Since 2023
licence holder for the guided Visit Dark Skies experience
€500
annual licence fee
Warm LED + solar
low-intensity lights only near buildings and paths
The challenge
Keep the night sky of a pristine mountain area dark while welcoming guests safely after dark.
What they did
TC Vučje limits outdoor lighting to what is needed for safety and builds a night-sky experience on top of it.
- Low-intensity, warm LED and solar lamps near buildings and paths
- A few remaining unshielded lights being phased out
- Guests encouraged to be mindful of lighting at night
- Guided stargazing with the Visit Dark Skies programme
Results
Satisfied – and surprised – guests, and added value for all the centre’s activities.
No measured data (energy, sky quality) are reported.
Lessons learned
- 1Stargazing adds value to every other activity of a tourist centre.
- 2Keeping lighting minimal is enough where the sky is still naturally dark.
Can you do it too?
The guided stargazing format works anywhere in the northern hemisphere where there is little light pollution.
- A naturally dark site
- Minimal, warm, downward lighting
- A licensed or trained stargazing guide
Why it matters for astrotourism
Surrounded by mountains and forest, Vučje has kept its dark-sky qualities and is naturally suited to stargazing without major adjustments.
Photos
Measures in this practice
Find out more
Contact
VUCJE DOO (through CTDC)
Anđa Vukčević Zorić
[contact email]