we can send a message that goes far beyond our locality. We believe that people will eventually stop throwing litter in the river, and will come to cherish the importance of taking the initiative and building something when there is a need to.
The project aims to primarily help the conservation of the locality. The fortress was inaccessible for years, since the collapse of the only bridge across the river. As a result, the time has paid its dues to the condition of the fortress, as well as the locality around it. Since no other actors showed interest, this initiative had to happen before this magical place was lost for good.
Besides setting up the raft and operating free tours of the fortress and the locality, the group serves as a certain damn when it comes to the pollution of the Ibar river. Pollution continues to be one of the major ecological problems in the area with litter inflowing to Maglicgrad locality throughout the whole year. Thus we have set up a system that stops it from flowing from the locality and run seasonal actions where we collect the litter around the river where even people who are not part of the community get involved. We further use this material collected for the construction and art building.
Due to all of this, we believe that we can send a message that goes far beyond our locality. We believe that people will eventually stop throwing litter in the river, and will come to cherish the importance of taking the initiative and building something when there is a need to.
Key objectives for sustainability
Maglicgrad is located on an “island”, with three sides bordered by Ibar river, and one with almost inaccessible mountain. In that sense, any activity that we took had to rely and what was available on this island, both construction as well as things needed for daily activity, such as food for example.
Accordingly, we have set up a farm with many different sorts of vegetable, as well as chicken and livestock for eggs and dairy. At this moment we are working on setting up a bee farm as well. In addition, soon we will also have a set of solar panels that will make us completely off grid in the case of electricity as well.
Accordingly, we have set up a farm with many different sorts of vegetable, as well as chicken and livestock for eggs and dairy. At this moment we are working on setting up a bee farm as well. In addition, soon we will also have a set of solar panels that will make us completely off grid in the case of electricity as well.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
Maglic fortress and Maglicgrad locality were abandoned for years. Accordingly, the first step was to bring the locality in shape, something that had to be done with particular care.
Another one thing really important to us, besides to moving people across the river with a raft is the free tour that we are offering to them, with the hope that one day they will return to the site.
Furthermore, by creating the Maglicgrad Kulturni centar, we have additionally enhanced the experience of travelers to the area by giving them a chance to witness the entire process of art creation, during their visit. In that sense, we have showed that tourism around similar historical and cultural sites does not have to be rely solely on cheap souvenir shops and expensive fresh juice bars.
Key objectives for inclusion
The Maglicgrad community brings people from all over the world together. In the past two years, we have had community members from countries ranging from Columbia to Australia, but at the same time, we have many local members as well. Accordingly we provide an opportunity to people who maybe didn’t have a chance to travel, to meet and connect to representatives of different cultures around the globe
Results in relation to category
The primary benefit of this project to the citizens is that we created the initiative which has helped to make Maglic Castle available and approachable to them. We have also created a special environment where they can come and enjoy themselves, without any negative consequences to the rest of the globe. However, we believe that our role so far has been an even more far-reaching one.
How Citizens benefit
The primary benefit of this project to the citizens is that we created the initiative which has helped to make Maglic Castle available and approachable to them. We have also created a special environment where they can come and enjoy themselves, without any negative consequences to the rest of the globe. However, we believe that our role so far has been an even more far-reaching one.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Innovative character
Our project is innovative in the sense that firstly, when we started, there were no similar projects in our region. It is known that if the state is not able to do something, the market, and in this sense private actors are taking their role. This is what we did, since the government didn’t show much sound about the preservation of the site of cultural and historical heritage, we as enthusiasts had to take the initiative to change this.
As mentioned, we have created a system for cleaning the river Ibar, and we further use this material in construction. We have gathered many different objects from the river, such as wood, tires, and even car shells.
In addition, by cleaning the river Ibar from litter, and later using this material for construction, we give examples to other polluted waterways around the world.
As mentioned, we have created a system for cleaning the river Ibar, and we further use this material in construction. We have gathered many different objects from the river, such as wood, tires, and even car shells.
In addition, by cleaning the river Ibar from litter, and later using this material for construction, we give examples to other polluted waterways around the world.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
As mentioned, archelogy was the important starting point, with the knowledge used in the reconstruction of the historical site. Having an experienced carpenter was also crucial for turning litter into construction material. Together archeologists and carpenters have paused the degradation of the medieval buildings and gave new life to them.
Methodology used
While we used and tried to combine different knowledge in this project, the most important was improvisation.
How stakeholders are engaged
This project was started by an individual, with this idea later expanding to a team. In the process, many different actors, both from the civil sector as well as from the state, have recognized the potential of this project and offered their assistance. In that sense, Udruzenje Maglicgrad has served as a spark, but organizations such as Kraljevo Tourist Organization, and Catalyst NGO hub have helped the project to gain publicity and enabled it to arrive at this position. As a result, the Maglic fortress, and also the Maglicgrad locality is now an important part of the tourist map of the region and the country.
The most important consequence of our work however is that, at this point, plans exist to make a big reconstruction of the fortress, with the government recently presenting a project to make a bridge over Ibar.
The most important consequence of our work however is that, at this point, plans exist to make a big reconstruction of the fortress, with the government recently presenting a project to make a bridge over Ibar.
Global challenges
In Maglicgrad, what we continue to be the most proud of, are our people besides the technical solutions. The beginning of our project came to coincide with the war in Ukraine, and accordingly, we had many people from that region who came to visit the castle and became part of our community.
Interestingly, we had people from both Ukraine and Russia, at until now we didn’t have any unpleasant situations. One can say, that in this extraordinary environment, what Maglicgrad is, people have lived to overcome all disagreements.
Interestingly, we had people from both Ukraine and Russia, at until now we didn’t have any unpleasant situations. One can say, that in this extraordinary environment, what Maglicgrad is, people have lived to overcome all disagreements.
Learning transferred to other parties
As mentioned, we collect litter from the river, we later make a selection from what we find and use some of it in the construction around Maglicgrad. In our opinion, this is something that could be used throughout other polluted waterways around the world.
The most important thing, however, is the initiative. When other actors fail, one has to take things into their own hands and try to make a difference.
The most important thing, however, is the initiative. When other actors fail, one has to take things into their own hands and try to make a difference.
Keywords
initiative
care
sustainable
commune
message
