To improve the sustainable use of the natural and cultural heritage in the target cross-border region Dobrich-Constanta (Harsova – Krushari) through the development and promotion of joint tourism product ZALDAPA-DRY VALLEY-CARSIUM.

3,202,768.49 euro, out of which 2,722,353.19 ERDF

Lead beneficiary (LB): Territorial Administrative Unit Harsova Town (Romania)

Beneficiary 2 (B2): Krushari Municipality (Bulgaria)

Beneficiary 3 (B3): Museum of National History and Archaeology Constanta (Romania)

Beneficiary 4 (B4): Regional Museum of History – Dobrich (Bulgaria)

Start date: 20.05.2017

End date: 19.12.2023 (the project is included on the non-functional projects list and has a new completion deadline established for 30.05.2026)

Duration: 79 months

Harsova Town, Constanta, Constanta County, Romania

Krushari Village, Dobrich, Dobrich District, Bulgaria

• Information and publicity: temporary and permanent panels, joint press conferences, personalized press folders, press releases, TV spots, Radio spots, promotional film, web-site, bilingual posters, leaflets;
• Revitalization of Cultural Heritage in Harsova through the restoration, conservation and enhancement of Ensemble “Vasile Cotovu” as a Multicultural Center Museum;
• Development of tourism infrastructure of Fortress Zaldapa - Municipality KRUSHARI;
• Development of tourism infrastructure in Dry Valley;
• Setting up an outdoor museum in Krushari Municipality;

• Workshop on the topic: developing and promoting of a cross-border tourism product – advantages and challenges;
• Creation of a joint marketing strategy;
• Establishing of a touristic route and guided tour "Zaldapa-Dry Valley-Karsium”;
• Promotion of the joint tourism product through a presentation film and a web site;
• Preparation of advertising package for joint tourism product;
• Organization of a scientific symposium: recovery of Harsova Town’s and Krushari Municipality’s Memory;
• Archaeological camp;
• Conducting two promotional events.

Programme outputs:

   - 1 integrated tourism product;

   - 4,000 visits to supported sites of cultural and natural heritage and attraction;

   - 1 common strategy;

Programme results: 45,000 tourist overnights in the CBC region.

Current Project Status:

The implementation period of the project ended on 19.12.2023, but because of delays in the investment activity of LB – TAU Harsova Town and of the remaining soft project’s activities, the project was included on the list of non-functional projects. The new completion date of the project is 30.05.2026.

Many activities foreseen within the project are already completed:

- The tourism infrastructure of Fortress Zaldapa - Municipality Krushari was developed;

- The tourism infrastructure in Dry Valley was developed;

- An outdoor museum in Krushari Municipality was set up;

- A workshop on the topic: developing and promoting of a cross-border tourism product – advantages and challenges; establishing of a touristic route and guided tour “Zalpada – Dry Valley – Karsium”;

- The joint tourism product was promoted through a presentation film and a web site;

- The marketing strategy, available in both English and Bulgarian, was developed;

- The touristic guide, available in Romanian, English and Bulgarian languages, was elaborated;

- An archeological camp was organized.

B2 – Krushari Municipality has set up an open-air museum in the center of Krushari, where the artefacts and findings from the fortress Zaldapa were exhibited.

The presentation movie of the project can be accessed at the following link: https://acrossborderunion.primaria-harsova.ro/new/galerie-foto-video/(available in English, Bulgarian and Romanian languages).

The 10 streets foreseen to be modernized in Harsova are finalized and the reception of the works was done.

B3 – Museum of National History and Archaeology Constanta and B4 – Regional Museum of History Dobrich have developed the joint scientific volume. The volume was printed in 400 copies by the projects beneficiaries.

Regarding the restauration works at the Multicultural Centre “Vasile Cotovu” (the Old School and the Pedagogue’s House) on behalf of LB, the construction works were suspended on 21^st of March 2024 and were resumed on 01.10.2024.The construction works at the Old School – Museum reached a percentage of 57.09 %, while at the Pedagogue’s House reached 7.94 %. The pace of the construction works is slow considering the problems between the constructor and the builder. Since the remaining works to be executed are finishing works that require time and finesse of execution, there is a risk that the works will not be completed within the established deadline, namely until 31.10.2025, and the project to be completed until 30.05.2026.

LB received the following equipment: 20 benches with cast iron legs and wooden seat, the model of the ancient and medieval fortress (1 piece), the Neolithic dwelling model (1 piece) and UV printing on large-sized forex cased – 44 pieces.