26.05.2021.
As part of the EU co-financed project “Učka 360°”, the Visitor Centre at Poklon pass, which will be the new main destination for all future visitors to Učka Nature Park, was opened tonight in a formal ceremony.Construction of the Centre included the reconstruction and renovation of the old, devastated and abandoned old facility in the centre of the Park, located at 930 meters above sea level, making it truly unique on the local and global scale.
The purpose of the Visitor Centre is to provide educational and interpretation content, by raising the visitors’ awareness about the importance of nature and the necessity of its active protection, so the structure itself was designed to be a multipurpose facility. The surface area covering around 1200 m² includes interpretation, education, tourist, and administration areas. There is also a large classroom divided into four units symbolising the four seasons, which is intended for holding education programmes for the youngest visitors.
The heart of the Centre is the permanent museum exhibition on the ground floor, which in a modern and interactive manner teaches the visitors about the natural and cultural values of the Park and the surrounding area, and the necessity of its protection and conservation.
The value of investment in the Visitor Centre was around 26 million kunas, while the total value of the project “Učka 360˚” is almost 50 million kunas, of which 38.5 million are eligible project costs.
“Along with the resources from the European Structural and Investment Funds amounting to 32.7 million kunas, the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund co-finances the project with HRK 4.6 million,” said Director of the Fund Siniša Kukić, who was present at the Centre’s opening ceremony together with the minister of energy and sustainable development Tomislav Ćorić, and many other guests.
“Protected nature, especially 8 national parks and 12 nature parks, is one of the strongest Croatian brands. Therefore, it is our obligation to safeguard them, but also to invest in the visitors’ infrastructure so that on the one hand we can improve the attractions they offer, and on the other to attract those visitors who are interested in learning about the natural and cultural values of the local areas, all with the minimum negative impact on the environment. Also, we would like to encourage the local community to get involved in the parks’ offer, so that they can be the driving force of the local development,” said the minister of economy and sustainable development, Tomislav Ćorić, PhD.
The opening of the Visitor Centre in Učka Nature Park, which covers the area of Istria and Primorje Gorski Kotar Counties, is also significant for reducing seasonality i.e. , extending of the season in this important tourist region. In the future, the Centre will be the starting point for exploring the nature of the Učka area that numerous nature enthusiasts will be able to enjoy.
“During the design and construction of the Centre, state-of-the-art energy efficiency technological solutions were employed. Not only have we remediated the existing, derelict building, but we have also complied with the principles of sustainable development and business operation, by using natural materials such as stone, glass, and timber. Moreover, there is a photovoltaic power plant on the roof that supplies energy to the heat pumps for floor heating and cooling, special custom-made thermal insulation was installed, LED lighting is automatic, and the entire system can be remotely controlled. The museum exhibits are even more complex and innovative. So, in the museum we have a unique exhibit The Mountain, a kinetic desk with the model of Učka assembled from around 30,000 LED pins that simultaneously create projections of different views, changes on Učka in space and time, our visitors can fly with the bats, they can get to know the flora and fauna inhabiting the Park area, or simply enjoy the 360° view from Vojak summit. By opening this facility, Učka Nature Park is starting a completely new, year-round work and operation, especially in the domain of interpretation, education and organisation of the system in which visitors will be informed and educated,” said Egon Vasilić, the director of the Public Institution Učka Nature Park.
