PHARE gives Zlatograd 190 000 Euro

Nov Jivot Daily, 21st February 2007

The project “On the road of the Thracians” of the Zlatograd municipality has won 190 000 euro from the Phare program - crossborder collaboration. The town applied for the subsidy together with its fraternized town of Hrisopulis in Greece, said the vice-mayor of Zlatograd Krasimir Mladenov.

The project will be realized in 18 months. "Our intentions are to bring into the world what our Thracian ancestors have left to us near the village of Strashimir", said the vice-mayor. The native people and archeologists have already found ancient coins and ceramics dated before XIVth century. Now the place attracts many tourists and plans include restoration of the fortress and the antiques to be exhibited in a museum.

The Thracian fortress has been recognized as a national record of the past since 1976. Archeologists from the Regional Historical Museum of Smolyan will be involved in the excavation. 20 unemployed people will be occupied in the excavations and 10 guides will be trained. They will be guides to every cultural sight in the municipality of Zlatograd.