Events

Round table „Valorisation of local resources and cultural heritage“

    The first public event under project „Cultural heritage – asset for cross-border cohesion and prosperity”, MIS code: 2007CB16IPO008-2012-2-022, funded by the Bulgaria-Turkey IPA Cross-border Programme, CCI Number: 2007CB16IPO008, was conducted in the period July 25th – 26th, 2013 in city of Haskovo, Bulgaria. Host of the event was the lead project partner – “Alliance for regional and civil initiatives (ARCI)”- Haskovo branch. The round table was conducted in “Haskovo” hotel. 43 representatives of the cultural and educational institutions, NGO, local authorities, mass media, tourist industry and organization, conducting tourism development policy from Haskovo district and Kirklareli Province too part in the event.
    The round table was opened by Nurdzhihan Karamehmedova, Project Manager, to introduce participants to the topic and present IPA programme, implemented project activities developed products and results of the project to date. The main theme of the first day of the roundtable was to present the developed studies of the state of cultural and historical heritage in the border region. "Study on the state of cultural - historical heritage in the Kirklareli province" was presented by SelcukYilmaz , Mayor of Vize Municipality– the partner in the project. Prof. Marin Neshkov, Dean of "Management" Department at the University of Economics Varna, president of the Varna Chamber of Tourism, outlined the "Study of cultural - historical heritage and Conception for cultural heritage development in Haskovo – Kirklareli region" - a document developed by the contracted company "BEFT" Ltd within the project implementation.Presenter gave a brief analysis and assessment of the tourism potential of the Haskovo - Kurklareli region, and presented attractive tourist sites and routes in the settlements. The latter strongly attracted the attention of the participants and they actively expressed their views in the following discussion on "Identifying common initiatives to implement the measures proposed in the concept of development". As a result of the discussion were collected comments and recommendations on the development of tourist routes and were proposed initiatives of the participants to promote tourist attractions in the region.
    The second day of the roundtable was held in the hall of the Regional History Museum - Haskovo. The main topic was "Cultural - historical heritage and implemented initiatives in Haskovo region", presented interactively from Irko Petrov - Chief Curator of the "Archaeology" Department at the Regional History Museum - Haskovo. At first he gave a brief overview of the most attractive tourist sites in Haskovodistrict, stating his views on the tourism potential of Haskovo - Kirklareli region. Then in his presentation Mr. Petrov talked about the implemented initiatives and measures to improve the attractiveness of the sites in the area. After his presentation Rosalina Gyobeklieva, manager of the "Agency for European Integration" - Haskovo made a short presentation on the future of tourism in the region through the eyes of the trained within the project "Find out the story without borders" - a year later, and gave them awards for their participation.

Cross-border tour and Conference „Cultural heritage – asset for cross-border cohesion and prosperity”

    The final tour and the conference revealed strong potential for the development of cultural tourism in the cross-border region Haskovo - Kirklareli. This was the final activity of the project "Cultural Heritage -asset for cross-border cohesion and prosperity", MIS code: 2007CB16IPO008- 2012 -2- 022, funded by the Bulgaria-Turkey IPA Cross-border Programme, CCI Number: 2007CB16IPO008. The event was held in the period November 13th – 16th, 2013. Up to that moment in the round table and with the support of companies - subcontractors, partners were consulted and has elaborated five tourist routes, online map with navigation files contributing access to the mapped objects and 15 minute promotional film with three minute trailer. The project team invited by 15 representatives of cultural institutions, travel companies, tour operators and tourist information centers, local authorities, researchers and others from the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Turkey, to take part in the event.
    During the cross-border tour the group visited sites of the cultural heritage in the region Haskovo - Kirklareli. On the first day of the tour we visited the following sites from Haskovo region: "The Sanctuary of the Nymphs and Aphrodite", Kasnakovo village, Dimitrovgrad municipality; “The Uzundzhovo Church and remains of the Uzundzhovo Fair (Uzundzhovski panair), Uzundzhovo village, Haskovo municipality, “The Alexandrovo tomb and the Museum Center "Thracian Art Of Eastern Rhodopes", Alexandrovo village, Haskovo municipality, “The Thracian tomb and the Medieval fortress “Neutzikon”, Mezek village, Svilengrad municipality. While visiting those sites IrkoPetrov - Chief Curator of the "Archaeology"Department at the Regional History Museum - Haskovo and Stefan Dimitrov - curator of the Municipal History Museum - Svilengrad gave lectures presenting the most interesting facts about the sites visited.Within the next three days of the tour we visited the following sites in Kirklareli province: Museum in Kirklareli; St. Nicholas Monastery (Aya Nikola Maara Monasteries), Kiyikoy village, Hassan Bey Mosque, St. Sophia church -Vize, Vize fortress, ancient theater "Vize"; tap and bathroom FerhatBey in the city of Vize, and the cave "Doupnitsa"(DoupnitsaMaara systems) between the city of Kirklareli and the city of Demirkoy. During the visit CidemKuslar - expert at Vise Municipality presented interesting information about sites on the Turkish side of the border.
    The Conference "Cultural Heritage - asset for cross-border cohesion and prosperity" was held on the third day of the Tour in the Municipality of Vize.Additionally were invited representatives of the municipal administration and representatives of the local media. During the conference were presented the IPA programme, implemented project activities developed products and results of the project implementation. Emphasis in this part of the tour was the premiere of the movie "Hello / Merhaba". It is a 15 minute movie, to which was prepared and 3 minute video trailer. The movie presents the cultural - historical heritage in the border region Haskovo - Kirklareliin an interesting and exciting way.
    The BulgarianandTurkish representativesin the four-day visit werevisiblypleasedwith what they sawandthe event finishedwitha clearunified positionduring the activity: Yes, partnersfrom Haskovo district and Kirklareli provincehave richpotential andareable todevelopit at European level.