ECHO OF HERZEGOVINIAN STONE EXHIBITION OPENED

BILEĆA, AUGUST 1 /SRNA/ – The exhibition "Echo of the Herzegovinian Stone" was opened this evening in the premises of the former museum in Bileća, showcasing photographs of the most significant cultural - historical monuments from the area of this municipality.

Lazar Gnjato, the director of the Bileća Cultural Centre, stated that the exhibition displays fragments of ancient, prehistoric, and medieval culture.

He told the press the exhibition aims to draw attention to the fact that there was a museum here 30 years ago, founded by exceptionally dedicated individuals who left a lasting legacy.

"We, the people of Bileća, seem to have forgotten the greatest treasure we have, which is this valuable museum at the source of the Trebišnjica River, with its lapidarium of the most significant stećak tombstones," Gnjato said.

Gnjato emphasized the sad fact of the deterioration of the building, which won the Grand Prix at the European Architecture Biennale in 1968.

The Mayor of Bileća, Miodrag Parežanin, said this unusual exhibition serves as a reminder that the museum should return to its true purpose, and stressed that the municipality will work on its reconstruction.

He noted that a conceptual design for the museum’s restoration is currently being developed, and once completed, the museum will become part of the local tourist offer.

The exhibition is part of a project for the reconstruction and revitalization of the museum and the stećak lapidarium, which was supported by the Ministry of Education and Culture through a public call for co-financing projects related to the promotion and preservation of cultural heritage.