Five Students from PMTS in Belgrade from 27 to 31 March, to study Industrial Heritage

In the framework of the "Erasmus+ project “WAT-HER-MINES: Interpreting European Industrial Heritage”, twenty students, five professors, and stakeholders from Sweden, Italy, Belgium, and Serbia participated in the second Intensive Study Program (ISP) in Belgrade, Serbia, from March 27 to March 31, 2023.

The nonprofit organization Centar za urbani razvoj (Urban Development Center UDC) with a location in Belgrade organized and hosted the event, promoting international cooperation with universities, educational institutions, and civic groups around Europe.

During five intensive study days in Belgrade, we went touring and investigating prominent examples of Belgrade's industrial heritage:  the old sugar factory "Šećerana", which was converted into a charming theatre; the thermal power plant "Snaga i Svetlost", and the large grain tanks "Silosi" located on river bank and converted into an alternative cultural centre. Taking a boat tour on the Sava and Danube rivers we visited the Dorćol area, providing a unique view of the cityscape, with its historical and industrial legacy.

Tašmajdan cave, one of Belgrade's biggest underground complexes, was the program's primary goal as a case study for the exploration and presentation of industrial heritage. Natural caverns that are millions of years old from the Miocene epoch, an ancient Roman quarry, medieval passageways, and Nazi bunkers make up this complex of separate structures. The Tašmajdan complex, which is located beneath one of the major city parks, is the best representation of Belgrade's development and historical past. The cave is currently largely neglected, sealed, and inaccessible to visitors, but we had the rare opportunity to visit it thanks to the organization of the Urban Development Center – UDC.