2.1. Increasing the touristic attractiveness of the cross-border area through better utilisation of natural, cultural and historical heritage and related infrastructure

The overall goal of the project is to increase the tourist attractiveness of the region through better use of the natural and cultural heritage and related infrastructure. The specific objectives are: improving access to natural and cultural-historical landmarks, through rehabilitation of pedestrian alleys, creation of a tourist information center, formation of complete architectural ensembles that are attractive and attractive to tourists.
The project activities include construction of pedestrian access to the tourist site "Old Bridge" and elements of the urban environment in Svilengrad, construction of new sports facilities, tourist information center, pedestrian alleys leading to the natural landmark "Atah Ah" - Stage 1 - town. Enidjiya. An open-air photo exhibition in the town of Svilengrad will be prepared and realized. Equipment for the tourist information center and sports facilities for outdoor fitness will be delivered. An event will be organized for the official opening of the sites in Svilengrad and Enidzhia.
The implementation of the project will provide construction of a new pedestrian zone, providing better access to the cultural and historical monument "Old Bridge" in Svilengrad and construction of architectural elements and facilities - outdoor fitness, sports facility, tourist information center in Enidzhiya. Thus, the cultural-historical and natural heritage will be presented in an attractive and competitive way. The participants in the events will get acquainted with the rich natural and cultural-historical heritage of the two cross-border municipalities. Organized tours will acquaint the representatives of travel agencies about the opportunities for cultural, historical and eco tourism.

The overall project objective is to strengthen the sustainable tourism capacity of Municipality of Inece and Municipality of Harmanli by better utilization of natural, historical and cultural tourism resources through increasing the touristic attractiveness in both municipalities through provision of new touristic facilities and walking and cycling paths in and leading to touristic sites and promotion and presentation of innovative cross-border tourism opportunities and conditions in both municipalities.

The activities planned within the project include construction of cycling and walking paths and new facilities in natural and historical tourist site in Inece. Reconstruction of public recreational area "Park Dimana Daneva" Stage I - Reconstruction of alley network leading to touristic sites in Harmanli is envisaged. “Joint guide of the cross-border photo hunter” will be developed and joint seminar “CBC opportunities for alternative and innovative tourism” will be held as well.

Through the implementation of the project activities, two new facilities in and leading to touristic sites will be provided and one natural and historical tourist site in Inece will be socialized and reconstructed (Monumental tree “Ozan Ağacı”). Cycling and walking paths with access for people with disabilities will be provided in both municipalities with total length of 1.722 km (LP 0.812km and PP2 0.910 km). Thus the access to natural and tourist sites will be improved.

Project status: Finished

The project has ended on 19.01.2022.

The main objective of the project is to strengthen the CBC sustainable tourism capacity of Inece Municipality and Harmanlı Municipality through better use of natural, historical and cultural tourism resources. This main purpose is to increase the tourist attraction in both municipalities, to provide new touristic facilities and walking and bike paths to the touristic places, to promote and present innovative CB tourism opportunities and conditions in both municipalities, such as CBC and problem solving for sustainable tourism in both municipalities. The project has been achieved with specific goals. The “Tree of Life” project has been designed in close cooperation of both project partners - Bulgaria, Harmanlı Municipality and Turkey Inece Municipality, taking into account their ideas, priorities and activities that may lead to an increase in the touristic attractiveness of the cross-border region for better use of cultural assets and related infrastructure. The main results from the implementation of the project were 2 new touristic facilities (1 in Inece and 1 in Harmanlı); bicycle and walking paths and new facilities were built in the natural and historical touristic area in Inece; (The monumental tree “The Tree of the Poet”); Bicycle and walking paths accessible to people with disabilities were provided in municipalities with a total length of 1.7057 km. (LP 0.812 km and PP2 0.8937 km). Along with the alleys in both municipalities, in Harmanli a new facility leading to touristic sites - parking space was constructed. The construction of the recreation area “Park Dimana Daneva” opened to the touristic areas in Harmanlı has been completed; Developed the “joint guide of the cross-border photo hunter”; Joint seminar “CBC opportunities for alternative and innovative tourism” was held. Through the implementation of the project activities, the CBC sustainable tourism capacity has been strengthened by better utilization of the natural, historical and cultural tourism resources of both municipalities.

Developed "Joint guide of the cross-border photo hunter" can be found HERE. 

The overall objective of the project is increasing tourism attractiveness of the Cross border area through reconstruction and socialization of two very important archaeological tourism areas: the Rusokastro Fortress area in Kameno/ Bourgas and Asagipinar open air museum demonstrating prehistorically period and rich historical past of these lands.
The small scale construction of complex tourist zone for recreation and sport next to the Fortress Rusokastro including building a thematic space with an open-air classroom, a training board, amphitheatrically placing seating benches for the visitors, a thematic outdoor playground, an archery site, a rock climbing wall, benches, waste containers, information will be installed backgammon. One of the great attractions for children and adults will be the set up a new attraction - a Mini Model of the Rusokastro Fortress the smaller model of the fortress in its heyday.
Parallel activity from the Turkish project partners will be investment works in Asagipinar open air museum including construction of the Time Tunnel, which demonstrates prehistorically period in the Strandzha Mountain.
Another important objective of the project is the promotion of the two important sites by organizing three events promoting cultural and historical tourism in the cross-border area. Representatives of 20 cultural heritage sites will be invited in the jointly events "Our Living Ancient Towns" to participate with advertising materials and the web portal "Our Living Ancient Cities". There are also envisaged tours for tour operators on both sides, as well as visits of children to the historic sites.
As a result of the implementation of the project, successful reconstruction and socialization activities in Ruskoastro and Asagipinar ancient archaeological areas and developed new attractive tourism services for the visitors and tourist in Cross border area will be carried out and new attractive tourist services for visitors and tourists in the cross-border region will be developed.

Project status: Completed

The project ‘Living Ancient Towns – Asagipinar and Rusokastro’ aimed to increase the touristic potential of Kirkalreli and Bourgas districts by including two important historical and archaeological places in the tourist destinations in the cross-border area.

Important infrastructural works were done by the project in Asagipinar and Rusokastro archaeological areas. The infrastructural works were for increasing attractiveness of these two places and ensuring tourism services as playground place, rest place, walking areas and new exhibition areas.

Through the project, the online promotion of the sites was made and there was given a chance to the local tour operators to promote their tour offers online and free of charge.

Also, the made landscaping and upper-structural improvements were presented to the local tour operators through the organization of joint trial tours for representatives of the tourism sector in Kirklareli and Bourgas.

In the frame of the project in Open Air Museum and the archaeological site of Asağipinar were made the following improvements:

• to the ensuring of the security of the area the surrounding wall was constructed with three service gates;
• landscaping works were done and was constructed a solid way/path between the different parts of the area;
• the Time tunnel exhibition building was covered;
• infrastructural electricity works were done;
• the fire safety system constructed.

The "Rocky Field" and "Wet Area" units present the prehistorically periods that were built including animal and human models.

In the frame of the project in Rusokastro Fortress archaeological area were made the following improvements of the complex tourist zone:

• set up a new attraction - a Mini Model of the Rusokastro Fortress;
• building a thematic space with an open-air classroom, a training board, amphitheatrically placing seating benches for the trainees;
• construction of a thematic outdoor playground;
• construction of an archery site;
• construction of a boulder and rock climbing site;
• construction of recreation areas - 2 kiosks, 2 arbours, delivery and installation of sets for tables with benches for recreation;
• construction of a separate waste collection site with 4 pcs of "Bieber" buckets;
• supply and installation of park furniture - benches, waste bins, information boards;
• delivery and planting of a long-lasting decorative tree and shrub vegetation and grassing;
• supply of a guard kiosk;
• delivery and installation of a fence around the site;
• delivery and installation of 2 containers for storage of sports equipment.

Also, promotional materials were prepared in three languages and spread in the region.