The overall objective of the project is to promote cooperation among institutions and people by using the cultural and natural resources in a sustainable touristic way.

1,364,438.31 euro, out of which 1,159,772.56 euro ERDF

Lead Beneficiary (LB): Varshets Municipality (Bulgaria)

Beneficiary 2 (B2): Oltenia Museum (Romania)

Start date: 30.08.2018

End date: 29.03.2022

Duration: 43 months

Dolj in Romania

Montana in Bulgaria

• Cultural tourism;
• Balneal-climatic services;
• Scientific/academic tourism;
• Promotion and information platform;
• Awareness campaign.

Programme outputs: 4 integrated tourism products created, 1 common strategy for valorising the cultural and natural heritage through its restoration and promotion for sustainable economic uses, 11,663 visits to supported sites of cultural and natural heritage and attraction.

Programme results: 16,100 tourist overnights in the CBC region

The project is finalized.

The Cultural-Tourist Conference of the project was organized during the period 30.06 – 02.07.2021 by B2, in Craiova. It was attended by 45 participants, out of which 24 were Bulgarian.In the first day of the Cultural-Tourist Conference, the management teams of both partners attended a workshop within the project. Also, a press conference was organized, at the Department of Natural Sciences of Oltenia Museum, attended by the officials of Dolj County Council and Varshets Municipality and mass media representatives from Craiova and Varshets.

During the conference, a demonstration of the operation of the new interactive equipment from the Department of Natural Sciences (hologram, interactive totem, virtual assistant and interactive table), purchased within the project, took place. There were also presentations focused on the common cultural heritage and on the three types of cross border tourism (balneal, academic and cultural).

In the next two days, the participants were invited to visit the Department of History and Archaeology, the Department of Ethnography, the Art Museum, the Botanical Garden and other touristic objectives.

It was completed the installation of the equipment at the 3 sections of the Museum of Oltenia (B2). In April, artefacts from the 3 sections of the Museum of Oltenia were 3D scanned. The scanned 3D objects of the Museum of Oltenia along with the objects 3D scanned by Varshets Municipality are displayed on the hologram and on the 3 interactive totems. Also, a database with pictures & clips from Craiova and Varshets was created.

3 exhibitors were purchased, and are now displayed at the 3 sections of the Museum of Oltenia and are promoting the 3 types of tourism - cultural, academic, balneal.

The works on the investment objective: “Paleopark, Fence and Information Centre with Exposure Area”, were completed.

The Cooperation agreement with strategy of cooperation, between the partners was signed after the official opening of the Paleopark on 15.03.2022. The agreement was prepared in Bulgarian and Romanian. The Strategy was prepared in English and was finalized at the end of the project - 29.03.2022.

Press releases were published in the local newspaper “Varshets”, on the official website of the municipality of Varshets and on social media, which can be accessed at the following: links: https://www.facebook.com/groups/150963898600561/permalink/1501191196911151;

https://www.varshets.bg/newspaper/Varshets-07.21.pdf.

Also, the Bulgarian National Television broadcasted a short report related to the construction of the Paleopark in Varshets, available here:

https://europeans.bntnews.bg/paleopark-vav-varshec-%E2%80%93-nov-zhivot-v-nova-evropa-s-pogled-v-minaloto-603news.htm l?fbclid=IwAR2jfENVk2G85gbiFX53ll4QrfWWmPdVDicmtKdkGpOsOd8Ryro9RvNXV88.    

The contract for digital services - WP activity A.C.5, deliverables D.C.5.1 - Presentation site, D.C.5.2 - Presentation film, D.C.5.3 - Virtual Tour, was finalized on 10^th of March 2022. The presentation film and virtual tour can be access at the website of the project

at link below: https://newdestinationsrobg.ro/en/home/.