COST Action CA22149 ChangeCode (Grant Holder Agreement 12.10.2023-11.10.2027)

The project “Prehistoric Hillforts and Ethnobotany for Sustainable Tourism and Rural Development – from the Karst (through the Brkini Hills, Čičarija and Istria) to the Kvarner Region”, with the acronym KAŠTELIR, is part of the Interreg V-A Slovenia–Croatia Cooperation Programme. The active implementation of the project started on 1 October 2018. The central theme of the project is represented by the remains of prehistoric hillforts (kaštelirji), a currently overlooked cultural heritage originating from prehistoric times (the Bronze and Iron Ages, i.e. the 2nd and 1st millennia BC). Their remarkable density across the wider areas of Primorska, Istria, and Kvarner reflects the shared natural conditions, common history, and the unity of this territory during prehistory. However, due to the overgrowth of hillfort sites, depopulation of rural areas, and the loss of traditions and connections with the ancient past, knowledge about the native plants of the region and their historical uses is also disappearing. The main objective of the project is therefore the active preservation of hillfort heritage through its evaluation, protection, revitalisation, and promotion by using non-invasive approaches supported by modern information and communication technologies. The project also aims to revive the ancient relationship between people and plants and reinterpret it for contemporary society in order to support sustainable cross-border tourism, rural development, and environmentally responsible practices.

The KAŠTELIR project contributes to the advancement of research in the fields of archaeology, cultural heritage, ethnology, ethnobotany, and sustainable tourism. The project develops interdisciplinary approaches to the research, interpretation, and revitalisation of prehistoric hillforts and traditional knowledge related to plants and cultural landscapes. An important contribution of the project is the integration of humanities, social sciences, and environmental research with the use of modern digital tools for heritage interpretation and the development of innovative models of sustainable cultural tourism and rural development.

The KAŠTELIR project contributes to the preservation, protection, and promotion of Slovenia’s prehistoric cultural heritage and supports the development of sustainable cultural tourism and rural development in the cross-border area between Slovenia and Croatia. The project connects local communities, research organisations, cultural institutions, and tourism stakeholders in the development of new cultural-tourism products and digital interpretation content. The project results contribute to the increased visibility of Slovenian cultural heritage, regional development, and the sustainable management of cultural landscapes and natural resources.