Development of Senjski Rudnik as Regional Cultural Heritage Centre

The European Union’s Pilot scheme for preserving and restoringcultural heritage in con�ict areas in the Western Balkans for 2009

This project is funded by the EUThis project is implemented by

PEM GmbH, Germany

Major Visibility and Awareness Events 2012 and 2013

Project name: “Technical Assistance for the Establishment of the Regional Heritage Centre in Senjski Rudnik Old Mine”

Project location: SerbiaProject starting date: 29 May 2012Project end date: 28 November 2013Duration: 18 monthsKey bene�ciaries: Ministry of Culture and Information and Municipality of DespotovacProject O�ce: Vlajkovićeva 3, 11000 Belgrade

Mobile: +381-(0)62-152 81 36Tel: +381-(0)11-33 98 025email: ana.stankovic@pem-consult.de

This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The content of the publication is the sole responsibility of PEM GmbH Germany and can in no way be taken to re�ect the views of the European Union.

The Project in brief

1. Senjski Rudnik Students’ Camp from 19-23 November 2012 - 16 Students from di�erent disciplines formed 4 groups and worked during one week with the local population in Senjski Rudnik. Together they developed new ideas for the promotion and regeneration of the cultural and natural heritage of the area. --> An exhibition was created about the works - please contact the project if you want to �nd out more!

2. MIKSER Event - foreseen in May 2013 - organisation is in progress. The organisers state: “Mikser is a multidisciplinary platform which centres around the a�rmation of cultural industry of the Balkans and the organisation of the biggest regional festival of creative arts”. Please contact the project for more information!

3. Miner’s Day on 5 August 2013 - this traditional celebration coincides in 2013 with the 160th anniversary of Senjski Rudnik - 160 years supplying Serbian industry with coal!

4. Sports Event in September 2013 - Please contact the project in early spring for more details.

Photos and graphics: We have used in this publication photos and drawings prepared by members of the four working groups of the “Senjski Rudnik Students’ Camp” from 19 - 23 November 2012. The project team would like to thank them for this and furthermore for the very professional and enthusiastic engagment of the four student groups.

The mine was opened in 1853, after Serbia had gained its independence. As it can be seen from the still existing architecture, Senjski Rudnik was developing through time six distinctive stages:- Establishing a mine and settlement (1853-1892);- Construction of a railway connecting the coal mine with central Serbia (1892);- Intense economic growth and urban development (1903–1914);- Further economic and social development (1920-1941);- Ongoing economic, urban and commercial development (1950-1970);- The period of decline (from 1970 up to now).Today, the mine is still in operation, and the coal reserves are estimated to last some 7-10 more years. Without revitalisation and �nding new sources of income and employment for its inhabitants, Senjski Rudnik may su�er dramatic changes and will face a high risk of depopulation in the coming decade.

Senjski Rudnik todayThe town of Senjski Rudnik is located on the River Ravanica in central Serbia, approximately 150 km south-east of Belgrade. Senjski Rudnik is Serbia’s oldest still active coal mine, complete with shafts, administration buildings, storages and workshops. The mine is surrounded by an old, well-preserved community, typical for 19th – 20th century industrial communities.

The EU funded Project “Technical Assistance for the Establishment of the Regional Heritage Centre in Senjski Rudnik Old Mine” started in May 2012 and will continue until November 2013. The project team is working together with the bene�ciaries and the people from Senjski Rudnik to achieve the following main results:1. To develop an action plan for the transformation of Senjski Rudnik into an

Ecomuseum and Regional Heritage Centre;2. To increase the local human capacities through training activities to start working

on new jobs coming up with the developing tourism and the management of Senjski Rudnik Regional Heritage Centre;

3. To promote and make known Senjski Rudnik as tourist destination through public awareness and communication activities at regional, national and international level.

An important complementary project to be mentioned is the EU infrastructure project “Reconstruction and Restauration of Alexander Shaft Buildings” which started in June 2012 and is expected to be completed in December 2013.

The EU Project

The vision for Senjski Rudnik

“Senjski Rudnik is an attractive historic town revitalised, using cultural and ecotourism as a catalyst of its change. It is also a leading regional industrial heritage centre, providing an excellent tourism service, educational and recreational facilities and a desirable quality of life, and well preserved environment, including cultural heritage”.

“Senjski Rudnik: Senje Coal Mine Business Plan”, pg. 16, December 2010

The future...The general idea is to take advantage of the history and present state of the place - an old, well-preserved industrial heritage, with still active coal mine, set in a beautiful landscape full of other historical monuments from various times, with an active and engaged community.

Following the principles of integrated conservation and sustainable development, the regeneration process of Senjski Rudnik will take into account a wide range of consid-erations of di�erent nature: cultural, environmental, social or economic.

Working approach and activities

Work with local people

Start from the existing

For a sustainable result

The preparation of a strategy will require a holistic approach involving several institu-tions and stakeholders at national, regional and local levels, and ensuring a wide participation of the local community.

Senjski RudnikDiscover the birth place of Serbian industrialisation

BuildingsPeople

and Tradition

Industry Landscape

Senjski Rudnik coal mine started working in 1853. In 1860 Aleksandar’s shaft was opened and the entrance building was erected right above the shaft opening. This architectural ensemble of the �rst modern coal mine in Serbia is the emblematic and symbolic heart of Senjski Rudnik and also of the whole coal mining industry in Serbia.

Aleksandar’s Shaft

Former mechanical and blacksmith workshop - ongoing restoration supported by an EU project. Built in 1922. The building is the only remaining one of a whole number of auxiliary buildings that grew up around the Aleksandar’s shaft opening.

The WorkshopThe tree is very old and carries a lot of memories. It is a testimonial and a witness of Senjski Rudnik’s history .Here is the place to stay and to review the course of time and see the big picture of things.

The Lebanese Cedar Tree

Mining Museum

Restaurant ProleceBuilt around 1900, refurbished and outwardly redecorated in 1975. Its original look appears to have been changed by the 1975 reconstruction. New renovation could give it back its original façades.

Built around 1930. Transformed into a mining museum in 1980. Interesting modernistic architecture with a classical touch on the exterior. The museum will be modernised and made interesting to the younger generation.

Senjski Rudnik Coal MineThe historical signi�cance of the mine is considerable since it is the oldest preserved industrial area in Serbia. During the period starting with building of the railway in 1892 until 1941, it was one of the most prosperous industrial regions in the country. The main shaft is still in use. The 19th century steam engine is still running and operates the shaft lift (175 meters height di�erence). The ensemble of steam engine, lift and metal tower are of outstanding national importance.

Senjski Rudnik Round TourThe Senjski Rudnik Round Tour is a key element for tourism development. At present there exists a round tour that is presented on demand by the curator of the old mining museum, Mr. Miroslav Nikolić. It can be considered as the �rst available and existing “tourism product”. Usually it takes up to two hours. For most people who participate in this tour, it’s hard not to become enthusiastic about this place and its people.

This page gives you an overview about some of the present and future tourist attractions. You will �nd in 2013, during the lifetime of the EU project, many of the sites in develop-ment. Things might not be as they are presented here in this document. If so, we’re happy, because this means, that Senjski Rudnik has developed a step further on its way towards a Regional Cultural Heritage Center and an attrac-tive touristic site.

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“Petrija’s House”In this house the legendary �lm “Petrija’s Wreath” was shot. This place bears a high potential to attract tourists and to promote Senjski Rudnik on a national scale. The story was then - back in 1980 - a story about miners all over former Yugoslavia. Today Senjski Rudnik can continue to tell the story...

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Back

Fron

t

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56

The mine w

as opened in 1853, after Serbia had gained its independence. As it can be

seen from the still existing architecture, Senjski Rudnik w

as developing through time

six distinctive stages:- Establishing a m

ine and settlement (1853-1892);

- Construction of a railway connecting the coal m

ine with central Serbia (1892);

- Intense economic grow

th and urban development (1903–1914);

- Further economic and social developm

ent (1920-1941);- O

ngoing economic, urban and com

mercial developm

ent (1950-1970);- The period of decline (from

1970 up to now).

Today, the mine is still in operation, and the coal reserves are estim

ated to last some

7-10 more years. W

ithout revitalisation and �nding new sources of incom

e and em

ployment for its inhabitants, Senjski Rudnik m

ay su�er dramatic changes and w

ill face a high risk of depopulation in the com

ing decade.

Senjski Rudnik todayThe tow

n of Senjski Rudnik is located on the River Ravanica in central Serbia, approxim

ately 150 km south-east of

Belgrade. Senjski Rudnik is Serbia’s oldest still active coal m

ine, complete w

ith shafts, administration buildings,

storages and workshops. The m

ine is surrounded by an old, w

ell-preserved comm

unity, typical for 19th – 20th century industrial com

munities.

The EU funded Project “Technical A

ssistance for the Establishment of the Regional

Heritage Centre in Senjski Rudnik O

ld Mine” started in M

ay 2012 and will continue

until Novem

ber 2013. The project team is w

orking together with the bene�ciaries and

the people from Senjski Rudnik to achieve the follow

ing main results:

1. To develop an action plan for the transformation of Senjski Rudnik into an

Ecomuseum

and Regional Heritage Centre;

2. To increase the local human capacities through training activities to start w

orking on new

jobs coming up w

ith the developing tourism and the m

anagement of Senjski

Rudnik Regional Heritage Centre;

3. To promote and m

ake known Senjski Rudnik as tourist destination through public

awareness and com

munication activities at regional, national and international level.

An im

portant complem

entary project to be mentioned is the EU

infrastructure project “Reconstruction and Restauration of A

lexander Shaft Buildings” which started in June

2012 and is expected to be completed in D

ecember 2013.

The EU Project

The vision for Senjski Rudnik

“Senjski Rudnik is an attractive historic town revitalised,

using cultural and ecotourism as a catalyst of its change. It is

also a leading regional industrial heritage centre, providing an excellent tourism

service, educational and recreational facilities and a desirable quality of life, and w

ell preserved environm

ent, including cultural heritage”.

“Senjski Rudnik: Senje Coal Mine Business Plan”, pg. 16, D

ecember 2010

The future...The general idea is to take advantage of the history and present state of the place - an old, w

ell-preserved industrial heritage, with still active coal m

ine, set in a beautiful landscape full of other historical m

onuments from

various times, w

ith an active and engaged com

munity.

Following the principles of integrated conservation and sustainable developm

ent, the regeneration process of Senjski Rudnik w

ill take into account a wide range of consid-

erations of di�erent nature: cultural, environmental, social or econom

ic.

Working approach and activities

Work w

ith local people

Start from the existing

For a sustainable result

The preparation of a strategy will require a holistic approach involving several institu-

tions and stakeholders at national, regional and local levels, and ensuring a wide

participation of the local comm

unity.

Dev

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