Registration form

PROJECT: „TourNet – Promotion of cross-border networking for development of a common Bulgarian-Romanian Tourist Product” Ref.No: 1-3.1-2 MIS Code: 25 - Cross Border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013

CrossTour Fair 2012 B2B Registration form 28-29.01.2012 RUSE, BULGARIA

Organisation Name Municipality of Type Hotel Guest house Other type of accommodation Restaurant/Food and drink Spa hotel or medical/ health centre Municipality Tourist Information Centre Tour operator Travel agent Other (please specify)

------Size Population – 10756, it covers a territory of 671.39 square kilometers Address Ilarion Makariopolski str, 32 , Country Elena, , Bulgaria Phone number 06151/61-32 Fax number 06151/65-10 E-mail [email protected] Website www.elena.bg

www.cbcromaniabulgaria.eu Investing in your future! Romania-Bulgaria Cross Border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013 is co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund

Participant First name Dilyan Last name Mlazev Gender (M/F) male Position Mayor Organisation profile (describe briefly) HISTORY & EXPERIENCE: Elena is a small mountain town, which impresses with its old churches, clock tower, wooden houses and cobbled streets. At the same time Elena is a holly symbol of the Bulgarian revival spirit, a never failing source of patriotism and beauty. Nowadays Elena is a town of new investments, modern alimentary, sartorial and woodworking. Many new hotels and guest houses are located nearby. They are built in the spirit of old architecture in combination with modern style. History of the town of Elena- Elena hollow had carried life in its bosoms as far as 6000 years before Christ. The armies of Philip II and Alexander the Great had passed through the valley. During the Ottoman rule Elena became a big settlement giving shelter to many refugees from different part of Bulgarian Kingdom. Thanks to their patriotic and rebellious spirit the well-off citizens, tradesmen and chorbadjii built massive houses, churches, bridges and fountains. Elena is the only town which during the had three churches – “Saint Nicola”, “The Assumption”, and “The Nativity of Holly Virgin”. Nature – The town of Elena is located in the foot of Elena’s Balkan, in Elena River’s valley. The climate is temperate-continental. The air is fresh and favorable to the cure of asthma and lung diseases. Elena is abundant in timber resources. On its territory there are two forest reserves – White Cow reserve with venerable beech forests, karsts sources and high limestone rocks, shaped into picturesque form. The second Haidouk Rocky Peak is a century-old beech where there are also sycamore, spruce, winter oak trees and fern.. There are a lot of bushes such as hawthorn, sweetbrier, hazel, and cornel. Elena’s Balkan is a good game region. Widely distributed are roe, red deer and wild-boar. The representatives of the small-game are hares, partridges, quails. In the high mountainous regions hawks, falcons. The rivers teem with barbell and chub. In Dam carp sheat-fish, white-fish are multiplied. The Tourist Association “Chumerna” take care of your unforgettable spending of time here there are 8 eco-paths created and supported in the municipality. The more attractive are to Markov stone, to Raev stone, The Waterfall of the river in Hristovtsi village. In the region we offer also horse ridding and hunting. Cultural heritage - One can get a notion of the past of Elena if one visits the “Museum of Renaissance and the struggle for nation liberation ” which disposes of five museum exposition. In the Daskalolivnitsata which is emblematic for the town there are two expositions. In “Elena during the Renaissance period” exposition with the help of pictures and documents the history of the town from its creation to the Russian-Turk liberation war is presented. The second called “Archangel Mihail” which is situated on the ground floor consists of icons, mural paintings and church plate. Saint Nilola church is unique with mural paintings and its altar and it also disposes of a museum exposition. It has an excellent acoustics. In Kamburovia han( Kamburov Inn) a building transferred from Yovkovtsi village is presented the way of life and culture of population of Elena region during the Renaissance period . Ilarion Makariopolski House- museum, situated in the center of the town has preserved and still tells about the way of life of notable Elena writers of the Bulgarian National revival: Ilarion Mkariopolski fighter for church independence, his brother Nikola Mihailowski, Stoyan Mihailowski a poet-satirist. The Clock Tower - built in the distant 1812, it can be seen from any place of the town. Popnikolowata kashta ( Popnikolov’s house) with amazing architectural style, meets and guests of the town and through the displayed fossils, found in Elena region, sends them back in history, millions of years ago. The Assumption church built in the distant 1837, with materials from Kaleto fortification and made entirely of stone. To this very day, the church gathers the population of Elena keeps their faith and spirit. The five Razsukanov’s houses , built by Hadji Dimitar Razsukanov for his sons, form an entire urban ensemble. Opposite them the church “Nativity of the Holy Virgin” – a mainstay of Christianity. Folklore and Customs – folk holidays and traditions are an inseparable part of the culture heritage of the citizens of Elena. Here celebrated holidays are – Todorov den( Horse Easter ) – in the morning of Horse Easter all people go to flat open area an there the young men with their horses race with them. Lazarov den or Lazaruvane is the most important custom celebrated two weeks before Easter Only maidens ( lazarki) take part in it , they sing songs to each family member, wishing fertility. Glolyama Bogoroditsa is holiday dedicated to the mother of God. Christmas – the celebration starts at midnight with the meeting of “GOOD GUESTS KOLEDARI” – they are single young men who go caroling round the village, they bless each family and its house as the sing Christmas songs. The hosts give rich presents to them. Crafts – nowadays are preserved wood-carving, icon painting, pottery so our guests can buy, make or take a souvenirs as a remembrance of our beautiful and hospitable town. You are welcome, we are waiting for you.

MAIN PRODUCTS, SERVICES, CORE ACTIVITIES:

ACTIVITY AS PER TYPE OF TOURISM: cognitive tourism event tourism recreational tourism trekking tourism cultural tourism hobby tourism curative (balneological) tourism religious tourism wine tourism business tourism (including congress and fair tourism) sport tourism extreme tourism agricultural tourism military tourism mountain, sea, river tourism social tourism rural tourism adventure tourism ecotourism culinary tourism hunting and fishing tourism

TYPE(S) OF CO-OPERATION SOUGHT Trade Intermediary (agent, representative, distributor) offered requested Joint Venture offered requested Development and offering of joint products offered requested

www.cbcromaniabulgaria.eu Investing in your future! Romania-Bulgaria Cross Border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013 is co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund