LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Disonuojantis paveldas; Forto muziejus; Kauno IX; Kauno IX forto muziejus; Kauno VII forto muziejus; Kauno fortai; Tamsusis paveldas; Tamsusis turizmas; Žiaurumo paveldas; Atrocity heritage; Dark heritage; Dark tourism; Dissonant heritage; Dissonant heritage Kaunas fortresses; Kaunas IX fort museum; Kaunas VII fort museum; Kaunas fortresses.
ENThe tourism specialists of Western countries pointed out that dark tourism is becoming more and more massive because of the new political approaches, contemporary economic circumstances, and psychosocial state of postmodern society. This paper examines the situation of dark heritage in Lithuania: the official ideological background, the exploitation of dark sites for educational purposes and the satisfaction of dark tourists’ needs and expectations. The theoretical insights of foreign authors are compared with actual practice of dark heritage management in Lithuania. The case study of Kaunas fortress adaptation for tourism complements the theoretical research. Only two of nine forts are appropriate for visiting, others are in the state of emergency, what also indicates the authorities’ approach to the atrocity heritage. The main difference of two fort museums is determined by different owners: the Ninth fort is a state museum; the Seventh fort is a private museum. This determines the different dimensions of ideological and educational content and the difference in management strategies. [From the publication]