EEA and Norway Financial Mechanisms 2014-2021

The project of “Climate-Resilient Bratislava – pilot projects focusing on decarbonisation, the energy efficiency of buildings and sustainable rainwater management in the city environment” was awarded a grant from Iceland, Lichtenstein, and Norway in the amount of € 1,170,600 via the EEA and Norway Grants. The project was co-financed by the Slovak state budget in the amount of € 206,576.

The objectives of the project are:

• establishing an Action Plan to Mitigate Climate Change and Adaptation by 2030;
• reduction of glass-house gas by at least 1,785 t of CO2 eq.;
• complex renovation of four public buildings in terms of their energy efficiency;
• two additional environmental partial projects with investment projects;
• execution of a pilot project to deal with the issue of rainwater floods;
• implementation of 25 justified measures to mitigate and adapt (grey/ energy efficiency of 9; blue and green: 11; soft: 5);
• development of partnership;
• organising events linking various target groups;
• mandatory and optional publicity of the donor and EEA financial mechanisms;
• enhanced climate-change awareness of the local residents, of local authorities and their employees;
• media presentation with regional and national coverage.

The project of “National Heritage Site of Devín Castle – Reopening the Upper Castle” as part of the programme of Protection and Revitalisation of Cultural and National Heritage and Support for Diversity in Culture and Arts financed by the European Economic Area and the Norwegian financial mechanism.

The City of Bratislava was able to obtain funding from the EEA financial mechanism for its project of “National Heritage Site of Devín Castle – Reopening the Upper Castle” to reconstruct the upper section of the castle, which had been closed to the public since autumn 2008.

As part of the project of “National Heritage Site of Devín Castle – Reopening the Upper Castle”, executed from 11/2014 to 04/2017 as part of the programme of Protection and Revitalisation of Cultural and National Heritage and Support of Diversity in Culture and Arts co-financed by the European Economic Area financial mechanism (EEA FM) and the Slovak state budget, we completed the construction works in order to open the upper section of the castle to the public.

The project was approved in a total amount of € 517,376 and was co-financed by the EEA FM in the amount of up to € 439,770 with the financial participation of the City of Bratislava in the amount of € 77,606 and focused on opening the upper section of the castle to the public, restoration of the communication system from the middle section of the castle up to the citadel of the upper section of the castle, construction works on the middle and upper terraces and re-installation of the exhibition in the cave system of the castle rock.

The total authorised expenses charged for the project executed from 11/2014 to 07/2017 were € 510,631.16, including € 434,036.71 of the authorised expenses of the project grant and € 76,595 of the mandatory 15% co-financing by the City of Bratislava. The project grant was used up to 98.7%.

The anticipated project expenses in line with the project agreement for the grant in 2014 were originally € 399,729, with the co-financing grant amounting to € 339,770, and the financial participation of the City of Bratislava in the amount of €59,959. In 03/2017, the grant was increased by €100,000, with the total authorised expenses of the project amounting to the maximum. of € 517,379, and the 15% co-financing rising to € 77,606. The project grant was increased by € 100,000 in order to prepare the exhibition in the cave system of the castle rock, and clearing self-seeding woody plants from the castle rock, which was performed in Q1 2017.

Project description:

• The project focused on opening the upper section of the castle to the public, restoration of the communication system from the middle section of the castle up to the citadel of the upper section of the castle, construction works on the middle and upper terraces and restoration of the exhibition in the cave system of the castle rock,
• supported by the European Economic Area grant within the programme of SK05 Protection and Revitalisation of Cultural and Natural Heritage,
• the budget, amounting to € 517,376, with the co-financing grant of the EEA financial mechanism (the “Norway Grants”) and the Slovak state budget, covering 85% of the costs (€ 439,770), and co-financed by the City of Bratislava in the extent of 15%; the total authorised expenses of the project executed from 11/2014 to 04/2017 amounted to € 510,631.16, which consisted of € 434,036.71 of the project grant authorised expenses (85%) and € 76,595 of the 15% co-financing by the City of Bratislava.

In addition, in June 2016, the City of Bratislava increased its own budget in the amount of almost  € 230,000 to fund the 2nd stage of the project of “National Heritage Site of Devín Castle – Reopening the Upper Castle”. The city used its own funding to cover the costs of the mandatory publicity of the project and financing non-eligible activities of the project (geodesic measuring, project documentation, author work supervision), project documentation of the 2nd stage, costs for works in 2017 – static securing of the damaged walls and buildings, floor-lighting of the upper castle, specialised author supervision etc.

The 2nd stage of the project, executed from 2016 to 12/2017, sought to secure the execution of necessary works and activities which were not included in the original project of reconstruction works in 2014, and which were in such poor condition that they had to be effected immediately in order to preserve the national heritage site and secure the safety of its visitors.

The works / activities were executed as part of the project from 11/2014 to 04/2017:

• clearing the castle rock and upper castle buildings of self-seeding woody plants and of brash using mountain-climbing technology and installation of a system to monitor movements of unstable parts of the castle rock (executed in 10-12/2015) and clearing self-seeding woody plants from the lower part of the castle rock (executed in 03-04/2017)
• reconstruction works based on specialised renovation of castle constructions of a part of the national heritage site compound (executed in 02-06/2016)
• restoration of the exhibition in the cave system of the castle rock (executed from the 2nd half of 2016 to April 2017)

Clearing the castle rock and the installation of a system to monitor the movements of unstable parts of the castle rock were executed from October to December 2015. Clearing the self-seeding woody plants and brash from the castle rock and the buildings of the upper castle was executed using mountain-climbing technology from October to November 2015. Then, in December 2015, the system to monitor the movements of unstable parts of the castle rock was installed. In March and April 2017, the lower part of the castle rock was cleared of self-seeding woody plants.

Renovation of the upper section of the castle – reconstruction works based on specialised renovation of the castle constructions of the compound of the national heritage site – was effected from February to June 2016 (due to the season) and focused on re-opening the upper castle, renovation of the communication system from the middle section of the castle to the upper castle, and construction works on the middle and upper terraces. The subjects of the reconstruction works were the buildings of the upper castle, the middle terrace of the upper castle, its upper terrace, the upper castle (citadel), and its underground spaces, the installation of a new electricity distribution system and of an access steel staircase at the middle terrace and lower part of the upper terrace. Restoration of the exhibition in the cave system of the castle rock continued and was effected from the 2nd half of 2016 up to April 2017.

Project execution: 11/2014: signing the agreement, procurement; works: from 10/2015 to 04/2017 Completion of project: 30.04.2017

Official opening of the upper castle of the National Heritage Site of Devín Castle: 05.05.2017. From 06.05.2017, all visitors may visit the upper castle and the museum exhibition in the cave system of the castle rock.

Grant recipient: The City of Bratislava, the Capital of the Slovak Republic

Project partners: Museum of the City of Bratislava General Investor of Bratislava Archaeological Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences Faculty of Arts of Comenius University, Department of Archaeology Geological Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences Municipal Monument Preservation Institute Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Engineer Geology

The released project agreement ↗︎ for execution of the project of “National Heritage Site of Devín Castle – Reopening the Upper Castle” as part of the programme of “Protection and Revitalisation of Cultural and National Heritage and Support of Diversity in Culture and Arts within Scope of European Cultural Heritage”.

Closure of the upper castle and archaeological research in 2008-2010

The upper castle was closed in September 2008 due to a crack in the castle wall (above the stone access stairway). The crack was monitored for several months and the specialist committee came to the conclusion that the crack was developing in such a way as could lead to uncontrolled destruction of the wall. As that was the sole access to the upper castle, the committee decided on its closure for security reasons.

Behind the damaged wall, there was a terrace with grass, with a need for the soil to be removed down to the bed-rock so as to relieve the pressure against the wall. As the middle terrace had not been subject to archaeological research, it was desirable to first have it examined. The research lasted from 2008 to 2009 and led to the unearthing of several previously unknown walls dating from the 14th up to the 17th centuries, which are now on display to the public.

The reconstruction of the upper castle in 2010 required the removal of the pavement on the upper terrace, which led to the unearthing of more historical buildings from the 13th to 17th centuries. The archaeological research into the upper castle was completed in April 2010.

As part of the reconstruction works, all the wooden elements on the exterior of the upper castle were removed, as they were in poor condition; the pavements were removed and the exhibition was uninstalled, as well as all the wooden floors, stairways, handles, banisters, display cases, and electric distribution system which were in poor condition. Up to April 2010, it was possible to repair the damaged castle wall, complete the archaeological research and replace the wooden bridge over the moat with a metal one.

Due to lack of finances, in spring 2010 all the reconstruction works were postponed.

Renovation of the upper castle of the National Heritage Site of Devín Castle in 2014 - 2017

In 2014, the City of Bratislava obtained funding to renovate the National Heritage Site of Devín Castle from the programme of Protection and Revitalisation of Cultural and National Heritage and Support of Diversity in Culture and Arts financed by the European Economic Area financial mechanism.

The project objective was to re-open the upper section of Devín Castle and the exhibition in the cave system, closed to the public since 2008. Prior to commencing the construction works, it was necessary to clear the self-seeded woody plants from the castle rock and the buildings on the upper castle. Several crack meters were installed on the castle rock, automatically measuring changes in the stability of the rock blocks.

The cave system of the castle rock has been the site of an exhibition since 01. 05. 2017, depicting the development of Devín Castle in the Middle Ages, which will be expanded by the geological history of the rock. The Middle Age finds will be accompanied by the presentation of the remains of the wall from the Tertiary period (16 million years ago), shown in the form of sea sand with its fauna and the clear influence of sea level changes on the Devín Castle rock. The new archaeological and geological exhibition, technical enhancement of the lighting and venting of the cave system led to an attractive and educative exhibition area. The cave and the magnificent view from the upper castle provide visitors with an incredible experience.

History and curiosities of the upper castle

The stone-built Medieval castle was constructed on a rock around the 2nd half of the 13th century. However, it is possible that this occurred shortly after the destruction and fire of the previous castle in 1233. The oldest construction of the upper castle is a cylindrically-shaped tower with the entrance to the cave system in the rock. The karstic caves and fissures were formed 16 million years ago as they were flooded by the Tertiary sea. Probably during the construction of the upper castle in the 13th century, the cave was discovered and artificially expanded in order to serve for shelter and storage. The cave was re-discovered in 1990.

Devín Castle was a royal border castle and bestowed upon major Hungarian noble families (Garays, Lords of Sv. Jur and Pezinok, Báthorys, Pálfys). In 1529, the castle was attacked by the Turks advancing on Vienna. They did not take the castle but burned down the town of Devín and its church. The upper castle was renovated and expanded several times during the 15th to 17th centuries. In 1809, Devín Castle was blown up by mines laid by Napoleon’s army. Whole sections of the walls fell into the River Danube and the upper castle was almost completely destroyed. At that time, Devín Castle no longer housed a military garrison and was of no military importance, so the reasons for its destruction (and that of Pajštún Castle) remain unknown. In 1896, there were grand celebrations of the one-thousandth anniversary of the arrival of Hungarian tribes in the Carpathian Valley. As part of the celebrations, seven monuments were erected. One of them was built in Devín Castle. In its construction, other parts of the upper castle were destroyed. The Devín monument had a large octagonal base bearing the text of 896 - 1896, supporting a large pillar with the statue of an Old Hungarian warrior. He was leaning against a shield with the relief of the Hungarian coat of arms and held a sabre in his right hand next to his leg. This 22-metre-high monument was officially opened on 18 October 1896. After the establishment of the first Czechoslovak Republic, the monument was viewed as a symbol of the “Hungarian yoke” and was destroyed. At noon on 12 January 1921, it was blown up by a group of Slovak legionaries. The last owners of the castle (the Pálffys) sold Devín Castle to the Czechoslovak Republic on 25 May 1932 for a token sum of 1,000 crowns.

Devín Castle is visited by more than 100,000 visitors (domestic and foreign) every year. In 2016, Devín Castle attracted an all-time high number of visitors (175,000).

The project of “Bratislava is Getting Ready for Climate Change - pilot application of measures in rainwater collection in urbanised environment” with total authorised expenses amounting to € 2,368,059.70 is financed by the European Economic Area and Norway financial mechanism and the Slovak state budget, as well as the budgets of the City of Bratislava, the city districts of Bratislava-Nové Mesto and Bratislava-Petržalka.

The project was executed from 08/2014 to 30.04.2017 and involved nine project partners:

• recipient: City of Bratislava; partners: city districts of Bratislava-Nové Mesto and Petržalka and COWI (Norway) - project partners with financial participation (the city district of Bratislava-Staré Mesto was an original project partner, but in 2015 it departed from the agreement),
• the Bratislava Regional Protection Association (BROZ), Municipal Forests, Bratislavská vodárenská spoločnosť, a.s., Faculty of Natural Sciences of Comenius University in Bratislava (partners without financial participation).

The project’s goal was to enhance the preparedness of Bratislava for the adverse impacts of climate change and to provide an adequate quality of residential and natural environment, protection of health, property, and good living conditions for its citizens. The goal was to enhance the climate change awareness of experts and the general public in Bratislava and to demonstrate procedures to implement adaptation measures, which will:

• support the revitalisation of public spaces,
• improve the resilience of public spaces against climate change impacts (extreme rainfall, heatwaves and drought),
• focus on increased share of green surfaces and rainwater absorption areas using permeable surfaces, slopes and rainwater collection etc;
• increase the awareness of the public and experts on the issue of adaptation in the execution of suitable measures, as well as pilot projects – best-practice examples executed by project partners.

Partial projects of the City of Bratislava:

• Hlavné and Františkánske námestie squares: planting 10 trees and revitalisation of arboreal vegetation (execution: 02-04/2016; in 05-09/2016, completion works and protective tree grids will be installed)
• Park in Svoradova Street: revitalisation of greenery and making the area accessible to the public for short-term recreation. Construction of a new multi-functional public space with a surface area of almost 1,000 m2. The project was based on the proposals of the citizens, as collected in a participation process. Execution of sample solutions to collect rainwater, permeable surfaces, adding new benches and other equipment (execution in 02-04/2017).
• Revitalisation of a row of street trees on Námestie slobody square (Banskobystrická Street) and partial renovation of the greenery of the square: execution: 03/2017 – 04/2017. Revitalisation of row of street trees The originally planned partial renovation of the Námestie slobody square, including the planting of greenery, renovation of pavements with permeable elements, and building water collection measures was not completed using the project grant, as the construction works had to be put on hold due to measures related to the Presidency of Slovakia in the EU Council. As part of the Norwegian grants, only a part of the project was executed - renovation of the row at Námestie slobody square (execution: plan was 02/2017 - 04/2017)
• Execution of extensive vegetation roofs on the roofs of the Retirement Home of Archa: execution of green “vegetation” roof of the retirement home (execution: 03/2017 – 04/2017)
• Reconstruction of water management buildings Fire tanks at Železná studnička No 3 and 4: reconstruction of inlet and outlet devices at two ponds in the Železná studnička park (execution: 10/2016 – 04/2017)
• Planting rows and bushes in the middle lane of the crossroads of Dolnozemská Street and Kutlíková Street (execution: autumn 2015)

Outputs and completed activities:

• Action Plan of Adaptation to Adverse Climate Changes in Bratislava: approved by city council on 26.04.2017,
• adaptation measures executed in the areas and locations,
• information campaign and networking by means of informing the public via webpage, counselling for public and minor grant scheme, conferences, study visits.

Partial projects of other partners with financial contribution:

• City district of Bratislava-Nové Mesto:
  • Free-time area of “Hole” (former compound of the cycling track): Establishing a new green area for the citizens of Bratislava as a space for short-term recreation with model collection of rainwater and other model rainwater management models, planting new greenery, and establishing a space for sports and recreational activities of the residents (execution: 10/2016 - 04/2017 with co-financing via the grant; subsequently, finances by the city district)
  • Chestnut Park: renovation of public space Chestnut Park on Jeséniova Street: renovation of public space with the aim of improving the condition and preservation of the current greenery, the treatment and planting of new vegetation which will prevent degradation and erosion of soil; model rainwater collection (soaking belts) etc., (execution: 10/2016 – 04/2017)
• City district of Bratislava-Petržalka:
  • Renovation of the Námestie hraničiarov square with the aim of increasing the share of greenery and restricting pavements, water collection measures, use of collected rainwater, inclining pavements towards the greenery, selection of suitable woody plants and other vegetation in terms of the anticipated climate change (execution: 09/2014 - 05/2015)

Specialised guarantor of the project with Bratislava City Hall: Office of Chief Architect, [email protected]