Press Release – Kick-off Meeting of the project “CulTour crossing borders”

P R E S S   R E L E A S E

Kilkis, November 7th, 2025

From Europos in Kilkis, to Bansko in Strumica

A cultural bridge for tomorrow

On October 31, 2025, the Ephorate of Antiquities of Kilkis officially launched the project “Ancient Europos – Doiran Lake – Roman Baths Bansko: Crossing Borders for Sustainable Culture and Tourism,” with the acronym “CulTour crossing borders,” under the INTERREG VI-A IPA Programme “Greece–North Macedonia 2021–2027.”

The Kick-off Meeting took place at the “Mikro Ktima Titou” winery in Goumenissa, bringing together local authorities, cultural experts, and tourism professionals from both sides of the border. The event marked not only the beginning of a new European project but also the start of a shared cultural journey across time and space.

The Ephorate of Antiquities of Kilkis, as Lead Beneficiary, collaborates with the Region of Central Macedonia, the National Institution “Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments and Museum” – Strumica, and the NGO CISS/Cooperazione Internazionale Sud Sud – Skopje branch.

The project’s vision is to build a living bridge between Greece and North Macedonia, using culture as a driver for sustainable growth, creativity and mutual understanding. Through joint actions, the partners will work to protect, enhance and promote three emblematic heritage sites that connect the past with the future:

• Ancient Europos in the Regional Unit of Kilkis — the ΕΥΡΩΠΑΙΩΝ ΠΟΛΙΣ of ancient inscriptions — which flourished from the 8th century BC to the 6th century AD,
• the wetland of Lake Doiran, a cross-border natural treasure and
• the Roman Baths of Bansko in Strumica, a testament to the region’s rich historical layers.

By investing in the preservation of cultural and natural heritage, the project will help revitalise local economies, foster innovation and tourism and strengthen community bonds on both sides of the border.

During the meeting, Dr. Georgia Stratouli, Director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Kilkis, outlined the project’s main objectives and anticipated impact on the wider region.

The project’s beneficiaries include specialists (archaeologists, historians, environmentalists, geologists, botanists), entrepreneurs (in organic farming, hospitality, transport, technical works), and the educational community (schools and universities). Together, they will contribute to a dynamic cross-border network where culture inspires learning, tourism and sustainable development.

The evening concluded with a musical performance by Theodoros Koumartzis, whose lyre compositions offered participants a cultural journey through time, while the wines of “Mikro Ktima Titou” symbolically sealed the partnership between the four organisations.

The event closed with a guided visit to the Post-Byzantine Church of Panagia in the picturesque town of Goumenissa.

The following day focuses on the project’s launch activities to highlight the region’s valuable natural and cultural heritage.

Warm thanks are extended to the hosts of the “Mikro Ktima Titou” winery, nestled in the fertile, vineyard-covered foothills of Mount Paiko at Dyo Potamia, Goumenissa, for their generous hospitality and wine tasting.

Further information:

INTERREG VI-A Programme “Greece–North Macedonia 2021–2027”
🔗 https://greece-northmacedonia.eu

Project “CulTour crossing borders”
🔗 https://greece-northmacedonia.eu/project/cultour-crossing-borders/

Video highlights of the event from local media

Photos