Montenegro Beauty at Your Fingertips, the European Heritage Days Story for 2019 told by the Montenegro State Lending Library for the Visually Impaired, aims to bring the cultural, natural and architectural heritage of Montenegro closer to people with visual and other disabilities.

The Call for European Heritage Days Stories is a celebration of the European Dimension of stories, communities and heritage behind European Heritage Days. The experience of sharing their stories helps communities to locate themselves in wider European culture and to develop to make a positive impact at home.

The 2019 edition concluded with 80 stories published on the EHD website, ten of which were awarded a grant to develop their projects. One of these stories comes from Montenegro.  

European Heritage Days Story from Montenegro

Known as the land where East meets the West, where mountains extend to meet the scenic Adriatic Sea, Montenegro has an abundant cultural and natural landscape. From the most beautiful canyon of the Tara River to the architectural monuments and important historical landmarks of its cities, the beauty of Montenegro’s heritage is truly remarkable.

To honour Montenegro’s cultural and natural treasures and to bring them closer to a diverse audience, the Montenegro State Lending Library for the Visually Impaired joined European Heritage Days Stories 2019 to tell the story in a new way. Their project, Montenegro Beauty at Your Fingertips, aims to bring the cultural, natural and architectural heritage of Montenegro closer to people with visual and other disabilities. In raising awareness about the value of its history, the project hopes to ensure it will be taken care of by future generations.

Part of the project is based on the fifteenth-century Montenegrin ruler, Ivan Crnojević, who introduced South-East Europe to printing and placed Montenegro on the map of European culture. Following in the footsteps of great historical figures such as him, the Montenegro Beauty at Your Fingertips project plans to enable access to local heritage to all of its citizens, visitors and international tourists. A 3D exhibition, showcasing around 20 replicas of exceptional examples of Montenegrin heritage, has provided inclusive free access to the natural and architectural history of the country. Each of the pieces is accompanied by the audio and a description written in black print and Braille letters. The unique exhibition, presented at European Heritage Days 2019, transformed into a travelling exhibition around all three regions of the country.

The exclusive 3D selection of the most significant Montenegrin natural and cultural sites tells the story of the country’s rich cultural history and demonstrates its connection to the European cultural landscape. The inclusive experience enabled by the project allows visitors to explore European values and hopes to inspire further projects dedicated to heritage awareness and protection.

For the latest updates on the project, visit the official website of the Montenegro State Lending Library for the Visually Impaired.

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