Slovenia's Koper municipality brings new life to historic landmarks - EXCLUSIVE
CE Report presents an exclusive interview given by a source in the Municipality of Koper, Slovenia, shedding light on the recent restoration of the cathedral bells, the municipality’s ongoing efforts to preserve the city’s cultural heritage, and plans for future projects aimed at revitalising historic sites.
What role did the Municipality of Koper play in supporting the project, and how does this renovation fit into broader efforts to preserve cultural heritage in the city?
The Municipality of Koper has cofinanced the restoration of the bells to an extent of 40.000 euros. Prior to that, we collaborated with the Parish of Koper on the restoration of the bell tower in 2024. The investment was worth 450.000 euros, the Municipality contributing the major part, with the Ministry of Culture cofinancing the project with 185.000 euros.
The Municipality of Koper strongly believes in the importance of the preservation of our rich cultural and historical heritage, which also plays a key role in the life of our community.
Moreover, we believe in the importance of giving new life and new functions to existing old buildings. We are implementing the New European Bauhaus approach in all revitalisation projects and actively involving the adaptive reuse approach as a guideline in the renovation of individual buildings, as well as for the historic built environment in general. Renovation is a sustainable process of maintaining the built environment for further use.
How is the restored bell expected to contribute to community life and cultural identity in Koper, particularly during religious and public events?
In order to do that, we have promoted the revival of traditional local events, like the fair dedicated to Koper's first bishop and patron saint of our town, St. Nazarius, and the old town districts' fairs.
Are there plans for further restoration or preservation projects related to the cathedral or other historical monuments in Koper?
Works are currently underway to renovate the former salt warehouse Libertas into a new cultural centre, spanning over 1800 square metres.
Photo: Wikipedia
This interview was prepared by Julian Müller
