• 11-06-2026 10:00
• Velizar Petrov

A journey that begins in Plovdiv and leads to the magic of the "Enchanted Forest"

Every genuine journey begins with a story. Sometimes it is hidden within an ancient legend; at other times, it lingers in the aroma of home-cooked food, in a glass of wine shared among friends, or in the warm smiles of people who lovingly preserve the traditions of their homeland.

With this very spirit, the pilot testing route of the Mystical Danube project was launched by the Regional Development Agency with Business Support Centre for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, the Bulgarian project partner. The journey began at the Agency's office, which serves as the Danube Route Contact Point in Bulgaria, located in Hall 27 of the International Fair Plovdiv. There, participants were introduced to the concept of the Storytelling Route—a network that weaves together people, traditions, natural heritage and authentic experiences—and to the newly developed mobile application designed to transform these stories into easily accessible inspiration for every traveller.

After this introduction, the map came to life, leading the participants to a place whose very name promises something extraordinary.

Nestled amidst the greenery of the Enchanted Forest in the village of Vinitsa, Municipality of Parvomay, they discovered a place where nature, local flavours and heartfelt hospitality come together to create an experience that is difficult to capture in words. It is no coincidence that the Enchanted Forest has been selected as one of the pilot locations featured in the mobile application—a destination where every visitor can immerse themselves in a story told not through text, but through people, food and atmosphere.

The hosts shared their philosophy of regenerative, gastronomic and slow tourism—a way of travelling that invites us to slow down, listen to local voices and experience the true character of a region through its traditions. Around a welcoming table, authentic local dishes were paired with regional Mavrud wines, each sip reflecting the richness of the land and the dedication of the people who cultivate it.

The sweetest chapter of the experience came with a homemade blackberry cream ice cream, crafted from fruit grown in the Enchanted Forest itself. More than a dessert, it embodied the freshness of nature, the comfort of home and the memory of a place that quietly invites you to return.

Throughout the pilot event, representatives of the local community, tourism service providers and members of the media experienced both the route and the mobile application in a real-life setting, sharing valuable impressions and ideas for their further development. Every conversation, every encounter and every shared moment became part of shaping a new tourism product—one that places people and their stories at its heart rather than simply showcasing landmarks.

Because the most meaningful journeys are not those that merely take us from one destination to another. They are the ones that encourage us to linger a little longer, savour an unfamiliar flavour, listen to someone's story and leave with the feeling that we have discovered something truly authentic.

This is the essence of Mystical Danube: transforming travel into a deeply personal experience and turning every stop along the route into a story worth telling again.

After all, every region has its own story—let us tell them together.

#MysticalDanube #DanubeRegion #RDABSCSME #CulturalHeritage