GIFTSNET The Bastion in the Old Town of Bar is Being Restored

Bastion Gavadolla in the Old Town of Bar is already going through a visible transformation, announcing a new chapter in the development of this valuable cultural and historical site. After many years of exposure to weather and natural impacts, the bastion, walls and surrounding structures are being further restored as part of the EU project GIFTSnet, with the aim of preserving the authenticity of the site and adapting it to modern visitor needs.

Conservation works, which started at the end of February 2026, are progressing well and already include several demanding activities. Low vegetation has been removed from more than 1,000 square meters of the walls, the walls have been carefully cleaned under pressure, and the surfaces prepared for joint repair and crack restoration. At the same time, reconstruction of the wall tops has begun, ensuring long-term stability and durability.

Due to the complex and hard-to-reach terrain, climbers are also involved in the works, allowing safe and efficient work on the higher parts of the bastion. Current works include reconstruction of access stairs and treatment of the inner tower walls, including removal and repair of joints.

In the next phase, restoration of cannon openings, leveling of the bastion plateau, and its transformation into a visitor rest area are planned. This plateau, located opposite the Archbishop’s Palace and at the end of the visitor route through the Old Town, will become a modern resting place equipped with smart urban furniture. This creates a balance of technology, function and design, offering a place to rest within the historic setting.

These works are part of the wider goal of the GIFTSnet project under the Interreg IPA Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2021–2027 programme, which aims to preserve cultural heritage and improve tourism. The restoration of Bastion Gavadolla highlights the importance of the Old Town of Bar as one of the key cultural and historical sites in Montenegro, while also showing its continuous development.

The project is implemented by the Municipality of Bar and represents the fourth EU-funded project in the Old Town, confirming long-term commitment to its restoration and activation. Through the restoration of heritage, organisation of events and new ways of interpretation, the Old Town of Bar is gaining a new dimension that connects past and present into one shared experience.