Discussion Papers 2009.
Old and New Borderlines /Frontiers/ Margins 71-78. p.
BULGARIAN–GREEK CULTURAL-HISTORICAL
TOURISM CORRIDORS
MARIA GROZEVA
Introduction
The present work considers some aspects of one of the types of specialised tourism
in Bulgaria, namely the cultural-historical one. An attempt is made for juxtaposi-
tion with Greece, a country having rich traditions in this respect; and situated in the
geographical neighbourhood of Bulgaria.
This choice for comparison and combination, except the geographical proximity
and rich experience of Greece, is determined also by the fact that most of the cul-
tures and civilizations that emerged on the Balkan Peninsula have left similar
monuments in both countries exactly due to this geographical neighbourhood.
As a result of the geographical situation of the Balkan Peninsula, a crossroad,
shortest way and “bridge” between Europe and Asia, it has attracted the attention
and interests of different conquerors since the ancient age. On account of that, it
has been the object of aggressors’ aims; and for long historical periods partly or
entirely had been dominated by a variety of Balkan and foreign civilisations. All
these civilizations, independently of their modern assessment, objectively left
many and various ruins, which represent the interest, not only for the specialists,
but for a lot of tourists. Some part of these monuments is included already in tourist
turnover, but it can’t be claimed that an optimum is reached in this respect. The
knowledge of these monuments, together with other types of tourism, historical
sites etc., have to gain a greater priority in the supply of tourist packages and ser-
vices.
Possibilities for cross-border cooperation between Bulgaria
and Greece in the cultural-historical tourism sphere
Bulgaria disposes over a number of internationally known and confirmed sea,
mountain and balneological resorts, hunting parks, historical, religious, ethno-
graphic and other centres and complexes, drawing many Bulgarian and foreign
tourists (Figure 1). Over 5 million foreigners, excluding transit-passing, visit this
country every year. On its territory are found about 40,000 historical monuments,
sanctuaries, historical sites etc. 8000 of them have a proven high cultural-historical
Maria Grozeva : Bulgarian-Greek Cultural-Historical Tourism Corridors.
In: Old and New Borderlines /Frontiers/ Margins.
Pécs: Centre for Regional Studies, 2009. 71-78. p. Discussion Papers, Special
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MARIA GROZEVA
value. That fact arranges Bulgaria in the third place after Italy and Greece among
countries richest in cultural-historical monuments in Europe. Not accidentally, this
kind of tourism and tourist products is indicated among the perspectives of the
2005–2015 National Strategy for Regional Development of Republic of Bulgaria.
Figure 1
Borderline of the Republic of Bulgaria
Source: Atlas of Bulgaria.
An important prerequisite, which facilitates to a great extent mutually favour-
able cooperation with Greek partners, is the accession of Bulgaria in the European
Union, Greece being a member-country for several decades. The development of
tourism in both Bulgaria and Greece in this context has to be in conformity with
the new global tendencies, determined by the 1995 “A Charter for Sustainable
Tourism”, developed by UNESCO in cooperation with the World Tourism Organi-
zation (WTO). Many authors already make the correct observation that the new
Maria Grozeva : Bulgarian-Greek Cultural-Historical Tourism Corridors.
In: Old and New Borderlines /Frontiers/ Margins.
Pécs: Centre for Regional Studies, 2009. 71-78. p. Discussion Papers, Special
BULGARIAN–GREEK CULTURAL-HISTORICAL TOURISM CORRIDORS
73
characteristics of tourist demand and supply, marketing and advertising strategies
are determined by the higher interest of the tourists in the environment, the in-
creasing interest in the healthy types of recreation, in the cultural-historical heri-
tage.
Trends for the growth of tourism should correspond also with priorities of the
2004 “Programme for development of the tourism”, accepted by the same organi-
zations in Beijing, which request the protection and development of the cultural-
historical heritage, traditions and manners of the local population etc.
There is also an objective competition in tourism, as in the case of all other eco-
nomic activities and sectors. It is expressed in various ways – offering of preferen-
tial seasonal prices, additional free-of-charge services, tourist package subscrip-
tions, aggressive advertising activity etc. The different tour operator companies use
still more effectively a great variety of advertisement approaches to attract tourist
flows. This is a normal practice between competitors. But, having in mind the con-
stant diversification of the offered packages or separate tourist services and the
certain surfeit of the tourist market, wouldn’t it be possible for the competitive
subjects to be transformed into partners? This imposes the necessity of searching
for new possibilities for the enrichment of the tourist potential, available in both
countries.
Naturally, one of the most important possibilities for bilateral cooperation is the
funding of joint projects. Certain financial resources are available within the
framework of the EU PHARE Programme. More than 5.4 million Euro are envi-
sioned in this programme for supporting projects related to the development of cul-
tural, tourist and human resources on both sides of the Bulgarian-Greek border.
The districts of Blagoevgrad, Smolyan, Kardzhali and Haskovo are included in this
range from the Bulgarian side and the prefectures of Thessaloniki, Seres, Drama,
Xanthy, Rhodopi, Evros – from the Greek side.
The local authorities and the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are
among the factors, on which the submission for financing of projects depends, re-
lated to the more comprehensive investigation and use of the existing tourism, in-
cluding cultural-historical tourist resources in this area.
A good example in this respect is the agreement between the ministers of tour-
ism of Bulgaria and Greece for offering a joint tourist product (programme) “The
Rhodopes – the native land of Orpheus”. There is hardly need to argue what the
nationality or tribal affiliation of Orpheus or some other real or semi legendary
personality, but it is important to try to find the common aspects into the discov-
ered historical and archaeological monuments and to incorporate them in similar
bilateral projects. This is the most effective way of using the discovered cultural-
historical sites as the subject of cognitive tourism, which may be advantageous for
both countries. It is exactly the creation of similar common tourist products and
Maria Grozeva : Bulgarian-Greek Cultural-Historical Tourism Corridors.
In: Old and New Borderlines /Frontiers/ Margins.
Pécs: Centre for Regional Studies, 2009. 71-78. p. Discussion Papers, Special
74
MARIA GROZEVA
their joint offering on the tourist markets, exhibitions and stock markets that will
strengthen further on the cross-border cooperation as a whole.
Another common activity, is a tourist centre at the Perperikon ancient Thracian
complex, will be created in the Bulgarian–Greek East Rhodopes mountain region.
The EU PHARE Programme finances this project with 2.4 million Euro. The Pro-
ject aims to increase tourist interest in the common cultural-historical heritage.
Substantiation of creation cultural-historical tourist corridors
in Bulgaria and Greece and their definition
The paper contains a proposal for differentiating the cultural-historical monuments
and sites that had been left as traces from various civilizations and had been built
during different epochs in this part of the Balkan Peninsula – Bulgaria and Greece,
as respective cultural-historical corridors. Here is the place to clarify what is the
exact meaning of the concept of a “cultural-historical tourist corridor”. This is a
geographically (territorially) differentiated sequence (chain) of cultural-historical
objects of similar historical age, origin and features, belonging to a given epoch,
which represent a tourist interest. Very often, except within the territory of one
country, these corridors spread beyond its present borders. Depending on the his-
torical period, in which these axes or corridors are created, they might be prehis-
toric, ancient Greek, Thracian etc. In the case when the aims of the visits are
monuments and sites from one historical epoch, the cultural-historical corridor is
“thematic” or “mono-temporal”. When objects from different epochs are included,
which are in territorial proximity and have transport accessibility, the axes or corri-
dors provisionally might be called “complex” or “poly-temporal”.
The development of similar topics related to proving the existence of cross-
border cultural-historical corridors between the two countries, as well as their dif-
ferentiation as an important segment of the tourist potential, will not only enrich
this potential but will also contribute to its more complete and rational utilisation.
The work takes into consideration only these civilisations and cultures that have
been reliably and authentically historically documented in our territories without
taking into account the eventual remains from some cultures that have not been
permanently established on the Balkan Peninsula – for example Celts, Goths and
others. The reliable evidence for them is rather fragmentary and scarce. In this
context, various remains have been scientifically established in the two countries
from the following historical ages and civilizations:
Prehistoric;
Classical Greek antiquity and Hellenistic period;
Thracian;
Byzantine (East Roman Empire).
Maria Grozeva : Bulgarian-Greek Cultural-Historical Tourism Corridors.
In: Old and New Borderlines /Frontiers/ Margins.
Pécs: Centre for Regional Studies, 2009. 71-78. p. Discussion Papers, Special
BULGARIAN–GREEK CULTURAL-HISTORICAL TOURISM CORRIDORS
75
Of course, some of these epochs or civilizations existed and developed in par-
allel (synchronously) in the respective historical period and exerted mutual impact
on each other to a certain extent, except that each of these civilisations had inher-
ited something from the previous ones and this influence had also been reflected in
the monuments that had reached the contemporary epoch.
The geographical distribution of main Bulgarian-Greek CHC
(cultural-historical corridors)
The concept of CHC, however, is provisional and it should not be perceived in the
direct geometrical sense. The aim is to point out the common aspects of the cul-
tural-historical monuments that had been created throughout the ages by the single
peoples and to outline their connection with the respective historical epochs and
civilisations, as well as their significance as a common Balkan heritage.
The cultural-historical sites of the aforementioned epochs, and objects of cul-
tural-historical tourism, are situated in different parts of the territory of Bulgaria
and Greece. But the main Bulgarian-Greek CHC are situated in the Rhodope
Mountains and at the Black Sea coast.
Rhodope CHC includes numerous antiquates from the mentioned epochs but the
special feature of this corridor is the existence of a great number of prehistoric rock
monuments. Two basic groups are mainly distinguished between the preserved
remains: megaliths and caves. It is considered that most of the megaliths (menhires,
steinkreise, hochkreuze – kromletsi and dolmens) were created during two of the
three epochs of the Stone Age – the Mesolithic (10,000–6,000 B.C.) and the Neo-
lithic (6–5,000 B.C.) periods. Science has not yet succeeded at explaining with
certainty what the purpose of these stone structures was, but the most widespread
opinion is that they had cultic functions. Some of them were used later as dwellings
and for other purposes. According to Ovcharov (2005) megalithic structures of
various forms have been discovered in Sakar, Strandzha, East Rhodopes, East Stara
Planina Mts. and in other areas in Bulgaria. A part of the dolmens (their number
being about 100) are found on both sides of the contemporary Bulgarian-Greek
state border in East Rhodopes and they are dated as Early Iron Age. According to
some authors (for example Gyurov and Rangelov, Zacharieva, etc.), other rock
objects, which are widely distributed all over the Bulgarian territory, belong also to
the megalithic culture – stone sanctuaries in caves, rock niches and other forma-
tions as these in East Rhodopes, the caves used as dwellings during the Paleolithic,
Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age. Interesting rock sepulchres are found near
the Pchelari and Ovchevo villages in Kardzhali district. Numerous domestic ob-
jects, weapons etc., have been discovered in many caves, but the rock images on
Maria Grozeva : Bulgarian-Greek Cultural-Historical Tourism Corridors.
In: Old and New Borderlines /Frontiers/ Margins.
Pécs: Centre for Regional Studies, 2009. 71-78. p. Discussion Papers, Special
76
MARIA GROZEVA
their walls, preserved to different extents, have the highest value. The first settle-
ments in Greece also date back to the Paleolithic. Their remains are found in North
Greece near the Bulgarian border, as well as in many other places. The megalithic
culture in Greece was created by the Kars and Pelasgi tribes. Those were the first
autochthonous settlers in continental and insular Greece and predecessors of the
ancient Greeks, which have not been established to possess expressed megalithic
practice and traditions. The considerations mentioned so far represent a sufficient
argument for the differentiation of the prehistoric monuments at that part of the
border as an individual cultural-historical tourist configuration. It is to be regretted
that most of them are not sufficiently renowned and there is no good transport to
ensure access to them. In this corridor are situated also objects from the Thracian
epoch (Perperikon sanctuary, the Mezek tomb near Svilengrad, Aleksandrovo tomb
near the city of Haskovo etc.) and Byzantine objects (remains of mediaeval towers
and fortresses).
Black Sea coast corridor – the sites of this corridor are situated along the Bul-
garian Black Sea coast and had been created during various epochs, but the most
typical monuments are from the classical Greek antiquity (mainly from the period
VІ – ІV B.C.) and the Hellenistic epoch. Classical Greek antiquity is also called the
“Golden Age” or “Golden Centuries”. This was the period when all basic classical
samples of Greek art and culture were created. Most of the eminent Greek writers,
philosophers and scientists worked during this period. Large scale construction
took place, accompanied by vigorous development of the arts, sciences, law, trade
etc. Classical Greek antiquity by means of ancient Greek colonization at the Bul-
garian Black Sea coast had left numerous traces. Such interesting remains have
been discovered and are fit for tourist visits in the areas of the ancient towns-states
of Apollonia Pontica (now Sozopol), Mesembria (present Nesebar), Odessos
(Varna) and others, created by Milethian, Dorian and Ionian Greeks. The section of
the fortress built by the ancient Mesembrians in the VI century B.C. is well pre-
served. It surrounded the peninsula of the present Nesebar for protection against
rivals during this epoch – the Ionian colony of Apollonia Pontica; the remains of an
ancient well are preserved – a part of the temple of Aphrodite in Sozopol, built
probably in IV B.C., as well as many other monuments, a significant part of them
being restored and prepared for tourist visits. The numerous stelae, weapons, uten-
sils, coins and other exponents are exhibited in the rich collections in museums.
The Hellenistic epoch was the epoch when the first Eurasian intercontinental
empire of Alexander The Great, was created, through which the ancient Greek
(Hellenistic) civilization was distributed over almost the entire Balkan Peninsula,
Asia Minor and the Middle East. A large share of the Thracian monuments bear its
specific features. In this context, many of the remains of the Thracian and Helle-
nistic epochs overlap with respect to time, construction style etc., which is due to
the certain hellenisation of the Thracian tribes and is the product of the influence of
Maria Grozeva : Bulgarian-Greek Cultural-Historical Tourism Corridors.
In: Old and New Borderlines /Frontiers/ Margins.
Pécs: Centre for Regional Studies, 2009. 71-78. p. Discussion Papers, Special
BULGARIAN–GREEK CULTURAL-HISTORICAL TOURISM CORRIDORS
77
Hellenistic culture and traditions especially on the Thracian ruling strata. Such
monuments with respect to their images, building structure and other features, are
concentrated mainly in the towns – Balchik (Bizone, Dionisopolis), Varna (Odes-
sos), Nesebar (Mesembria), Sozopol (Apolonia Pontica), Pomorie (Anhialo).
Examples of cross-border tourist axes could be prehistoric sites on both sides of
the Bulgarian–Greek border, monuments of Thracian and Ancient Greek cultural-
historical heritage, visits to Byzantine and Bulgarian churches and monasteries –
i.e. the formation of religious tourist axes etc. These are examples of thematic
tourist axes.
In the geographical respect, for example, the Rhodopes-Strandzha cultural-his-
torical corridor could be successfully combined with the Macedonian-Thracian one
on Greek territory.
And since, as already mentioned, in the historical plan the cultural-historical
monuments were created during epochs, when the whole or almost the whole Bal-
kan peninsula was under the reign or range of one civilisation (Hellenistic, Roman
etc.), it is possible not only to establish connections between the axes but also to
offer and advertise them in the form of cross-border cultural tourist corridors, and
to form respective tourist products, presented and offered at international exhibi-
tions and stock-markets.
Of course, similar cross-border cultural-historical tourist connections, routes
and products may and have to be created with other neighbouring countries too.
Along the Danube River, for example, cross-border tourist corridors presenting
still preserved cultural-historical objects from the Roman Empire could be created.
At that time a large-scale construction was started. A specific feature of this corri-
dor is the large number of fortresses, built near the river banks. Plenty of roads, for-
tresses, well planned towns urbanised for their epoch with water supply conduits,
theatres, therms (public baths), temples and other public buildings were erected in
the conquered Thracian lands. Significant number of towns emerged around the
military camps of the legions allocated at the Danube coasts. In the present Bul-
garian territory, these are the ancient fortress Ratiaria (now Archar village), fortress
Nove (near the present town of Svishtov), Dorostorum (now Silistra), Bononia
(Vidin), Almus (Lom), Sextaguinta Prista (Ruse), Transmariska (Tutrakan) and
others. Some of the Roman towns in the interior of the country were created around
or on top of already existing Thracian settlements, mineral springs, defiles and
strategic places. Others were entirely newly built. Ancient Roman towns – Nico-
polis ad Istrum (now near Nikyup villige), Abritus (present town of Razgrad), Ra-
tiaria (Archar village) and some others have been partially uncovered until now. In
the town of Silistra there is a Thracian sepulchre, which is a unique monument of
world importance from the IV century B.C., with its rich ornamentation of well
preserved frescoes. The alignments of the most important Roman roads are pre-
served along significant distances, for example the diagonal road “Via Militaris”,
Maria Grozeva : Bulgarian-Greek Cultural-Historical Tourism Corridors.
In: Old and New Borderlines /Frontiers/ Margins.
Pécs: Centre for Regional Studies, 2009. 71-78. p. Discussion Papers, Special
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MARIA GROZEVA
passing throughout the entire Balkan Peninsula, “Via Egnatia”, passing along the
northern Aegean coast of present Greece and many other roads, along which nu-
merous post stations existed, the remains of some of them being preserved until
now.
Conclusions
Regardless of the great ethno-religious diversity of the people inhabiting the Bal-
kan Peninsula, they posses many common features both in psychology and tradi-
tions, life style and folklore, etc., which result from the common past and destiny
during the previous historical periods. The concept, briefly proposed here, can
overcome or at least mitigate the real or assumed rivalry between the countries on
the peninsula, since all of them have created significant cultural monuments, repre-
senting incontrovertible tourist interest and being one of the most attractive in
tourist respect not only in Europe but also in the world.
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