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Project Duration: 01.07.2020 - 30.06.2023
Project ERDF Financing: € 682 169.36
Project call: 3rd call
Project has developed cognitive tourism in Zemgale and Utena regions by using “The Struve geodetic arc” points – a unique technological structure of XIX century that helped to determine the exact size and shape of the world and is being inscribed on the UNESCO World heritage list. There are 16 Struve geodetic arc points in Latvia of which two are on the UNESCO World heritage list, 18 Struve station points are in Lithuania three of which are nominated as UNESCO heritage. This was the potential not yet used for tourism, neither in the regions nor in Sala, Jēkabpils and Anykščiai municipalities.
The Struve geodetic arc points are not easy to access, there are no modern exhibitions telling the story in an attractive way. Very few people even in local municipalities can tell what the Struve geodetic arc is. Thus the project aims at improving tourism infrastructure of the Struve geodetic arc points in Latvia and Lithuania, to make the cultural heritage accessible and attractive to be included into the cross border and international tourism routes. The history of the scientific achievements are told now in a modern and interactive way. Newly developed route was widely promoted nationally and internationally with specific focus on Estonia and Finland in order to attract more visitors to the reconstructed sites and to promote the Struve Geodetic Arc as a unique technological structure of the UNESCO World heritage list stretching through 10 countries.
Infrastructure of three Struve geodetic arc points (Jēkabpils, Daborkalns, Storiai) are now improved, exhibition was developed as well as promotional movie. Measures were taken to find partners in Estonia and Finland to link all Struve Geodetic Arc points in a common tourism site and to popularize other points. Leaflets for a tourism campaign and commemorative souvenirs were made, advertising campaign launched to attract visitors to the sites. Tourism campaign “Explore the Struve Geodetic arc sites” was launched in April 2023 for 2 months. Visitors were invited to travel to the Struve sites in 4 countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Estonia) to collect the site specific stamps and get special Struve souvenirs. In the Struve sites of Latvia and Lithuania the visitors were welcomed by project trained tourism professionals. Sustainable tourism and marketing training helped tourism professionals of the involved municipalities to continue promotion of the route and to involve other countries with Struve points in the future.
Project presents achievements and discoveries of science in accessible, interesting, understandable, attractive and modern way.
Social media and contacts:
Phone: +371 65236777; +371 65207305
E-mail: vpa@jekabpils.lv
Website: www.jekabpils.lv
Address: Brīvības Street 120, Jēkabpils, LV-5201
An international tourism route development was based on the scientific achievements of the XIX and XX centuries to attract tourist to the Struve geodetic sites, included those that are listed in Unesco World heritage. The activities are targeting at potential tourists (foreign, local and cross border) that are eager to learn and explore the history of science, try out adventure and are ready to explore unknown sites.
Directorate of Aukštaitija Protected Areas finished installation of a trail to Storiai geodetic point on May 2023.
The construction of the Taborkalns observation tower and the improvement of the territory were completed on June 21st 2021.
During the last years the Struve park has not met any improvements and reconstructions. All improvements of the park were done in the Soviet times (70-ies – 80 ies of the 20th century), the concrete slabs of the pavements are physically and aesthetically worn out, nothing to do or see except for the informative plaque, the obelisk and the original benchmark all in one place. It takes just 10 minutes to explore the site.
The main output of the project was to increase in expected number of visits to supported sites of cultural and natural heritage and attractions. Rechieved results:
– Number of visits to supported Struve sites (Struve park in Jekabpils, Struve geodetic arc point in Daborkalns, Zemgale, outdoor exposition and Struve meridian arc point located in the village of Storiai, Anykščių during the tourism campaign – 604 visitors. Taking into account that the tourism campaign before project changes was planned for 6 months (1000 visitors), but after 2 months, the amount of visitors is considered a positive result. The goal has been achieved.
Overall during the project – 3115 visitors (official data obtained from tourism information centrers, official events). Struve Geodetic arc station points in Jekabpils County (Jakobstadt, Daborkalns) were officially opened in the end of 2021, but Storiai station point – 21th of June 2023.
Project aim – improving tourism infrastructure of the Struve geodetic arc points in Latvia and Lithuania, to make the cultural heritage accessible and attractive to be included into the cross border and international tourism routes.
Project Specific Objective 1
Improvement of basic and cognitive tourism infrastructure of the Struve geodetic arc sites.
There have been investments made in three Struve Geodetic arc station points (Jakobstadt, Storiai and Daborkalns) and one exhibition on the unique technological structure.
28/09/2020 Jēkabpils City Municipality has signed an agreement On construction works at the object “Reconstruction of Strūves Park facilities at Vilhelma Strūves Street 10, Jēkabpils”
Contractor informs that this week improvement works have been started in Strūve park, Jēkabpils. It is planned that the territory of Strūve Park will be landscaped with objects of daily necessary infrastructure – benches, waste bins, bicycle sheds, as well as with exciting environmental objects and cognitive play devices.
The works are planned to be completed by March 31, 2021.
The total cost of the works for the improvement of the infrastructure is 134 729,67 EUR without VAT.
The mentioned improvement works take place within the framework of the project LLI-477 “Creation of international tourist route “The Struve Geodetic Arc” (Struve).
The project implementation period is from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2022. The aim of the project is to improve the tourism infrastructure of Strūve geodetic arc points in Latvia and Lithuania, so that the cultural heritage would be accessible and attractive for inclusion in cross-border and international tourism routes.
The procurement for construction works in Daborkalns has been concluded for Salas municipality. The contract is currently being signed and work is planned to start soon.
Directorate of Anyksciai regional park has started infrastructure improvement works and is developing an outdoor exhibition concept.
Due to the Covid pandemic, a face-to-face training seminar will be organized remotely in December.
Apart from the improvement works in Struve Park (Jekabpils), Daborkalns (Sala municipality) and Storiai (Anyksciai), the following activities are planned in the project:
• Organized trainings for 20 tourism specialists;
• Experience exchange trips are organized;
• An international tourism route Finland – Estonia – Latvia – Lithuania has been created;
• Tourism campaign “Explore the Struve Geodetic Arc!” has been launched!
• An interactive exhibition was created and a film was made.
The project partners are Salas municipality and Anyksciai regional park administration (Lithuania). Jekabpils City Municipality is the Lead partner of the project.
Total project financing: 850 509.70 EUR (incl. ERDF financing – 722 933.24 EUR)
More information:
https://www.jekabpils.lv/lv/pasvaldiba/projekti/interreg-v-latvijas-lietuvas-parrobezu-sadarbibas-programmas-2014-2020gadam-projekts-lli-477
https://www.anyksciuparkas.lt/naujienos/pasirasyta-projekto-lli-477-partnerystes-sutartis/
https://www.salasnovads.lv/lv/projekti/istenosana/
Jekabpils, Latvia
The main output of the project was to increase in expected number of visits to supported sites of cultural and natural heritage and attractions. The result was achieved during the project international cognitive tourism route “The Struve geodetic arc” which was developed, by involving 4 countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland). Participants of the project had organized test trip to search for partners in Finland and Estonia and after developed international route. Tourism campaign “Explore the Struve sites!” consisted from a lot of different activities including marketing activities.
Visitors of the tourism campaign were invited to visit 4 countries (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland), collect stamps and win special campaign souvenirs. Into the promotional campaign leaflets (5 different languages) were included Struve Geodetic arc stations and points and Struve linked sites for the international tourism route.
The tourism route created in the project will be updated and offered to tourists also after the implementation of the project. Characteristics of the tourist of Struve geodetic arc (foreign, local and cross border) is – eager to learn and explore the history of science, try out adventure and are ready to explore unknown sites.
Through interactive and attractive tourism objects, the target group has been interested in the geodesic circle of Struve, gained knowledge and understanding of this unique feature. As a result of the project, a new attractive tourism offer has been prepared, which is unique and can be developed in the future.
Benefit of the project for the cross-border region is increased number of visitors to the programme area through improving and developing cultural and natural heritage objects, services and products. In the current project – one common topic “Struve Geodetic arc”, one solution – new tourism route with improved objects that has sustainability. Promoted and developed tourism industry in Latvia and Lithuania, promoted cooperation with countries outside programme as Finland, Estonia. New knowledge and experience gained.
As a result of project implementation, it is expected that also after project cross-border cooperation will continue – tourists will visit Struve Geodetic Arc points which are included in tourism route, because tourism information centres have an ready offer (leaflets, knowledges).
Struve park in Latvia, Jekabpils opening after reconstruction works.
During the implementation of the project there have been investments made in three Struve Geodetic arc station points (Jakobstadt, Storiai and Daborkalns) and one exhibition on the unique technological structure. More information can be found in the section “Project news”
To raise the visitors’ knowledge on the Struve geodetic arc as a unique European cultural heritage crossing national borders, project partner Directorate of Aukštaitija Protected Areas made a film on the the arc as a chain of survey triangualations stretching from Hammerfest in Norway to the Baltic sea, through ten European countries and over 2 820 km, that in 2005 was inscribed on the Work heritage List as a memorable ensemble of the chain made up of 34 commemorative plaques or built obelisks out of the original 265 main station points.
Last updated: 27.06.2024 13:00
