Is Prevlaka Fortress going to finally be put to use?
As Poslovni Dnevnik reports on the 12th of September, 2017, the Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities has long since wanted to renovate the dilapidated fortress which sits on a rocky outcrop close to the Croatian-Montenegrin border.
State Property Minister Goran Marić was in Konavle on Monday the 11th of September and said that the state could leave the fortress in the hands of the Municipality of Konavle, which would then hand over the management to the Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities, who plan to turn the neglected fortress into a museum of the Austro-Hungarian Naval forces.
Božo Lasić said after the meeting that he talked to the Minister about numerous outstanding issues within Croatias southernmost municipality.
According to Marić, although Konavle is geographically located in the extreme south of Croatia, the Government and the State Property Ministry will not allow it to be simply left to the side.
''It is in our interest for that project to come to fruition. We like the project. The fortress is owned by MUP, but I hope that within a month it can be ours and then by the end of the year, it could then be handed over to the Konavle municipality," stated Goran Marić.
"We plan to create a respectable museum showcasing the Austro-Hungarian Navy, with a focus on the Croatian component of that, and finally, now that we're in the European Union, to strengthen those ties. It's a collection that isn't cheap and by expert assessments, the best in the world, ranging from dress to arms and parts of ships, to finery, it's a complete cross section of the Navy. We also want an aquarium with Adriatic fish, a souvenir shop, a lookout point and a nearby catering facility," Niko Kapetanić, President of the Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities said.
Excerpts taken and translated from Poslovni.hr