the targeted region spares a great resource which should and can be sustainably exploited by the tourism stakeholders, in order to improve the life of local communities: unique historical sites showing moments from the history of mankind, since prehistoric age to communist era industrial buildings, together with breath-taking natural sightseeing and small villages where daily life has many similarities with the one from a hundred years ago. Most often, the stories of those objectives remain untold to the visitors, thus they can make one to wonder for the moment, with fewer chances to spread the word about them. The Project team will collect the stories for 20 of those “must-see places” and use them within the specific activities of the project. 

Gastronomic Route - two major assets of the region, with roots anchored deep back in time, are represented by the traditional gastronomy and the wines. In order to properly promote these touristic points of interest, the Project team will choose the most representative culinary recipes in the cross border area and identify the places where they are still prepared respecting the traditional ingredients (ex: stuffed cabbage rolls (sarmale), polenta (mamaliga), sausages (kobasice), grilled minced meat rolls (mititei/cevapcici), mixed meat burgers (pleskavite), fish dishes, pies, etc). As the area is famous for its wines, the project team will go to the important wineries from Oprișor, Vanju Mare, Corcova, etc in Mehedinți and to the ones in Negotin to document the details regarding their best products, the contacts and the tourist offer available for visitors. The information will be collected for further use in Project’s activities.

from 548 km of common border between the two states, 235 are on Danube and 180 km from the river’s length is situated in the Project’s targeted area. From the tranquillity and peace of sailing to the recreational activities of canoeing, kayaking, jet-skiing or simply admire the beauties of the Danube Gorges from a boat, the region has them all. The team will identify the most active local associations or providers in this field, in order to implement the Project’s activities.

not only the water sports fans have the opportunity to enjoy the richness of the area – the adventurers on wheels can do that too, and yet to the highest levels of satisfaction. The cross border area abounds in trails with various levels of complexity for the off-road and enduro-bike or motorcycle - professionals and amateurs, which is also a great chance to develop this kind of tourism in the region. The main associations and tourism operators active in this field will be identified, to fulfil the Project goals.

in the whole area, on both sides of the border, hunting and fishing were traditionally wide spread. Nowadays strictly regulated according to the E.U. principles in both countries, these activities are practiced by the members of national or local hunters and anglers associations. However, despite the rules, the poaching still represents a serious threat for the area’s ecosystems and for the nature’s equilibrium. Starting from these two realities and considering the respective domains as being on one hand, a major opportunity to develop a tourism of special interest, this niche – but profit bringer tourism, and on the other a necessity to empower the environment protection measures, the Project team will identify the main local actors – associations and groups – acting in the field, in order to carry on further the proposed activities of this operation.

The idea of taking a walk for pleasure in the countryside was developed in the 18th-century and arose because of changing life’s attitudes. Nowadays, more and more people do walking tours due to the fact that the major part of population spends working days sitting in the office. Given that the targeted area has natural and climatic characteristic that are very suitable for hiking, the main trails and paths will be identified for the Project’s purposes. Promotion of this activity represents one of the main opportunities for comprehensive rural development.

in the targeted area exist more than 200 underground karstic systems and caves. From the second biggest cave of Romania, the 11,000 meters long Topolnita Cave to the ones surrounded by legends about hidden treasures as Rajko’s Cave and Isverna caves and including others that can be accessed directly by the Danube, as Ponicova Cave, these subterranean examples of nature’s magnificence are one of the most important assets of the Mehedinti – Borski region, undervalued and underused as tourist attraction. Through the trips done in the area, the project team will identify the caves that can be visited, the administrative structures involved in their management and the conditions that must be fulfilled by potential visitors. The information is mandatory for further activities in the project.