The houses of Vidin have stories to tell—stories of bold merchants, dreamers, modern Bulgaria’s founding fathers. When Volen Antov leads visitors through the streets of his hometown, he’s not just pointing at facades—he’s reviving voices, drawing out the hidden stories tucked behind old walls. Since founding his travel agency, Fiesta Tours, Vidin has been his personal cause. And when he joined the project “Vidin: A Gateway to Europe,” in partnership with New Bulgarian University and the Regional History Museum—with support from the America for Bulgaria Foundation—he saw how his city could begin to tell a new story.
The project created architectural and historical walking tours based on the book series The Houses Still Speak. But the result wasn’t just a tourist offering—it was a kind of awakening. “Before that, I hadn’t realized how much can happen when people with different backgrounds and ideas come together,” says Volen.
This awakening didn’t happen in isolation. It’s part of a small but growing movement—a network of people and organizations across Bulgaria who share a belief that tourism should serve communities and preserve authenticity. Through its grant programs and ongoing support, the America for Bulgaria Foundation is one of the quiet backers of this movement. But perhaps the most valuable thing it does is bring people together—those who aren’t waiting for a ready-made solution but are already out there making things happen.
These connections often start with a recommendation, a contact passed along, a moment of trust between partners. Daniela Stoeva of Tandem Travel—a veteran tour operator and former deputy minister of tourism who works primarily with European visitors—credits the Foundation and its network of like-minded partners for helping her see Bulgaria’s Northwest with new eyes. Through the stories of locals and the energy of people revitalizing the region, she began to imagine new routes and new experiences.
Her company’s latest tour of the Northwest begins in Vidin, with a detour to Belogradchik’s fortress and its towering red rocks. From there, the route continues through Chiprovtsi and Vratsa, with wine tastings at the train station in Lyutibrod, visits with local producers, and even a few opera evenings along the way.
“The winning formula is in the well-balanced mix,” says Daniela. “You need the must-see icons, but also the hidden places and local experiences.” She works with the Jolly Vintners, with Gergana Kabaivanova of Pendara, a platform for rural tourism experiences, and plans to include the Devetaki Plateau, in central North Bulgaria, in future itineraries. For her, tourism opens a door to deeper understanding—for travelers and hosts alike.
That search for authenticity connects Daniela with another like-minded guide: Stefan Bozadzhiev of Lyuba Tours. For Stefan, partnership is a long-term human relationship built on mutual respect. With Pendara’s help, he brings groups to Yakoruda, in southwestern Bulgaria, where local host Reshide invites guests to cook with her, don traditional costumes, and prepare trahana, a fermented soup base. “Our guests can feel that these people are keepers of tradition,” says Stefan. “We don’t just include them in the program—we honor them.”
His tours often include a giving component: guests support local schools, libraries, and community causes. “This isn’t charity,” he says. “It’s a way of saying: we see you. And we believe in you.” His network of partners spans colleagues working across different markets, all united by a shared philosophy: that sustainable tourism means helping communities thrive, not exploiting them. Local librarians, teachers, and entrepreneurs become collaborators in creating experiences that touch both visitors and hosts.
These human connections run deep in Vidin. Volen Antov doesn’t just lead tours—he offers free ones for local students and residents, too. Stefan Bozadzhiev, in his hometown of Kazanlak, does the same for school groups, sharing stories and places that matter. “When you fall in love with the place you live in, you become its ambassador,” he says. His sister, Bella Antova, helps the city come alive in her own way—through artisan markets and creative events organized with the local Stetika Association. The energy isn’t imported; it’s generated from within.
Vratsa tells a similar story. What began as a digital platform—Open Vratsa—has evolved into a real-world community. Tours, events, and collaborative projects now bring together local guides, craftspeople, entrepreneurs, and active citizens. Despite being labeled “the poorest region in the EU,” Vratsa is one of the northwestern towns that are beginning to reclaim their assets—driven by the people who call it home. “They were so impressed by what they saw!” recalls Open Vratsa’s coordinator Hristo Hristov, speaking about a visiting group from Topolovgrad in May 2025.
New visitors, new perspectives, new opportunities—grounded in care for the place and its identity.
These examples show that when partnership is more than a formality—when it’s a way of working—real results follow. This isn’t about importing ready-made solutions. It’s about recognizing and supporting the efforts that already exist, waiting for a little belief and encouragement to take flight. The America for Bulgaria Foundation offers that kind of support: quiet but focused, connecting people who can build something meaningful together. These relationships form organically, but they need trust, time, and space to grow.
For Volen Antov, returning to Vidin was never a compromise. “I always knew I wanted to live here,” he says. Today, he and his wife are renovating the old family house in the village of Bukovets, where they plan to host guests for dinner and offer a slice of real life. “Like they do in the Rhodope Mountains or Strandzha,” he says, “but here, in my village.”
Tourism, at its best, becomes something more than an industry. It’s a way to connect, to remember, to awaken. And when there’s trust, vision, and a community of believers—places don’t just survive. They begin to thrive from the inside out.
