Meriç River basin revitalized: Historic and cultural heritage to be restored
With the implementation of the European Union–funded “Timeless Journey on the Meriç” project under the Interreg VI-A IPA Türkiye–Bulgaria Programme, historic and cultural heritage located in the Meriç River basin is set to be restored and brought into the regional economy.
Speaking at the project’s launch meeting held at a hotel in Edirne, Bülent Bacıoğlu, President of the Edirne Promotion and Tourism Association (ETTDER), stated that the project would once again firmly unite both sides of the Meriç River through a shared cultural bond.
Emphasizing that promotional activities for the cross-border region were designed based on the needs of the tourism sector, Bacıoğlu said,
“We have rolled up our sleeves to present Edirne’s and the cross-border region’s historical treasures to the world through cultural routes connected by rivers.”
Bacıoğlu underlined that the project aims not only to restore buildings but also to revive their stories, with the goal of attracting tourists and history enthusiasts to the region.
Noting that the Meriç River has served for thousands of years as a lifeline connecting civilizations, Bacıoğlu added that they aim to transform this “timeless journey” into an internationally recognized tourism brand.
The meeting was attended by Trakya University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Eylem Bayır, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture Prof. Dr. Semiha Kartal, Bulgaria’s Consul General in Edirne Radoslava Kafedzhiyska, Mayor of Harmanli Maria Ivanova Kirkova, Mayor of Malko Tarnovo Iliyan Yanchev, as well as tourism professionals and representatives of civil society organizations.
