In order to boost tourism potential in Western Zemgale cross border region project carried out various activities.
A travel route “Traces of Crusaders” was launched. It invites travellers to get to know the ancient history of Semigallia, to learn about the battles with Teutonic knights, to follow in the footsteps of Crusaders to Western Semigallia. The route is available in three languages: Latvian: Tūrisma maršruts “Pa krustnešu pēdām”, Lithuanian: Turizmo maršrutas „Kryžiuočių pėdsakais“ and English: Tourist route „Traces of Crusades“.
Besides brochures, the main objects of the tourism route have been included into webmap applications “Circle of heritage” that was created by project LLI-444 “NovelForHeritage” and are available here:
LT: https://arcg.is/1Wb5Xy1
LV: https://arcg.is/Gru9a
EN: https://arcg.is/9TuPW
Within the project historical overview-story of Livonian Crusade in Western Semigallia “Semigallia during the period of the Crusaders“ prepared by Tomas Baranauskas and Normunds Jerums, the book of 111 pages with illustrations was published in Latvian: Zemgale krusta karu laikā, Lithuanian: Žiemgala kryžiaus karų laikotarpiu and English: Semigallia during the period of the Crusades.
Animated film about Livonian Crusades to Western Semigallia and game was created.
Animated film: “Kryžiuočių pėdsakais“ (Lithuanian version) ; “Krustneša pedas“ (Latvian version).
Educational open-air game presenting Livonian Crusades to Semigallia was prepared and 40 costumes designed and made based on historical facts. During various events, excursions, educations they are available for visitors in Tērvete Castle and give a message for visitors about that historical period:
The most exciting and main attractions created within the project are following:
- exposition in Dobele Local History Museum:
- resource room in Joniškis history and culture museum:
- recreational-educational equipment in Žagarė near Žvelgaitis hillfort:
before:
after:
- conservation of ruins of Tērvete castle:
- before:
- after:
On April 4-8, 2022 a study visit to Poland was organized with the aim to explore the heritage of Crusades preserved in Poland and learn from Polish experience in presenting the history of middle ages and fights with Teutonic Order. During the visit 26 historical objects and castles of Crusaders visited in Poland: Vengozhev, Barciany / Barten, Kętrzyn/Rastenburg, Bezławki/Bäslack, Szestno/Seehesten, Olsztynek / Hohenstein, Grimvald, Dąbrówno/Gilgenburg, Ostroda/Stroda Castle, Przemark Tower, Paslek town, Elbing with a castle, Malbork, Sztum/Stuhm castle/museum, Gniew / Mewe, Kwidzin Castle, Nowe Castle, Grudziądz / Graudentz, Pokrzywno/Engelsburg, Radzyń Chelmiński / Rehden, Brodnica / Strasburg, Dzialdvo castle, Nidica, Szczytno, Rhine castle. Similar study trip was organized also to Cēsis, Latvia.
Two capacity building seminars were organized in Joniškisand Dobele. The seminar in Dobele was organized at Dobele Castle and online on the 7 October, 2021. In the seminar participated 19 participants and 6 participants joined the seminar online. They were from project partners’ organisations, local municipalities, tourism information centres and museums, journalists and guides. Joniškis History and Culture Museum organized online seminar for development of tourism skills “PROMOTION OF TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS” via Zoom platform on the 12th of November 2021. In the seminar participated 35 participants from project partners’ organisations, Joniškis and Dobele district municipalities, tourism information centres, libraries, days’ centers, local communities, also journalists, guides, historians.
Video about final project event which took place in Žagarė on the 18 June, 2022 and other project activities.
As a result of project activities, number of visitors have increased in total by 41 287:
- in Žagarė regional park from 164909 in 2020 to 198184 in 2022,
- in Dobele Castle Exposition from 3340 in 2020 to 24258 in 2021,
- in Joniskis history and culture museum from 6165 in 2020 to 12974 in 2021.
