Pilote site
Dobrich
Bulgary
Pilote Site
Dobrich
Bulgary
The Ethnographic Complex “Staria Dobrich” / “Old Dobrich” is an open-air architectural and ethnographic museum located in the centre of Dobrich. Dobrich municipality represents the town of Dobrich. It is the largest town in North Eastern Bulgaria with a population of appr. 72,000 people (nexus 2022).
The complex recreates the atmosphere of the old Dobrich bazaar and presents traditional crafts from the Dobrudzha region, mainly from the late 19th and early 20th century.
Visitors can walk among restored traditional buildings, craft workshops, an old clock tower, a stone fountain and an old Bulgarian inn, while also observing demonstrations of crafts such as tailoring, knitting, woodturning and goldsmithing. There is a bakery, a millet-ale (or boza) shop, and an old style café. Visitors can try their hand at pottery, visit the café and taste the famous byalo sladko, boza, and Bulgarian wine.
As a charming cultural landmark the Old Dobrich Complex preserves the spirit of Bulgarian Revival traditions and offers an authentic glimpse into the everyday life, craftsmanship and heritage of the region. The complex is suitable for cultural visits, educational programmes, folklore demonstrations and relaxed walks through one of Dobrich’s most recognisable historical places.
The museum shows the architecture, customs, and crafts of Dobrich at the end of XIX and the beginning of XX AD. Its purpose is to preserve and develop the cultural and occupational traditions in the region.
Pilote Sites
Project Partners
Associated Partners
Study Visit
Dobrich
Municipality
Dobrich Municipality encompasses the town of Dobrich, the second-largest town in northeastern Bulgaria and the largest urban centre in Dobrich Administrative Region. Located in the heart of the fertile Dobrudzha region, Dobrich has a long-standing connection with agriculture, which remains a key sector of the local economy and an important contributor to Bulgaria’s food production.
As a regional centre, Dobrich provides a wide range of administrative, educational, healthcare, cultural and business services to the surrounding municipalities and rural communities. The local economy is primarily based on agriculture, food processing, trade, services and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Dobrich Municipality hosts the pilot location for the establishment and operation of the project hub – the Open-Air Museum “The Old Dobrich”. It will support the valuable sets for connecting local traditions, crafts, cultural practices and biocultural heritage with contemporary approaches to sustainable tourism and community engagement.
Through its involvement in the project, Dobrich Municipality will further strengthen cooperation between local authorities, cultural institutions, community organisations and other relevant stakeholders. Representatives of the municipality will also participate in international meetings and events organised within the project, contributing to the exchange of experience, good practices and innovative approaches among the participating regions.
Ministery of Tourism
in Bulgary
Celebrates the civilisation of Taleggio and Strachitunt cheeses, rooted in the seasonal movements of the bergamini herdsmen and in the traditional mountain huts (baite) scattered across the valley.
The Ministry of Tourism is a strategic policy actor in enhancing tourism development and the international recognition of Bulgaria. The main priority of the Ministry of Tourism is to create the necessary conditions for sustainable growth and competitiveness of the tourism sector and to implement the national policies in an effective, transparent and lawful manner.
The development of Bulgarian tourism is based on the principles of sustainability, increased productivity and competitiveness, supported by innovation, advanced technologies and modern policy approaches.
The Ministry aims to strengthen both traditional tourism sectors and emerging areas with strong potential for future growth, while encouraging cooperation, innovation and the development of sustainable tourism clusters. Its mission is to pursue a clear and transparent tourism policy that safeguards public interests and is aligned with European Union principles and priorities.
A key objective is to position Bulgaria as a recognisable and preferred year-round tourist destination, building on its distinctive national identity, rich cultural heritage, authentic traditions and diverse natural resources. Aligned with PLACE project, a particular emphasis is put on supporting specialised forms of tourism, improving the quality and sustainability of the national tourism products, and strengthening its international competitiveness.