Castles of Posavje – the first decade

On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, the International Conference “Castles of Posavje – The First Decade” was held at Mokrice Castle, co-organized by representatives of the Castles of Posavje: Božidar Jakac Gallery Kostanjevica na Krki (former monastery, Kostanjevica na Krki), Kozjanski Park Podsreda (Podsreda Castle), Krško Cultural Center (Rajhenburg Castle), KŠTM Sevnica (Sevnica Castle), Posavje Museum Brežice (Brežice Castle), Terme Čatež (Mokrice Castle), KTRC Radeče (ruins and grounds of Svibno Castle), and the Municipality of Bistrica ob Sotli (remains of Kunšperk Castle). The event was also supported by RRA Posavje, ZPTM Brežice, and guests from Croatia, including the Museums of Croatian Zagorje and Trakoščan Manor.

The Castles of Posavje project began in 2014 with the goal of fostering collaboration in promotion, project planning, and activity development. Over the years, the castle managers have organized numerous events, joint promotional campaigns, and professional exchanges, both domestically and abroad. In 2020, the project was awarded the Jakob Award for Tourism Quality and Excellence in the Alps-Adria Region, recognizing innovative tourist programs and content in castles and manors.

Since 2019, the castles have shared a joint website and offer combined tourist packages under the title “Castles of Posavje – Let Them Surprise You.”

This collaboration between culture and tourism promotes understanding, dialogue, and recognition, both nationally and internationally. Looking ahead, the project aims to further strengthen partnerships between the castles, create a unified tourist product, and raise awareness of the castles, the region, and all project stakeholders.

The event also highlighted World Tourism Day (September 27, 2024), themed “Tourism and Peace”, and European Cultural Heritage Days, focusing on Heritage of Cultural Routes, Networking, and Connections.