Visitors to Orava Castle, one of Slovakia’s largest and most frequented fortresses, will soon gain access to several sections currently closed to the public.
Under a new initiative by the castle’s operator, the Orava Museum of P. O. Hviezdoslav, fresh interactive exhibitions and upgraded lighting are to be introduced, offering a contemporary interpretation of the castle’s storied past.
The museum has partnered with Gmina Dobczyce, a Polish municipality, to develop a project that draws on the historic salt route linking the Wieliczka Salt Mine with the Orava region. The two institutions will receive a total of €4.5 million in funding, €3.6 million of which will be provided by the European Regional Development Fund, the TASR newswire reported.
Lighting, exhibitions and a new app
The funds will be used, for example, to reconstruct the second castle gate, the drawbridge, sections of the defensive wall and the gazebo, according to Mária Jagnešáková, the museum’s director.
Modernisation of the castle’s lighting is also planned. New energy-saving lamps will be fitted on the southern side, while LED lights will illuminate the northern flank. According to museum representatives, the upgrades should improve the castle’s technical condition, enhance safety and boost visitor comfort.
Several new displays will also be created, among them a numismatic exhibition showcasing valuable silver coins from the village of Vasiľov alongside foreign pieces from the museum’s collections, as well as an updated natural history exhibition, TASR reported.
An augmented-reality app will also be introduced, allowing visitors to see how the drawbridge once operated.
To conclude the project, the museum plans to stage a historical tournament featuring music, sword-fighting and a traditional crafts fair.
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