RecapMCV
Policy objective: PO4 - A more social and inclusive Europe implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights
Specific objective: SO 4.6 - enhancing the role of culture and sustainable tourism in economic development, social inclusion and social innovation
Typology: capitalization project
The project Recapitalization of MerlinCV – to provide innovative experiences of natural and cultural heritage in a cross-border area builds upon the results of the MerlinCV project. It explores ways to present cultural heritage that is less accessible or poorly represented in a manner that meets the modern expectations of tourists — engagingly and inclusively.
Through the use of digital and immersive heritage presentation technologies, the project has developed new approaches to the presentation and interpretation of castles, palaces, villas, and historic town centres in the Slovenian–Italian cross-border area. RecapMCV focuses not only on tourism promotion but also on the sustainable use of cultural heritage and the educational potential of digital content for various target groups. It therefore encourages cross-border cooperation among cultural, research, and educational institutions, local communities, the tourism sector, and small and medium-sized enterprises.
The project has demonstrated that heritage is a driver of sustainable cultural tourism, a catalyst for the development of cultural and creative content, and a source of social innovation. Cultural heritage connects people of different generations, interests, and backgrounds. In this context, social innovation manifests itself through new forms of inclusion and improved accessibility for vulnerable groups, as well as through the use of digital tools as bridges between education, tourism, and culture.
The main objectives of the project were to:
• develop innovative digital cultural heritage products that support sustainable and thematic tourism in the cross-border area,
• professionally and attractively revitalise the underused heritage of castles, palaces, and villas through thematic storytelling routes,
• offer Europe-relevant solutions for the development of sustainable cultural tourism,
• expand and promote existing digital cultural heritage products and bring them closer to new target audiences,
• ensure the valorisation and transfer of best practices in heritage interpretation and enhancement, and
• design a strategy and action plan for sustainable digitisation and multisensory presentation of cultural heritage.
Outputs and Results
The immersive room at Kozlov Rob Castle near Tolmin today functions as a modern interpretive experience that builds on the restoration and research of the castle’s heritage while strengthening cross-border cooperation in the wider region. It offers visitors a 360-degree, multisensory experience in which, through 3D reconstruction and digital storytelling, they are transported into the historical phases of the castle and can explore the development of the Tolmin basin over time within a shared cross-border context.
The content is based on archaeological research and expert findings, ensuring authenticity and a deeper understanding of the site, while contributing to the shared valorization of heritage. The immersive room thus goes beyond a traditional exhibition – it actively engages visitors in the story and enables a direct connection with heritage from a cross-border perspective.
The result is a lasting impact of the project: Kozlov Rob is becoming a recognizable hub of innovative digital interpretation, strengthening local identity, enriching the tourist offer, and reinforcing the role of the area as an important center of cultural heritage in the cross-border region between Slovenia and Italy.
An educational and promotional video was also produced, presenting the steps that led to the realization of the immersive room at Kozlov Rob, where – with the help of a 3D model and virtual reality – it is possible to experience the castle and its former landscape as part of a shared heritage space: The Creation Process of the Immersive Room in Tolmin.
The upgraded web platform MerlinCV represents one of the key outcomes of the project and a modern entry point into the heritage of castles, mansions, and palaces in the cross-border area between Slovenia and Italy. The platform connects cultural and natural heritage in a clear and user-friendly way, linking it with the stories of their former inhabitants. It is enriched with 3D reconstructions, photographs, and short video content that highlight the region’s shared historical connections.
A special added value is provided by thematic itineraries that guide visitors through selected locations on both sides of the border – among them the estates of the Cobenzl family, an urban itinerary through Baroque Koper, and the heritage of Santorio Santorio. Some points are also connected into thematic cycling routes, encouraging sustainable and active exploration of the shared cultural landscape.
The platform is available in Slovenian, Italian, and English, and can be used on-site via smart devices. It also serves as a tool for planning visits in a cross-border environment. MerlinCV thus brings together tourism, education, and digital innovation, enhancing the visibility of shared heritage across the wider cross-border region.
Thematic itineraries:
- Cobenzl Family Thematic Itinerary
- “Santorio” Historical Itinerary
- Baroque Koper Thematic Itinerary
Cross-border Baroque Itinerary
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Sustainable Management and Innovative Interpretation of the Heritage of Kozlov Rob Castle: The interpretive-action plan for the treatment of archaeological heritage at Kozlov Rob, together with the conducted archaeological research, represents an important step toward long-term, sustainable, and responsible heritage management in the cross-border area. Expert research has deepened the understanding of the historical phases in the castle’s development and provided a solid professional basis for further conservation and presentation interventions - also significant for the management, preservation, and presentation of the shared heritage landscape between Slovenia and Italy.
Within the project, a comprehensive interpretive and action plan was developed for the Kozlov Rob Interpretation Centre (ISKR), positioned within a broader cross-border development framework. Key products were defined - an exhibition, an information point, gamification, an interpretive trail, guided tours, and digital solutions - which together create a coherent and modern visitor experience while strengthening the connection of heritage content on both sides of the border.
Kozlov Rob is thus becoming an example of good practice: not only a restored monument, but a thoughtfully managed heritage center that integrates research, preservation, and innovative interpretation in a cross-border perspective for future generations.
The strategy places immersive spaces at the forefront as an advanced tool that actively engages visitors in the story of a place and deepens their understanding of shared cultural and natural heritage. It connects key stakeholders from different institutional environments and presents the development of immersive rooms and other digital solutions within a broader cross-border context. As an example of good practice, the video also features the immersive room in Salzano, developed within the MerlinCV project, which has transformed the heritage of a former spinning mill into an emotional and vivid experience, opening new opportunities for promoting the area –also included in a cross-border itinerary.
The publication thus represents a development vision for cross-border cooperation and provides a professional foundation for enhancing experiential approaches to the presentation of shared heritage and its preservation for future generations.
The strategy, based on the collaboration of experts from the cross-border area, is presented in the video Strategies for Immersive Rooms, while the video Immersive Room dictionary, featuring a multilingual glossary with explanatory images, helps clarify terminology in the field of digital products and improves communication between digital experts and stakeholders involved in the protection and presentation of cultural heritage on both sides of the border.
Cross-border events for the general public in Koper, Tolmin, Gorizia, and Mira have significantly contributed to raising awareness of the project results across the wider Slovenian–Italian area, while strengthening its role as a connecting platform between culture, education, tourism, and the creative industries on both sides of the border. Through presentations and public immersive experiences, the events attracted a diverse audience from across the cross-border region.
The events demonstrated that innovative technologies can become a bridge between the past and the future, as well as between different cultural environments in the cross-border space. As a comprehensive programme, they created a lasting impact: sustainable cultural events that enhance the visibility of project results, strengthen cross-border partnerships, and reinforce trust in digital approaches as tools for the sustainable valorisation of shared heritage.
- Koper: Cross-border public event on cultural heritage
- Tolmin: Cross-border public event “To the Castle for Stories of the Tolmin Region”
- Gorizia: Cross-border public event “Discovering Cross-Border and Local Good Practices”
- Mira: Cross-border public event “From the Real to the Virtual: Promoting Cultural Heritage through New Technologies”
Workshops brought together experts, heritage protection and presentation institutions, representatives of cultural and creative industries, and institutions from different national environments, strengthening networking and opening new opportunities for cross-border cooperation. Special emphasis was placed on presenting concrete results – from digital reconstructions and immersive rooms to strategic documents and new tourism products that connect the heritage of both countries.
- Koper: Press conference and final event of the RecapMCV with a media statement
- Scientific day for students on the heritage of Santorio Santorio
- Tolmin: Cross-border event on the sustainable management of archaeological parks and ruins and their use within sustainable tourism Kozlov Rob Castle – Challenges and Opportunities in Research, Interpretation, and Presentation of Heritage.
- Gorizia/Gorica: Workshop presenting the strategy and action plan to target groups Rediscovering Cultural Heritage through Digital Tools and press conference
Tourism Products as a Pilot Use of Archaeological Artefacts for Heritage Promotion: Replicas of artefacts from the archaeological site at Kozlov Rob Castle were produced as a result of archaeological excavations carried out within the MerlinCV and RecapMCV projects. These include intricately crafted and hand-painted bowls, which the Municipality of Tolmin will also use as souvenirs or protocol gifts.
In the future, there are plans to offer them as tourist souvenirs as well.
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