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Cross-Border Festival in Vratsa Will Show the Culture, Customs, and Traditions on Both Sides of the Bulgarian-Serbian Border

The festival will be held from Friday to Sunday - July 2-4, 2021, in the "Vratsata" area near Vratsa. It is organized by the Vratsa Municipality under the Project QuesTour - Valorization and capitalization of unexplored cultural and historical resources in the cross-border region of Bulgaria and Serbia, CB007.2.13.225, in which it is a partner. The leading partner of the project is the National Tourism Cluster "Bulgarian Guide", and the partner from Serbia is ENECA, Nis.
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The QuesTour festival will be held from Friday to Sunday - July 2-4, 2021, in the "Vratsata" area near Vratsa. It is organized by the Vratsa Municipality under the project: QuesTour  - Valorization and capitalization of unexplored cultural and historical resources in the cross-border region of Bulgaria and Serbia, CB007.2.13.225, in which it is a partner. The lead partner of the project is the National Tourism Cluster "Bulgarian Guide", and the partner from Serbia is ENECA, Nis.

 

The participants are dance and singing groups for authentic, stylized, and processed folklore, including 30 Bulgarian and 10 Serbian performers and exhibitors.

 

In addition to the opportunity for singers, dancers, and exhibitors from both countries to perform, the event will provide a chance to create cross-border connections, cultural exchange, and exchange of good practices. Among the main goals of the initiative are to increase the value of traditions and crafts in the cross-border region and to support the supply through common tourist products and services.

 

The festival will show parts of the culture, customs, and traditions of local communities on both sides of the border - folk music and dance, crafts, local dishes and more. There will be a master “tufekchiya” who will show a restored ancient weapon. A master potter will introduce visitors to ancient pottery and copies of historical objects. A professional chef will prepare traditional dishes from Northwestern Bulgaria. And the food for the soul will be provided by the writer and narrator of colorful stories about the customs, traditions, and culture of this part of our country - Stoyan Nikolov – Torlaka.


Handmade household and art souvenirs, paper baskets and pans, clay jewelry, natural stones and souvenirs made of natural materials, 3D products made of paper ribbons complete the list of unique works that visitors will be able to see. The Serbian side will be represented by several wineries and places for ethno tourism. The production of dairy products according to a centuries-old tradition will be shown, as well as a special type of sausage, the so-called smoked sausage, plus a traditional way of preparing concentrated alcoholic beverages. Serbian participants will present themselves via an online link.

  

Several folklore ensembles will take the stage of the festival - Dance Ensemble "Stresher" from the village of Gorno Ozirovo, Varshets Municipality; “Music” Club - Youth Brass Band from the village of Butan, Vratsa region; Folklore group from Otets Paisi High School from Vratsa.

 

Additional to the concert program and the participation of exhibitors, the festival will offer various attractions and other activities of interest - crafts, folklore, history.

 

The rich program of the event is aimed both at the general public and at the representatives of the tourism sector - companies, non-governmental organizations, local authorities. It will be conducted in a strict compliance with all anti-epidemic measures and requirements related to the prevention of COVID - 19.

 

The QuesTour project was created to reveal the unexplored cultural, historical, and natural wealth of the cross-border region Bulgaria-Serbia, to promote unknown tourist sites and to encourage sustainable tourism. You can find more information on the QuesTour platform and aplication and Facebook page of the project.

 

Photo credits: Municipality of Vratsa and Dance Ensemble "Stresher"

 

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This publication was produced with the assistance of the European Union through the Interreg-IPA CBC Bulgaria-Serbia Programme, CCI No 2014TC16I5CB007. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of National Tourism Cluster “Bulgarian Guide” and its author and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the Managing Authority of the Programme.

 

 

 

The project is co-funded by the EU through the Interreg-IPA CBC Bulgaria-Serbia Programme.

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