Good practice:

Volunteer Restoration Project "Sanierungsverein Ravelin 2 e. V."

The restoration project was established in 2014 by volunteers of all ages and professions, including students and retired people, to preserve and restore the Prussian fortification ‘Ravelin 2’ which was originally built in 1873 as part of the fortress of Magdeburg. In a transfer agreement with the city of Magdeburg (owner of the site) the fortification was handed over to the association in 2015. Since then, the volunteers have achieved a great progress in restructuring and revitalizing the fortification. Funds are raised through funding acquisition, donations, and the organisation of events. Main focus of the events are living history and fortress tourism.

The running costs for rents, energy and insurance amount to ~ 17,000 € per year. Furthermore, exhibition supervisors are necessary in the future. There also needs to be further investment (ongoing renovation, maintenance, Further development and digitalisation of exhibitions).

More than 80.000 people came to visit since 2015. Visitors, next to local citizens, are mostly from all over Germany, but also from across Europe and even beyond. The restoration progress is greatly visible, vandalism is reduced. The feedback from visitors of guided tours, events and exhibition visitors etc. is very positive. In 2020, the association was awarded the title of Saxony-Anhalt's ‘Lighthouse of the Tourism Industry’. Regional and supraregional networks improve.

The work of the association members has achieved a great reduction of vandalism as it brought a certain ‘social control’. It took a lot of effort and public relations work to create an awareness for the site. Initially, there were problems receiving the appropriate political support.

The project is an interesting example of intergenerational civic engagement in the field of cultural heritage / active monument protection. The ambitious volunteer work of the association members in cooperation with the city of Magdeburg, regional companies and cultural operators resulted in the development of a new cultural and touristic attraction. This brings added value to the city and region. The special feature of ‘Ravelin 2’ is less a museum-like character than ‘living history’. This experience is achieved through the authenticity of the place itself as well as through reenactment and historical presentations. Networking activities and historical research promote and encourage the European dimension of the project.