site.btaTurkish City of Edirne to Help Restore Historical Landmarks in Bulgaria’s Yambol under EUR 1.2 Mln Project

The cities of Yambol in Bulgaria and Edirne in Turkiye will implement a EUR 1.2 million cross-border project to bring to life historical and cultural landmarks in Yambol. The undertaking will involve the restoration of an old clock tower, the renovation of the interior of the Branekovs’ House and the restart of an early 20th century horse-drawn tram service, which will now serve as a tourist attraction, the Bulgarian Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works said on Monday.

The clock tower used to stand across from the Yambol Regional Library. An early written record of it dates back to 1829. It was built in the 18th century by the decision of local craftsmen, who funded its construction, historian Hristina Zhendova told BTA some time ago, when the project was submitted for approval. The tower functioned beyond Bulgaria’s liberation from Ottoman Turkish rule in 1878, but was destroyed later as the city expanded. The only surviving source which gives an idea of what it looked like is a painting by Ivan Slavov, a student of the internationally acclaimed early surrealist Georges Papazoff. It was painted in 1894 on a curtain for the local community centre.

The interior of the Branekovs’ House will be entirely renovated under the approved cross-border project, and an exposition area will be set up inside. The design of the building was influenced by the Tryavna School of Architecture and the style of Art Nouveau. It was built in 1908, and more recently, it was declared a cultural landmark of local significance. After buying it from the Branekov heirs, Yambol Municipality carried out emergency repairs, reinforcing its front wall. The renovated exterior was formally presented to the public in October 2024.

The planned horse-drawn tram will be based on a transport service which was operational in Yambol in the 1920s and was the only one of its kind in Bulgaria. It was used to carry munitions and food to the battlefront, and now, it is intended to entertain tourists.

The municipal government will organize thematic exhibitions and historical re-enactments of important periods of the history of Yambol and Edirne to boost tourism in the area. Out of a total budget of EUR 1,222,743, the Edirne partners will provide EUR 245,499. The project will be implemented under the Interreg VI-A IPA Bulgaria-Turkey 2021-2027 Programme, which is supporting 16 projects worth EUR 15.6 million in total.