Kempens Landschap joined the Walls and Gardens project to be part of an international network of fortified military heritage sites. Within this context of cooperation, the diversity of approaches and the progress made in the field by some of the partners have enriched our own project. The Walls and Gardens project also offers solutions for shared problems concerning ecological site management and cultural and tourism-oriented interpretation and development of a fortified military heritage site.

 Kempens Landschap is partner in the Walls and Gardens project with the fort of Duffel. Main goal is to enhance the ecological site management and the cultural and tourism-oriented interpretation and development of the fort.

 In order to achieve the first goal, Kempens Landschap has creates a tunnel in the Duffel fortification in order to offer a refuge for hibernating bats. The work consists of integrating this tunnel into the fort's natural contours. The fort’s historical bridge crane has also be repaired in order to control access to the site. As a result the peace and quiet in the area during certain periods can be guaranteed.

 Some chambers of the fort of Duffel are not open for the public because they are designated to bats in winter and summer. In order to make it possible to visit these inaccessible parts in an alternative way, Kempens Landschap has created 3D animations of the fort of Duffel and its inner structure. These animations enable the public to visit the fort by the website and to see parts of the fort that are not open for the public.

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Visit of the partners