engleski

The Medieval and Baroque Fortresses of Brod- Posavina County - Research, Restoration and Revitalization

This research presents medieval fortresses Gračanica and Bijela Stijena and baroque fortresses Brod and Stara Gradiška, the most valuable heritage of fortification architecture from the area of Slavonski Brod-Posavina county. This historic sites were built on strategic positions near border line, as integral part of defensive system of border fortresses, located between cultures, civilizations and nations of their time. This research presents and analyzes their genesis, history, degeneration, and current, mostly ruined, condition, as result of centuries of destructive influence of natural forces, as well as man-made disasters and indolence. Recently, attention and care for research and conservation of fortification architecture were intensified. Nowadays, aware of limited spatial and financial resources, as well as importance of environment protection, the aim of protection and restoration of heritage is to preserve it in optimal form, by applicating most sustainable methods, techniques, approaches and materials in restoration, that are environmentally acceptable, and by implementation new, the most attractive functions, which will ensure sustainable development of the historic complex, what was conducted in restoration projects and development plans for fortification heritage of Slavonski Brod-Posavina County. Through presentation of activities related to research, restoration and revitalization of fortification heritage of Slavonski Brod- Posavina county, intention was to expand cognition about our national heritage and to represent described locations as referent models for those who would like to educate and understand historic architecture and landscape, who restore, reshape and build them. Described fortresses are, because of applied methods of protection, renewal and revitalization, good example of multidisciplinar and interdisciplinar expert cooperation. At the same time, these are good examples of good practice in preservation of heritage, according to philosophy of sustainable development, because they fulfill all segments of its paradigm: social (socially legitimate and necessary purposes, protection of heritage), economic (optimal methods of renewal, new funding sources, sustainable purpose) and ecological (historic sites ad integral element of landscape, considering landscape values).

protection and restoration of heritage ; identity landscape ; historic architecture ; fortification

Fortresses described in paper are, along with their objective values, of particular importance for authors who, together with a few more enthusiasts, personally participated in new relevation and first visitations of this historical sites, while they were still hidden from public eyes, abondoned and forgotten.