- 23-02-2026 09:55
- Velizar Petrov
Between 18 and 22 February 2026, the
partners of the initiative MYSTICAL DANUBE: Green and Mystic Danube Route for
Stories Tell – Transnational Valorisation of Natural and Intangible Cultural
Heritage for the Socio‑Economic Development of Rural Areas in the Danube
Region took part in the international tourism exhibition f.re.e Munich 2026,
held at the Messe München exhibition centre. As one of Germany’s leading
tourism forums, the event attracts a broad international audience of
professionals, tour operators, and visitors with an interest in cultural,
nature‑based, and experiential travel.
During the exhibition, the partnership
presented the newly developed Danube Storytelling Route, a transnational
tourism product that brings together natural, cultural, and intangible heritage
along the Danube. The route offers travellers the opportunity to discover the
region through authentic narratives, legends, local traditions, and distinctive
natural sites. The presentation took place at Stand 224 in Hall A4, where the
partners showcased the route’s core elements, its visual identity, and its
potential to become a sustainable tourism product of transnational
significance.
A key highlight of the Bulgarian
participation was the presentation of two pilot locations included in the
route: Mal Tepe and The Enchanted Forest. Their representatives attended the
exhibition in person and distributed promotional materials, contributing to the
visibility of Bulgaria’s natural and cultural assets within the broader Danube
storytelling concept. Both sites attracted considerable interest due to their
links with local legends, archaeological heritage, and opportunities for
interactive visitor experiences.
Throughout the event, representatives
of the partnership – including the Regional Development Agency with Business
Support Centre for Small and Medium‑Sized Enterprises, Plovdiv – held working meetings
with the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of
Bulgaria at the Bulgarian national stand. The institutional partners were
introduced to the Danube Storytelling Route and the opportunities for its
integration into national and international tourism initiatives. They also
visited the partnership’s stand, where they were acquainted with the concept
and the key features of the route.
The participation of the MYSTICAL
DANUBE partnership in f.re.e Munich 2026 marks an important step in promoting
the Danube Storytelling Route as an innovative and sustainable tourism product.
The event strengthened the partnership network, enhanced the visibility of
pilot locations across all participating countries, and reinforced the route’s
role as a meaningful instrument for the socio‑economic development of rural areas in
the Danube Region.
The MYSTICAL DANUBE project:
"GREEN AND MYSTIC DANUBE ROUTE FOR STORIES TELL - TRANSNATIONAL
VALORIZATION OF NATURAL AND INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS IN THE DANUBE REGION" is funded by the INTERREG
Danube Transnational programme. The Bulgarian partner in the project is the
Regional Development Agency with a Business Support Centre for Small and
Medium-sized Enterprises, and the associated partner is the Plovdiv Regional
Administration.
#MysticalDanube #DanubeRegion #RDABSCSME
#CulturalHeritage