Project “Remember the war, appreciate your liberty”, Project code: ROBG 449, is cofinanced by the European Union through European Regional Development Found under the Interreg V-A Romania-Bulgaria Programme 2014 – 2020; Amount of EU contribution: 424,932,97 euro. Priority Axe 2: A green region, Specific objective 2.1: To improve the sustainable use of natural heritage and resources and cultural heritage.

Project “Remember the War, to appreciate your liberty” addresses the issues of sustainable use of natural heritage and resource and cultural heritage. The historical heritage in the cross border area isn’t exploited at real value especially in the both representative towns, Calafat and Vidin, important locations in unfolding historical events from 1877-1878 period, considering that Calafat was the location where the Independence War started, from here it was launched the first salvo. In this period are the battles at village of Smrdan (Inovo, Bulgaria), where many Romanian soldiers die, moreover, the factual Liberation of Vidin has been achieved. More than that, across the Danube valley, on both sides, exists an impressive number of monuments dedicated to this event, monuments that are not included in a tourist product.

We aim to create and promote a representative tourist product for the cross-border area Calafat – Vidin by bringing to life the athmosphere of 1877-1878 Independence War battles and inauguration of an event, “Calafat and Vidin in 1877-1878 period”, with cross-border resonance.

The major challenge is the reconstitution of the battle “Calafat and Vidin in 1877-1878 period” in order to create epochal and historical atmosphere, which will be the emblem of the both towns, Calafat and Vidin, in order to attract more tourist in this zone. The aim is to create epochal and historical atmosphere through original items or uniforms and gear manufactured including edged weapons and fire arms replicas, congruent with the original historical items, for the period commemorated.

Another target is to realize the public events linked on the importance of the microhistory event: military -historical reconstitution, public presentation, contacts with the lesser known aspects of the events.

Another major challenge is the implication of young pupils in the reconstruction of this battle through the military trainings, putting them in direct contact with a military outfit and military everyday life for the corresponding historical epoch.

Another objective is the identification of historical monuments dedicated for this major event “Calafat and Vidin in 1877-1878 period” and their introduction in one tourist product (brochure) for the entire cross border area. The historical monuments will be the location for the next reconstitution of battles in the representative area.

The program outputs targeted by this project are:

• The creation of a new integrated cross-border tourism product based on the sustainable promotion of historical events and monuments bringing to life the athmosphere of 1877-1878 Independence War battles.
• The project will contribute to the increase of tourist overnights in the target region with at least 500.