Night of Fortresses Gets a Green Makeover
Starting this year, Night of Fortresses takes on a new, green component and will be known as Night of Fortresses Goes Green. On Saturday, May 9, all three of Šibenik’s land fortresses will host a diverse program offering something for everyone – from a concert at St. Michael’s Fortress to sunset yoga and a children’s sleepover at St. John’s Fortress.
This year’s edition brings a new challenge – raising visitor awareness of sustainable tourism and ecological practices, encouraging active participation in environmental protection, and promoting cultural heritage as a key element of sustainable development. The program will take place on the same day at numerous historic sites across Europe, and the full schedule of events is available on the official website: nightoffortresses.org.
Šibenik Fortress of Culture is participating in the initiative by organizing a rich program at St. Michael’s Fortress, Barone Fortress, and St. John’s Fortress. All three fortresses will open their doors to visitors with free daytime entry, offering a program that combines culture, education, community, and ecological awareness.
St. Michael’s Fortress
As tradition goes, the concert held during Night of Fortresses marks the beginning of the summer season at St. Michael’s Fortress open-air stage. On May 9, Psihomodo Pop will take the stage. With over 40 years on the Croatian music scene, the band will perform beloved hits and songs from their latest album Vjerujem u čuda ("I Believe in Miracles"), which won the Porin award for Album of the Year.
In the spirit of sustainability promoted by Šibenik Fortress of Culture, plastic cups will be replaced with reusable ones, tickets will be available exclusively online, and recycling bins will be placed throughout the venue. Since our venues and events welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, we aim to reduce environmental impact step by step while raising awareness about the importance of sustainability in the community.
Concert entry is free, but tickets must be obtained in advance exclusively online via Eventim. The first limited batch of tickets will be available from April 22 for Friends Club members, while the remaining tickets will be available to the general public starting April 28.
The concert begins at 9 PM, while daytime access to St. Michael’s Fortress is free from 9 AM to 7 PM (last entry at 6:30 PM).
St. John’s Fortress
During the Night of Fortresses at St. John’s Fortress, visitors can enjoy a variety of activities for all ages – from fun games and workshops for children to educational and recreational activities for adults, with a special emphasis on sustainability and togetherness.
“Capture the Flag” is a children’s game for elementary school students, where teams will search for puzzle pieces that reveal the flag's location. The fastest team wins an eco-friendly prize! The game starts at 11 AM. The number of participants is limited, and you can sign up at info@kucaarsen.hr.
At 5 PM, the fortress will host the presentation of the Ajmo Lokalno initiative, which connects local communities through culture, heritage, and sustainable development. Citizens are invited to actively participate in preserving the spaces where they live. Entry is free.
At 7 PM, sunset yoga on the “star” section of the fortress will be held, led by Divine Yoga Studio. Participants will experience the fortress in a new light through a guided outdoor yoga session. The program is open to everyone aged 15 and up. Places are limited, and registration is available via info@kucaarsen.hr.
In collaboration with the Stribor Association, the fortress campus will host Night at the Fortress – the first children’s sleepover at St. John’s Fortress. Children aged 7 to 14 will spend the night under the stars in tents, in a safe and unique setting. The program includes ecology and heritage workshops, evening film screenings, stargazing, and supervised overnight camping. The main contact for registration is the Stribor Association, reachable at peu.stribor@hps.hr.
St. John’s Fortress is open for free visits from 9 AM to 7 PM.
Barone Fortress
As part of Night of Fortresses Goes Green 2025, Barone Fortress offers a special program for children and adults focused on education, heritage, and cultural togetherness.
"Škampić Đuro’s Adventures" is an eco-themed play that starts at 6:30 PM at Barone Fortress. It is intended for children aged 5 and up, and entry is free.
Afterward, at 7:30 PM, Barone Fortress will host the premiere presentation of the Lexicon of Croatian Fortresses. This comprehensive work offers, for the first time, an overview of medieval and early modern fortifications in the Republic of Croatia, covering the period from 476 to 1606. The presentation aims to foster understanding and popularization of the country’s rich fortification heritage through an accessible yet professionally grounded format. Entry is free.
Barone Fortress is open for free visits from 9 AM to 9 PM on the day of the event.
Silver Walk through the Night of Fortresses
A guided thematic tour starts from Poljana at 5 PM, tailored for older citizens, focusing on the sustainable preservation of cultural heritage and the stories that shape Šibenik’s identity. Participation is free, but registration is required – either in person at the Arsen House of Art, by phone at 091 619 6009, or via email at info@kucaarsen.hr.
Night of Fortresses Goes Green is part of two EU-funded projects led by Fortress of Culture Šibenik:
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GIFTSnet – Network for Green and Inclusive Fortified Tourism Solutions, funded by the Interreg IPA Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2021–2027 program.
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FORTIC – From Remains Of the War to the Architecture of Peace in the Cross-Border Area of Italy-Croatia, funded by Interreg Italy–Croatia 2021–2027.
This publication was produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Šibenik Fortress of Culture and do not reflect the views of the European Union.
