On Wednesday, May 8th, 2025, the permanent multimedia exhibition “Old Railways of Western Serbia” was officially opened in Požega, marking a significant step in preserving and promoting the region’s railway heritage.
The opening event gathered distinguished guests and project partners. Speeches were delivered by:
Mr. Nikola Bertolini, Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia, Mr. Bratislav Dobrić, Project Manager, Business Innovation Programs (BIPS), Mrs. Nataša Bradonjić, Director of the Tourist Organization of Požega, Mr. Goran Đukić, Local Project Coordinator, Forum for Civil Action FORCA.
Mr. Nikola Bertolini stressed the key role that railways have played in the socio-economic development of the region, both in the past and present. He noted that the European Union supports railway development across Europe and in Serbia, mentioning the Belgrade-Niš railway as one of the significant infrastructure projects funded by the EU. Bertolini added that creating something new while preserving historical memory is valuable and recognized this project as one of the most significant and interesting initiatives financed under the Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Serbia–Bosnia and Herzegovina. He reaffirmed that the EU remains committed to supporting cross-border cooperation projects that connect people, institutions, and organizations across borders, building the future while respecting the past.
In his speech, Mr. Goran Đukić highlighted that this is the third infrastructure-type project successfully implemented by FORCA in its 26 years of work, leaving a lasting asset to the local community. He emphasized that the project aims to enhance the tourism offer of the Požega and Tuzla regions. “We wanted to remind the older generations and teach the younger ones, through this presentation, about the importance that the narrow-gauge railway, known as Ćira, had for the development of this area in the 19th century,” he said.
Following the opening remarks, visitors participated in a guided tour through the exhibition, where they had the opportunity to experience the multimedia content, including a virtual reality (VR) train journey that brings to life the story of Western Serbia’s narrow-gauge railways.
The exhibition has been developed within the project “Old Railways for New Cooperation and Experiences”, implemented by Business Innovation Programs – BIPS, in partnership with FORCA from Požega, the Link Association from Mostar, and the Municipality of Banovići. The Tourist Organization of Požega, in strategic partnership with FORCA, will manage the exhibition moving forward.
Dedicated to the construction and history of the narrow-gauge railway in Western Serbia, which operated until its closure in 1974, the exhibition uses innovative multimedia technology to present the historical, cultural, and economic significance of the railway for the region.
The project main objective is to enhance the cultural tourism offer in the cross-border region, specifically in the Zlatibor District and Tuzla Canton.
