Between 30 May and 1 June 2025, the first Grubla Fest, the first festival of Hillforts, took place in Val Rosandra and its surroundings, as part of the KAŠTellieri cross-border project, co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A Italy-Slovenia programme. The festival, with its rich and varied offer, delighted the public, who attended all the activities in large numbers.
The event kicked off on Friday evening, when the official opening ceremony took place at the Val Rosandra Visitor Centre with welcome greetings and a presentation of the project. This was followed by the screening of the docufilm “Hema - Hillforts history”, which was attended by around 30 spectators. The presence of director Francesca Mucignato, who shared with the visitors the background of the film and her vision of the Hillforts heritage, was an added value to the evening, bringing the audience closer to the significance and history of the proto-historic settlements that characterise the cross-border area of Karst and Istria.
On Saturday morning, participants had the opportunity to try their hand at pottery workshops organised by the "I Girasoli" cooperative. Two workshops were held in different shifts, allowing more people to be involved in the creative process. In a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, the participants designed proto-historic mugs and vases, inspired by archaeological finds from the castle period. They were assisted in their realisation by the users of the cooperative "I Girasoli", who guided the participants with great commitment, thereby making an important contribution to an exceptional experience.
In the afternoon, the Grubla Trail - the 1st Hillforts trail - took place, starting from the “Hribenca” park near Moccò-Zabrežec. Participants could choose between two trails: the first was 6 km (with 300 m of altitude difference), and the second, more demanding, was 15 km (with 800 m of altitude difference). The trails were filled with participants of all ages walking or running along the route. Participants rated the organisation of the initiative positively and appreciated the natural environment and also the unique link created between sporting activity, history and landscape. Approximately 300 people participated in the event.
The Festival concluded on Sunday morning with a guided hike to the site of the castelliere on Mount Karst, starting from Prebeneg. Around 40 people took part in the excursion, which combined a walk in nature with an immersion in archaeological and historical heritage. An added value was also the presence of the castelliere expert from the Centre for Scientific Research, Maša Saccara.
Grubla Fest proved that quality content can stimulate interest in cultural heritage while supporting sustainable and inclusive tourism. The event successfully contributed to the achievement of the objectives of the KAŠTellieri project: the conservation, valorisation and promotion of proto-historic Hillforts as a key element of a common cross-border identity.
