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More than two hundred guests and invitees from all parts of Croatia toured the restored medieval core of beautiful Ilok on Thursday with expert guidance.
Even the rain clouds didn't stop them from walking along the new tourist attraction - the Ilok Walls - and enjoying the unique view of the easternmost Croatian city, which now offers a unique interpretation of its rich cultural heritage in addition to top wines.
"This project is a true example of quality management and sustainable development. It is the duty of local self-government units and counties to take care of cultural heritage and preserve it for future generations", she said when she was born Majda Jakša, director of the Vukovar-Srijem County Tourist Board.
"The walls of Ilok are the largest and best-preserved fortification complex in continental Croatia, but it is important to point out that cultural heritage is not an end in itself. In addition to being an important part of our national identity, it is also a resource that can be used economically, therefore this project and its realization are important in this context of the economic use of cultural heritage.", he said Marko Mikolašević, head of the Conservation Department in Vukovar and representative of the Minister of Culture and Media.
The prefect of the Vukovar-Srijem County agreed with him, Damir Dekanic, who stated that with the completion of this project, Ilok became a real pearl on the Danube with an exceptional historical and cultural heritage.
"Our task is to restore the heritage in as faithful an edition as possible and make Ilok more accessible in terms of traffic. In the Vukovar-Srijem County, we are making maximum efforts to realize this as soon as possible. I believe that from now on there will be more and more visitors in Ilok, that is what we strive for and what is the flywheel of the development of every environment. A greater number of tourists will develop the economy not only of the city of Ilok, but also of its surroundings", said Prefect Dekanić.
One of the partners in this demanding and extensive project of renovation of the medieval core is Iločki podrumi, which presented its premium line Sofija, which will soon be launched on the market, in the beautifully renovated basement.
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Antonio Kraljević, President of the Management Board of Ilokki podrumi, pointed out that with the renovation project, long unused facilities were put into operation, Ilokki podrumi, but also the town of Ilok, got new accommodation facilities - 12 rooms in the late-baroque Zitnica and two apartments in the Podrumareva house, and at least partially solved the problem of their lack in a city that is increasingly in demand as a tourist destination.
Because it is not difficult to fall in love with Ilok. It is the city that conquers you at first sight, and you will remember the view from the restored walls for a long time.
The walls of Ilok are a protected cultural asset and comprise the largest part of the project surrounding the Core. Today's defensive belt of towers, half-towers, bastions and connecting walls is only part of the fortification whose beginnings date back to the 13th century, in the 15th century it expands to the west, covering almost the entire area of the plateau with the former infrastructure, and ends at the beginning of the 16th century with the construction of semicircular bastions and city citadel, with the fortified palace of the princes of Ilok.
Reconstruction of the walls, the Granary building, the Cellar's house and the Franciscan monastery in Ilok", worth almost nine million euros.
Through this project, parts were reconstructed: from the eastern entrance to the city to house B, Tower 3, from the tower to the Brnjaković mansion, from tower 5 to tower 7, from tower 7 to tower 8, from the mansion to the church and the Bastion. The reconstruction of the walls restored their original glory, and the walls have become the most important cultural and touristic attraction of Ilok based on sustainable management and quality offer.
"Cultural heritage is the most valuable thing we have in Ilok, and with the completion of the renovation of the old core, the walls, the Franciscan monastery, the Granary building and the Cellar's house owned by the Ilok cellars, we have offered a new experience of the city. I am extremely happy that we finished this extensive project designed in 2012. The works started in 2021 and were completed at the end of 2023. A little less than nine million euros were invested in the project, and almost 6,7 million euros were co-financed by the European Union from the Operational of the Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020 program", she pointed out Marina Budimir, the mayor of Ilok, opening a rich program that will be enjoyed by the people of Ilok and their guests until Sunday.
In addition to a free tour of the restored walls, workshops for children, an exhibition in the Museum of the town of Ilok and the open doors of the Ilok wineries, the people of Ilok can also ride the tourist train on the route Stari podrum - Principovac - Stari podrum for free from 17 pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
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Photo: Katarina Živković
