The overall objective of the project is to improve the sustainable development, protection, preservation and promotion of cultural heritage and to improve the socio-economic situation in the region.

499,514.72 euro, out of which 424,587.50 euro ERDF

Lead Beneficiary (LB): "Open hand" foundation (Bulgaria)

Beneficiary 2 (B2): Teleorman County Museum.

Start date: 07.09.2018

End date: 06.12.2020 (suspension of the project implementation period between 17.03.2020 – 17.06.2020).

Duration: 27 months

Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse, Silistra, Dobrich in Bulgaria

Constanta, Calarasi, Giurgiu, Teleorman, Dolj, Mehedinti, Olt in Romania

• Joint Study and Research of the cultural sites with common history;
• Elaboration of common strategy;
• Digitization of the studied and researched sites and elaboration of their 360° digital images;
• Elaboration of 3D cross border models.

Programme outputs:

- 11,000 more visits to supported sites of cultural and natural heritage and attraction;

- 2 integrated tourism products/services created;

- 1 common strategy, policy or management plan for valorising (including raising awareness) the cultural and natural heritage through its restoration and promotion for sustainable economic uses;

Programme results: 80 tourist overnights in the CBC region.

The project implementation period ended on 06.12.2020, following requested and approved suspension of the project implementation period between the period 17.03.2020 - 17.06.2020 and two operated extensions of the project implementation period in total with 6 additional months.

The main project results are:

Related to the elaboration of the “Joint Study and Research of the cultural sites with common history”,the second part from the information for the elaboration of the Study was collected and the following Romanian cultural and historical objects with common history were visited, scanned and captured:

- The church of Dervent Monastery, village of Galitsa, Constanta county, Romania; Church "St. Nicola", Constanta, Romania; The Royal palace, Constanta, Romania;

- Voditsa Monastery, Orsova, Romania;

- St. Nicholas Church, Istria, Romania;

- Monument of Independence, Turnu Magurele, Romania;

- Stella Maris Chapel from Vitanesti, Alexandria, Romania;

- Constantine Bridge, Corabia, Olt County, Romania;

- Museum of Art and Ethnography, Calafat, Dolj County, Romania.

Based on the provided information, a “Joint Study and Research of the Cultural Sites with Common History” on behalf of LB was elaborated and, eventually uploaded on the project website: https://robgcommonsites.eu/ , Section “General Information”.

In addition, 18 3D cross border models of the historical objects identified in BG cross- border region so far, were delivered to the LB:

From BG:

1. 3D cross border model of Catholic Temple, St. Joseph, village Bardarski Geran;

2. 3D cross border model of the house of Dina Babis, former Romanian consulate, Ruse;

3. 3D cross border model of the State Commercial High School, Svishtov;

4. 3D cross border model of the Former Romanian School/ Art gallery, Tutrakan;

5. 3D cross border model of the Rock Monastery St. Dimitar Bаsarabovski, village Basarbovo;

6. 3D cross border model of the Former Romanian court/ Art gallery, Dobrich;

7. 3D cross border model of the Panorama “Epopeya” Pleven;

8. 3D cross border model of the Regional History Museum Pleven;

9. 3D cross border model of the History Museum Vidin.

From RO:

1. The church of Dervent Monastery, village of Galitsa, Constanta county, Romania;

2. Church "St. Nicola", Constanta, Romania;

3. The Royal palace, Constanta, Romania;

4. Voditsa Monastery, Orsova, Romania;

5. St. Nicholas Church, Istria, Romania;

6. Monument of Independence, Turnu Magurele, Romania;

7. Stella Maris Chapel from Vitanesti, Alexandria, Romania;

8. Constantine Bridge, Corabia, Olt county, Romania;

9. Museum of Art and Ethnography, Calafat, Dolj County, Romania.

All 18 3D cross border models were exposed during the organization of 8 out of total 8 exhibitions foreseen, Pleven, Ruse, Dobrich and Montana BG and Alexandria, Calarasi, Constanta and Craiova, RO. A pre exhibition business trip from the project teams was made for establishing the conditions of the organizing of the exhibitions (place, room, visiting hours). In addition, in reference to the organization of the exhibitions, the LB signed a contract for loading and unloading, installation, dismantling and arranging of 18 pcs. models of sites part of the cultural and historical heritage with a common history for each of the planned 8 pcs. exhibitions in Bulgaria and Romania. Respectively, the total number of visitors registered at all 8 exhibitions, organized in Romania and Bulgaria is: 17078. In addition, parallel with the performing of the exhibitions, B2 proceeded further also with the elaboration and broadcasting of a documentary movie. The documentary movie was elaborated in Ro and BG. The broadcasting of documentary was replayed parallel at RTS Severin, Drobeta Turnu-Severin, Mehedinti County.

For the WP “Communication”, the LB signed a contract fregarding the elaboration of the project web site: https://robgcommonsites.eu/ . The elaborated iOS and Android applications IOS and Mobile Application – ROBG Common Sites are available on the project Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

In terms of the financial progress of the project: Both beneficiaries fulfilled their targets established at the half implementation period and avoided deccomitment. The final percentage of financial execution of the project is 84.42% from total budget (499.514,72 euro).

The overall objective of project “Welcome to the middle ages” is to improve the sustainable use of natural and cultural heritage of Mezdra and Dobrosloveni municipalities by establishing two important festivals – roman and medieval, reconstructing the life and traditions of the time, bringing together stakeholders able to contribute from all cross-border region and promoting the culture and history of the region.

495,103.46 euro, out of which 420,837.93 euro ERDF

Lead Beneficiary (LB):Mezdra Municipality (Bulgaria)

Beneficiary 2 (B2): Dobrosloveni Municipality (Romania)

Start date: 28.09.2018

End date: 10.05.2020, following suspension of the project implementation period between the period from 17.03.2021 - 30.04.2020.

Duration: 18 months

Vratsa in Bulgaria

Olt in Romania

• Research of festivals, events and groups, presenting middle ages and roman traditions of RO and BG
• Conference for adoption of common strategy for promotion of ancient and medieval traditions
• Purchase of equipment necessary for the organization of the festivals
• Organization of medieval festival in Mezdra at the “Kaleto” archeological complex and of a roman festival in Dobrosloveni
• Promotion of both integrated tourism products at tourism fair in Sofia and in Bucharest

Programme outputs: 1100 more visits to supported sites of cultural and natural heritage and attraction, 2 integrated tourism products/services created, 1 common strategy, policy or management plan for valorising (including raising awareness) the cultural and natural heritage through its restoration and promotion for sustainable economic uses

Programme results: 1000 tourist overnights in the CBC region

The project implementation period ended on 10.05.2020, following requested and approved suspension of the project implementation period between 17.03.2020 - 30.04.2020. The main results achieved are as follows:

LB – Mezdra Municipality has completed the “Research of festivals, events and groups, presenting middle ages and roman traditions” and subsequently within Activity T3 “Organisation of medieval and roman festivals”, organized and performed the Festival of the medieval traditions, manners and culture in the period 16 and 19 May 2019, having more than 300 guests. The related necessary equipment for performing the main event as a Bulgarian yurta - the mobile home of Bulgarian nomad tribes, clothing and armory for 2 warriors, heavily armed warriors, archer, noble chief and medieval saddle, 3 pagoda tents and 1 professional sound system, were also purchased and delivered to LB and used during the event.

B2 – Dobrosloveni Municipality, the main Roman festival “Romula Fest” was also organized in the period 22 – 25 August 2019, in Dobrosloveni. B2 acquisitioned the necessary equipment and goods. 16 Roman soldiers costumes and 1 professional sound system were purchased.

The two researches represented an important step towards the development of the common strategy for promotion of ancient and medieval traditions for sustainable tourism development in the cross-border region. The strategy was prepared by the project team members with the full support of the beneficiaries presented and adopted on a two day conference performed in Mezdra with 100 stakeholders from the cross-border area representing groups for historical reconstructions, tourism companies and stakeholders. The Strategy for promotion of the medieval traditions was developed from the BG part from the PMT team and is available on the project web site: https://mezdrafest-robg.eu/en/assets/files/Common_tourism_Strategy_Fin.pdf . On on the project web site could be found a Memorandum of understating for cooperation in the tourism sector signed between the mayors of Mezdra and Dobrosloveni.

In order to promote both integrated tourism products created at project level, on one hand LB has participated in the Sofia Tourism Fair on 14-16.02.2019 and on the other B2 have taken participation in the tourism fair in Bucharest (14-17.11.2019). As a result of the presentation at both tourism fairs, the visits to the supported cultural sites in Mezdra and Dobrosloveni, increased with at least 400 persons.

In order to increase further the interest over the achieved projects results, LB developed a Catalogue of Festival and Events and a Catalogue of Medieval and Roman groups, both available in BG, RO and EN . In addition, a 50 minutes movies for Roman and Medieval traditions was produced and further published in Youtube and on the project web site of the project – www.mezdrafest-robg.eu/en/ .

The main objective of the project is to increase the tourist attractiveness of the Vidin-Oltenia cross-border region and to promote the local natural beauty and cultural values by using the modern creative industries and creating an innovative cultural event.

211,000.50 euro, out of which 179,350.42 euro ERDF

Lead Beneficiary (LB): Sinfonietta - Vidin (Bulgaria)

Beneficiary 2 (B2): „Oltenia” State Philharmonic Orchestra (Romania)

Start date: 13.11.2018

End date: 12.11.2019

Duration: 12 months

Vidin in Bulgaria

Dolj in Romania

• Forming a Joint Symphony Orchestra
• Preparation, conducting and promotion of Music Festival
• Creation of a “Music Guide”
• Creating a Strategy for Promoting the Musical Culture and the Development of Music Tourism

Programme outputs: 2 integrated tourism products/services created and 1 common strategy, policy or management plan for valorizing (including raising awareness) the cultural and natural heritage through its restoration and promotion for sustainable economic uses;

Programme results: 600 tourist overnights in the CBC region;

495.907,75 euro, out of which 421.521,57 euro ERDF

Lead beneficiary (LB): National Wine Association (Bulgaria)

Beneficiary 2 (B2): Romanian Association for Technology Transfer and Innovation (ARoTT) (Romania)

Start date: 29.08.2017

End date: 28.08.2019

Duration: 24 months

Veliko Tarnovo, Pleven, Vidin, Vratsa, Ruse and Dobrich in Bulgaria (+ Sofia).

Giurgiu, Mehedinţi, Calarasi, Constanta, Dolj in Romania (+Bucharest)

Programme outputs: 5 integrated initiatives will be implemented and will activate the workforce mobility in the cross-border area, there will be 225 participants in joint local employment initiatives and joint trainings, a 100 participants in joint educational and training schemes to support youth employment, educational opportunities and higher and vocational education will be provided across the border.

Programme results: 30.000 people that have access to joint employment initiatives.

The project has been finalized on 28.08.2019 and the following objectives have been achieved:

- A Sommelier Centre has been established, renovated, equipped and opened in Veliko Tarnovo on №14 Georgi Mamarchev str.;

- A Sommelier Phrase Book in Bulgarian-Romanian-English and the Sommelier training modules in Bulgarian and in Romanian have been elaborated and can be found on http://www.wineskills.eu/materials ;

- An e-diary with trained and qualified experts has been elaborated and can be found on http://www.wineskills.eu/ediary ;

- 258 people, out of which 112 students, have participated in 8 Sommelier and Wine-guide trainings;

- 13 Partnership agreements for cooperation with different professional high schools, associations and training centres within the CBC region, have been signed;