Timok – Danube Cycling

Project Title: “Timok – Danube Cycling”

Project Acronym: TDC

Lead Partner: Vidin Municipality

Project Partners: Municipality of Knjaževac, Vidin Chamber of Commerce, Institute for Border Areas

Project Duration: 21 June 2025 – 20 December 2026

Total Project Budget: EUR 981,027.64

Project overall objective:

Expand tourist connections and recognition of the cross-border area between Vidin (Bulgaria) and Zajecar (Serbia), improve their cross-border connectivity, and encourage sustainable tourism.

Specific Objective:

The specific goal is to implement the cycling route Timok- Danube Cycle, which will connect with the existing Eurovelo 6 and Eurovelo 13 The Iron Curtain Road, part of which are the border territories of the districts of Vidin and Zajecar, also Knjazevac, as its constituent municipality.

Development of the Analysis of biking accessibility of the main tourist attractions in Vidin and Zaječar districts The analysis will cover 10 attractions in each district.
Preparation of the Recommendations for improving the accessibility of the main tourist attractions in Vidin and Zaječar districts.
Development of two biking handbooks: Cycling for health and Biking accessibility for Hospitality establishments
Rehabilitation and construction of a network of cycling paths in the Danube Park in Vidin.
Construction of a pedestrian–cycling path in Knjaževac with a length of 1,825 meters.
Identification and definition of 10 thematic cycling tourist routes in Vidin and Zaječar districts.
Creation of promotional movies for the 10 defined thematic cycling tourist routes.
Organization of 2 workshops and 4 trainings to strengthen capacities for cycling tourism in the cross-border region of both countries.
Installation of 4 digital Info Points with augmented reality along cycling routes in Vidin and Zaječar districts.
Development of a study: Enhancing the Role of Local Authorities in Improving Tourism Mobility.
Organization of the conference: The Role of Local Authorities in the Cross-Border Region.
Development of the “Timok–Danube Cycling” web platform to provide relevant information to cycling tourists along the Timok–Danube route.
Organization of the opening ceremony for the new pedestrian–cycling path in Knjaževac.
Organization of the final project conference in Vidin.

A total of 600 people, including citizens and visitors of both cities, are expected to attend the official opening ceremonies of the rehabilitated or newly built cycling paths in Vidin and Knjaževac.
By implementing the project, a new tourism product will be created through the improvement of sections of cycling infrastructure, conducting analyses and developing recommendations for enhancing cycling accessibility in Vidin and Zaječar districts along the Timok–Danube route, preparation of cycling manuals, creation of thematic cycling tourist routes, and strengthening the capacity for cycling tourism. Additionally, new marketing practices will be tested through the production of 20 promotional films and the development of the “Timok–Danube Cycling” web platform.

The project is co-funded by EU through the Interreg-IPA CBC Bulgaria–Serbia Programme