The Municipality of the City of Kardzhali is located in the Kardzhali administrative district in South Eastern Bulgaria, near the borders of Turkey and Greece. The City of Kardzhali is the administrative, commercial and cultural centre of the Eastern Rhodopes.

Main responsibilities and activities of the Municipality comprise the management of municipal property, social policy, health, education and cultural services. The municipality also is in charge of the protection of cultural monuments and the natural environment, the provision of cultural services, and the support of local cultural organisations.

The Municipality takes a keen interest in a sustainable regional development of the city and the wider area of the district of Kardzhali.

Tasks and activities

• Development and implementation of a Learning Quest for pupils in Perperikon (pilot action 6);
• Identification of local and regional stakeholders;
• Development of a Pilot Action Showcase and demonstration at target group specific events;
• Development of regional policy implications and recommendations and future scenarios for regional developmen;
• Dissemination and presentation of project results.

Local / regional Context

A major focus of the Municipality in the regional development is on cultural tourism which has been identified as one of the priorities in the Municipal Development Plan. Therefore, the Municipality aims to protect and promote the regional cultural heritage and local culture (e.g. historical sites, landscapes, customs, etc.). In particular, this will also require improvements of the tourist infrastructure and the further development of specific tourist products.

For example, this includes organising again the folk festival “The music of Rhodopi” and the summer festival “Culture and art without frontiers”, marking and labelling of eco routes in the region, restoration works at the monastery complex of St. Joan the Precursor and refurbishing of the regional museum in Kardzhali.

A key element of the cultural tourism strategy of course is the further excavation, preservation and promotion of the archaeological site of Perperikon, which is the largest megalith ensemble in the Balkans. The Municipality of Kardzhali is actively pursuing the aim of inscribing the site of Perperikon on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Contact

Vladislav Georgiev
Tel.: 00359 2 9441350
vladislav@primebg.com
www.kardjali.bg