How fortress Fortica looked over 400 years ago

(Photo credit: Hrvoje Kostelac)

Using AR Technology to Create a New Tourist Attraction

Fortica Fortress, a Renaissance structure built in 1619, is the only remnant of the Renaissance era in the Croatian town of Otočac.

This rare building, one of the few triangular towers in Europe, remains a fascinating tourist destination even though only its ruins are present today.

Originally a defensive tower, Fortica served as a permanent residence for soldiers, a storage for ammunition and gunpowder, and a place for food storage with kitchens and dormitories.

Fortica (Photo: Discover Otočac)

To bring the fortress’s appearance closer to citizens and tourists, the Otočac Tourist Board has created an AR (augmented reality) display of Fortica based on historical data.

The “Discover Otočac” application, presented at Fortica itself, offers an AR experience, allowing visitors to see the fortress as it once was. All you need to do is download the mobile app, hold your phone in front of you, and explore the ruins to see Fortica in its former glory.

(Photo credit: Hrvoje Kostelac)

“Otočac and Gacka have many interesting and valuable cultural and historical sites that we can be proud of. Unfortunately, these sites are not appealing to many visitors, so we wanted to modernize them according to the latest global trends, making them more accessible and interesting to both locals and tourists.

I believe we have succeeded in this with the creation of this app. Additionally, Fortica is the first site we have presented in this way in the app, but we plan to enrich it with other locations and characters in the future,” said Viktorija Rogić, Director of the Otočac Tourist Board, during the app presentation.

(Photo credit: Hrvoje Kostelac)

The application was developed by Prilika Grupa, a company specializing in XR technology. Project lead Bruno Ćutić explained the app’s development: “The foundation of this app is a 3D model reconstructing the original appearance of Fortica. In addition to being accurate in structure and shape, we used various textures to depict the original building materials.

The app uses GPS navigation to accurately display the model on its actual location, and Google and Apple AR platforms for augmented reality features, providing an authentic experience. This allows users to experience the original Fortica from the outside and inside, learn more about it, and take photos within the app.”

(Photo credit: Hrvoje Kostelac)

At the event’s conclusion, Otočac Mayor Goran Bukovac congratulated the Tourist Board on the successful project and Prilika Grupa on the app’s development.

He noted that the Tourist Board is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and expressed his happiness that they have been working on preserving and promoting the cultural and historical heritage of Otočac and Gacka, which are significant segments of the city and its tourism offerings.

The application is available for both Android and Apple devices and has been translated into four languages. It was developed through the project “Otočac Through Augmented Reality – Phase I,” with funding provided by the Fund for Underdeveloped Areas and the Croatian Tourist Board for local tourist board projects in underdeveloped areas in 2024.

The project received funding of €11,758.73. The Otočac Tourist Board, in partnership with other organizations, worked on the app for the past six months and presented it ahead of the tourist season as one of the new attractions.

The project’s goal is to contribute to the development of tourism in Otočac and Gacka by enhancing the tourist offerings and content through augmented reality, with an emphasis on cultural and historical heritage.