21-06-2018

Daugavpils Fortress received a high recognition from the Council of Europe

Once every two years, the European Council holds the Landscape Award competition, which rewards the best regenerated landscapes. This time the main award of the Council of Europe was awarded to the Daugavpils Fortress, winning a national selection among 8 applicants and candidates from 39 countries that have signed the European Landscape Convention. Under heavy competition, Daugavpils Fortress regeneration project was unanimously recognized as the best.

Thanks to the victory, more than 100 guests from 25 countries came to Daugavpils to congratulate Latvia and Daugavpils with this important victory, as well as get acquainted with the Fortress and the work done on-site. During the visit, the guests got acquainted with the landscape heritage of Latvia and the projects implemented by all the participants in the framework of the forum held at the Daugavpils University.

Mrs. Irēna Kokina, Rector of Daugavpils University, Mr. Rinalds Muciņš, State Secretary of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, and Mr. Igors Prelatovs, First Deputy Chairman of Daugavpils City Council, addressed the representatives from different European countries.

During the forum, Daugavpils Fortress regeneration project was presented, which includes a complex approach and consolidated teamwork of competent specialists in the Fortress restoration process. All the achievements made it possible to be evaluated according to the criteria of the Landscape Award.

The award ceremony took place at the concert hall of the Unity House. At the ceremony, 13 projects from Belgium, Italy, Norway, Slovakia, Andorra, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary and Serbia were awarded. Latvia received the main award.

Representatives of the Council of Europe presented the award to Mr. Igors Prelatovs, First Deputy Chairman of the City Council, and Mr. Jānis Dukšinskis, Chairman of the Committee on Education and Culture. Mr. Prelatovs noted that such a high recognition does not allow to take a rest, but encourages to continue the work, as there will be a lot of plans and projects for the development of the Fortress in future.

The award is not only recognition, but also an assurance that all these years the municipality has gone the right way to take care for the restoration of a previously degraded area.

There is hope that the recognition received will promote closer cooperation with the government and will facilitate its financial participation in the implementation of projects.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWqnd-_we_U