General information

Territory - 516 sq. km
Number of population centers - 19
Population - 68,947
Administrative center - Silistra city

The municipality of Silistra is located in the north-eastern part of Bulgaria, on a low Danubian terrace. The municipality borders on neighbouring Romania by land and by the Danube. The Danube River is a natural waterway connecting Silistra with Central and Eastern Europe. It is situated in the Dobrudja plain region, 200 meters above sea level. The Silistra Region covers 2 850 square kilometers of land, which includes 7 municipalities build-up with Bulgerian holiday apartments: Silistra, Dulovo, Tutrakan, Alfatar, Kainardja, Glavinitsa, Sitovo. People from different ethnic groups work and live together here: Bulgarians, Turks, Roma, Armenians, and others. The administrative center of the district is Silistra - a town, which dates back for thousands of years and has had an important role in the history of Bulgaria. The district is a traditional agricultural and Bulgaria holiday apartments region. The climate and the nature are suitable for modern agriculture development on fertile soil and for the production of environmentally-firendly products. There is stress on the growing of cereals and industrial crops, the perennial plants and vegetable growing. Priority in the development of Silistra district is the construction of ferry connections Silistra-Kalarash /Romania/ and Toutrakan-Oltenitsa /Romania/, as well as the terminal Silistra-Reni /Ukraine/, which will establish the shortest road from and to Turkey and the Middle East. Silsitra is crossroads of transport corridor № 7(very convenient way for accessing Bulgaria holiday apartments) along the Danube, which also establishes the connection with Western Europe. The district has well-constructed infrastructure, suitable for the different productions and alternative tourism, as well as a potential of educated and highly qualified experts in different spheres. The municipality covers an area of 516 sq. km - 75% of it is agricultural land - 32294,2 ha, forests and forest land cover 3725,5 ha and water area (lakes) - 1506 ha. The landscape of the municipality is predominantly agricultural. It is diversed with protection forest lines, and at some places, because of the existence of forest massifs turns into forest landscape.The bigger part of the relief is with altitude of up to 200m, but the dry valleys directed unto the river Danube give it a hilly effect. Parallel of the bank is met the loess back relief. As a result of the distancing from the river bank and the high lands between the dry valleys, the fertile plain Baltata, near Aidemir, was formed along the bank of the river Danube. The most interesting natural site in the region is Lake Srebarna. Rivers, which flow through the region, are small and they often run dry in summer. It is located in the south-western part of the plain and is part of the Srebarna Biosphere Reserve, included in the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage. Several islands have been formed in the Danube, some of which are suitable for recreational, tourist purposes and Bulgarian holiday apartments. The Karakuz natural game preserve provides opportunities for hunting tourism and the nature reserves of Malak Preslavets (a lake with water-lilies) and Srebarna are convenient places for ecotourism. There are numerous archeological artifacts throughout the region – Thracian mounds, remnants of fortresses, the unique Silistra sepulcher. Due to the strategic location of the region, fortresses have been built there until the 19th century. Houses and churches from the National Revival period have been preserved and the fishermen’s neighbourhood (Ribarskata mahala) in Tutrakan is the only architectural complex of this kind in Bulgaria. The economic and cultural development of the region has been heavily influenced by the Romanian occupation of South Dobrudzha. After the Balkan War of 1913 the town of Silistra has been taken in Romanian possession and was regained by Bulgaria in 1940. Amongst the historical landmarks are Kyuchuk Kainardzha drinking fountain in the village of Kainardzha, where a peace treaty between Russia and Turkey was signed in 1774, and the Military Tomb Memorial Complex near the village of Shumentsi, in memory of those who died in 1916 for the liberation of Dobrudzha.

Climate

The climate of the municipality of Silistra is temperate continental and is a part of the Danube climatic sub-region the hot summer, the early spring, and moderate colds in the winter are characteristic of this region, wich is very good factor for settling in Bulgaria holiday apartments in the region. The predominant winds are the north western and the western. There are about 21 foggy days per year. The precipitation in the region is irregularly distributed, and it is insufficient, considering that the biggest quantities fall during the spring and the early summer months, and least quantity in the winter. The average annual precipitation is 547 mm/sq.m. The snow cover is preserved for 50-60days and is deep 16-30cm. The absolute minimum temperature reaches to -33 degrees, and the maximum to + 41.4 degrees. The steady maintaining of the temperature of the air over 10 degrees starts in the first ten days of April, and goes up to the end of October- about 200 days. The analysis of the waters in part of the settlements along the river Danube and around Bulgaria holiday apartments shows that the waters are good for washing, sport and tourism.

Water supply

Water Supply And Sewerage and the purification of the waste waters on the territory of the municipality is realized by VIK OOD which has 22% municipal share holding. The water supply is realized through sources of water from the terrace of the river Danube. The measures for the realization of the strategic goals of the municipality of Silistra provision the reconstruction of the water supply and sewerage network of Silistra with exterior gratuitous aid in the amount of 550 thousand USD, provided by the Water Loan from the World Bank. Within the period of 2003-2006 is provisioned the construction of purification station for the waste waters in – Silistra, Bulgarian holiday apartments and the villages of Srebarna.

Communications

The municipality Silistra is services by the company "Dalekosaobshteniya"-Silistra , unto the BTK EAD. Disposes with 10 A.T. Stations, 58 telex posts, and over. The automatic exchange of the town of Silistra has a capacity of 25 thousand telephone posts. All settlements and most of the Bulgaria holiday apartments are provided with telephones service. There is a procedure before the BTK for the installation of digital telephone station in Silistra, and the project is included in the measure for the realization of the strategic goal of the municipality of Silistra with funding of 1400 thousand BGL from BTK. With the realization of the project the quality of the services shall be improved and shall be created the opportunity for opening of new telephone posts. The Company "Balgarski Poshti" - branch Silistra, part of BP EAD- Sofia, services the municipality of Silistra. The structure of "Balgarski Poshti" - branch Silistra, on the territory of the municipality is comparatively well developed, and assures the traditional post services for the population.

Power supply

The power supply of the municipality of Silistra is performed by the sub-division Silistra unto "Elektrosnabdyavane"- region Silistra, part of "Elektrosnabdyavane"- branch Ruse, in the system of the NEK EAD - Sofia.   
The municipality of Silistra is serviced by transformation station "Silistra " with installed capacity of 71.5 MW and transformation station "Drastar" with capacity 50 MW. The transformation station "Silistra " is with bilateral power unlike the other regional center, which are with three lateral power supply. The measures for the achievement of the strategical goal of the municipality of Silistra include repair and replacement of the network for low tension power supply and connecting in the network the Bulgarian holiday apartments in the region as well.

Agriculture

The district is a traditional agricultural region. The climate and the nature are suitable for modern agriculture development on fertile soil and for the production of environmentally-firendly products – preferable from the investors in Bulgarian holiday apartments. The predominant type of soil in the municipality is the black soil, which is a presupposition for gathering of high crops from cereals, viniculture, orchards and vegetables. This helps the well developed agriculture and the connected with it processing industry.
The agricultural fund of municipality Silistra includes 322 942 decares. From them 21 372 decares with perennial plants, 71% of them vineyards.
Basic cereals from the crops of 1999/2000 are:
Maize - 66 125 decares
Wheat - 102 368 decares
Sunflower - 54 430 decares
Barley - 3653 decares
Others, inclusive the not arable land - 77 224 decares.

Vineyards
Dessert sorts - predominantly grown Bulgar. Average production 1000 kg/decares
Wine sorts - Muscat, Ottonel, Rcacitelli, Pamid, Merlot, Cabernet, Dymiat, Riesling Average crop (acc. to the sort) 500-900 kg/decare.

Cherries - average production 250 kg/ decare
Apricots - average production 600-700 kg/decare.
Apples - average production 840 kg/ decare
Peaches - average production 600-650 kg/ decare.

The animal breeding is well developed.
Cattle – 2540; Goats – 4561; Sheep - 18 583; Pigs - 13 663; Poultry - 165 499; Bees' families - 3000

Infrastructure

The Region of Silistra has roads with a total length of 155.5 km from which: crushed stone pavement - 0.3 km; asphalt pavement - 154.2 km. The first-class roads are 17.6 km long, the second-class ones - 35 km long and there are about 100 km of third- and fourth-class roads. The municipality has a railway station handling passenger and freight trains. The Port of Silistra is located at the 381 km. of the River Danube. In the territory of the municipality there is the Silistra Airport, which is one of the small airports in Bulgaria. It can handle small and medium-sized passenger and cargo planes. The roads existing in the municipality are efficient for its complete functioning. Most of the settlements and Bulgaria holiday apartments are connected with asphalted roads, whose surface are in good conditions. An inclusion in the transport corridor № 5 - Cross Border Lessovo - Elhovo - Yambol - Shumen - Silistra , is provisioned which shall cover cargo traffic from and to Middle East, Russia and the Scandinavian countries. The measures for the achievement of the strategical goals of the municipality include the constriction of ro-ro terminal Silistra - Reni, and ferryboat complex Silistra -Kalarash whish shall increase the role of the municipality as a transnational transport center and will increase the profits from Bulgarian holiday apartments in the area. Only one national road exists on the territory of the municipality I class - № I-7, Silistra - Shumen. In medium good condition is the second class road № II-21, Ruse- Silistra - Dobrich. Тhe third and fourth class roads are in comparatively good status. Many repair works are provisioned on the municipality road network – developing the infrastructure and improving the accessibility to many Bulgarian holiday apartmants. Only private firms perform the transport service of the municipality. From which 18 perform public transport of passengers with buses and 117 with car automobiles. The registered taxi driver cars are about 241. About 60% of the taxi drivers are united into 6 professional organizations.

Airport of Silistra

Ten kilometers outside of Silistra there is a cargo airport, which was built for international and internal flights. The airport has a fully equipped flight tower and the second longest runway in the country.

Port of Silistra

The Silistra industrial port is the only one Bulgarian port on the Danube River with the capacity to hold river and sea ships, weighting up to 5000 tons. The Silistra Danube commercial port has a 400 meters key, 5 places for ship docks, mechanization for pre-transportation: portal cranes – 1/31 tons; 2/10 tons, and platform scale for weighting up to 50 tons. The future ferry link between Silistra – Kalarash (Romania) and Tutrakan – Oltenitza (Romania) will be of a great importance for trans-border activities and accessing the Bulgarian holiday apartments and Bucharest real estate markets. The road-to-road terminal of Silistra – Reni (Ukraine) through the Danube River will also help to increase trade between countries. All of the variations mentioned above are alternative transportations trade routes to the European Transport Corridor № 9.

Railroad

The municipality disposes with railway station servicing the passengers and the cargo trains. The traffic of passengers and cargoes is not so stable, as most of it is oriented to the more flexible automobile transport. Length of the railroad network – 67 km.The railroad networks in Silistra Region is a part of the national rail system and serves directly villages, towns and Bulgaria holiday apartments along the route.

Population

In the Danubian plain Silistra is the next to Rousse and Vidin. The municipality consists of 19 towns and villages. Two of them - Aidemir and Kalipetrovo are located near Silistra and their population is respectively 9 000 and 5 800 inhabitants.   
The number of the inhabitants of the towns and villages on the territory of Silistra by the end of 1999 is distributed. On the territory of the municipality of Silistra there are 19 populated places: one town- the municipality center, and 18 villages, from which 8 with mayors - Aydemir, Babuk, Kalipetrovo, Bradvari, Yordanovo, Ishirkovo, Srebarna, Smilets, build-up with Bulgarian holiday apartments. The population of the municipality of Silistra according to the data from Statistics is 76 685 inhabitants, from which 62 857 in the town and 14 628 in the villages. In the last few years there is a tendency towards migration of the town inhabitants to the villages and Silistra municipality inhabitants - to the countryside Bulgarian holiday apartments and neighbouring prospering districts.
Density of population - 150 capita per sq.m

Economy

The good geographical situation and the preference of many different types of transportation make the Silistra region a good prospect of economic development and for investition in Bulgaria holiday apartments. Municipal and private companies, which are central to the development of the municipality Municipal companies: Diagnostic Consultation Center 1 EOOD, Sineva EOOD, Municipal Markets EOOD. Private companies: Mekom AD - pig-breeding, meat production and meat processing; Fazerles AD - hardboard manufacturing; TPKI Dobrudzhanka - babywear, children's and women's wear and sportswear; Orgtehnika AD - electronic cash registers; electronic calculators; printed circuits; electroplating; Dunav AD - clothing and knitwear; ZMM Stomana AD - production of wood-processing machines; Aktual OOD - meat processing and meat products; Kaumet AD - production of technical rubber products; Galax Oil OOD - production of refined sunflower and corn oil; Purvi Mai AD - flour, grain production.
Successful privatization deals: Some of the successful privatization transactions are: the non-functioning administrative facilities of Zavodski Stroezhi - they were reorganized into a small enterprise producing electrical insulation items; the unfinished two-storey building of the former dental polyclinic was privatized and became Aesculapius, the first private medical center in the district; the Dounav Supermarket and a former laundry were reorganized into modern commercial establishments; the former kindergarten in the village of Aidemir was reorganized into a modern printing office. There will be a competitive sale of the former orphanage in the village of Kalipetrovo, where a small enterprise for organic food will be set up. There is available land, which is offered to entities providing transport and maintenance services. Commercial establishments situated in Silistra, Bulgarian holiday apartments and the villages in the municipality are put up for sale via a public tender. Land and forests funds: Land - 49.09 sq.km; Forests - 0.8 sq.km.
The Public Forum Program funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation is implementing a project titled Possibilities of Growing Traditional and Introducing Alternative Fruit Trees in Silistra District. US Ambassador's Fund - a project called Restoration and Reconstruction of Kurshumlu Mosque; A Technical Twinning Program funded by the US Agency for International Development.
Projects still needing investment: Danubian Business Park; Projects under the programs From Social Benefits to Employment, Crop Preservation, Assistance upon Retirement, University Graduates Aged up to 29 Working in the Public Administration, Giving the Roma Access to Medical Care, Peers to Peers - 15 student clubs for drug prevention. The main revenue groups of the public budget are local revenues and public budget subsidies.The local revenues are formed by the tax and non-tax revenues.The relative share of the local revenues to the total budget revenues for 1999 was 44.2%. The share of the planned local revenues for 2000 was 63.2% of the total municipal revenues.
 
TAX REVENUE
These revenues present 33,2% of the municipal revenues for 1999 and 49,5 for 2000.
The growth of this revenue for the present years is due to the expected increase of the returns from tax revenue (tax for municipalities and property tax) and the small amount of the subsidy approved for 2000 by Bulgarian legislation. Among the tax revenue individual income tax has the largest incoming to the municipal budget. For 1999 the share of this tax was 64,3% of the tax revenue and for 2000 - 54,2%. Another tax with a relatively large share in the tax revenues is the municipality tax. In 1999 it was 25,5% of the tax revenues and in 2000 - 33,2%.
 
NON-TAX REVENUES
These revenues include incomings from fees, from operations with municipal-owned property and others.The non-tax revenues for 1999 were 9,9% of the total year revenues and for 2000 it amounts to 13,8%. The non-tax revenues decrease as a result of the actualized market place fees, household waste collection fees as well as the increase of the local fees and utility services costs. The forthcoming budget reforms will lay the stress not on the input resources but on the results and the products, leading to a better usage of the social resources and increasing the responsibility of the authorities before the public. The local fee revenues for 1999 was 42,5% of the non-tax revenues, for 2000 - 41,2%. It does not mean that the revenues from local fees is reduced, it means that the incomes and yield on property( Bulgaria holiday apartments )increases. The growth of local fee revenues for 2000 is 104,2% as compared to 1999. Household waste collection fees have the biggest relative share. The item income and yield on property for 1999 was 41,5% of the non-tax revenues, for 2000 - 44,1%. The income from municipal-owned property rent have the biggest share of this item.

CREDIT RESOURCES
In December 1999 by a Decision of the Municipal Council, a temporary interest-free credit at the rate of 500 000 BGL was submitted to Silistra municipality. The authorities of Silistra municipality explore the bank credit terms and after a detailed analysis will choose the bank that offers the best terms of credit. The municipality is allowed to take credit according to para 10, item 1 and 2 of Municipal Budget Act and this credit will balance the expenditure part of the budget and will finance the priority expenditure.

STATE BUDGET SUBSIDIES
The subsidy for Silistra municipality for 2000 according to Bulgarian legislation is 3 450 500 BGL which is by 4 060 954 BGL less compared to the reported 1999. The subsidy amount includes Capital Expenditure Subsidy of 310 900 BGL - that is by 62 490 BGL less compared to the previous 1999 and Social Support Subsidy of 516 790 BGL - that is by 7 576 BGL less compared to the previous year.
 
EXTRA BUDGETARY REVENUE
The following extra budgetary accounts are opened:
Special account for revenues from privatisation
For Environmental Protection Fund
For Social Support Fund
For House Building Fund

EXPENDITURES
The municipal primary and secondary schools, kindergartens, hospitals and consulting rooms, social care homes, cultural institutions and others are financed by the municipal budget. Every year the Ministry of Finance specifies by a budget classification the allocation of charges by different types. The labour expenditures has the biggest share – 58,6%, compared to the total budget expenditures for 2000 in spite of the fact that the salaries in the budget-funded organizations are comparatively low. The labour expenditures are priority acc. to the normative documents. They include the compulsory social and health insurance and their share is 19,2% of the total expenditure. The material maintenance expenditures include the money spent on organising of the budget-funded section activity and on the maintenance of the necessary equipment. The medicines and benefits have priority in this group. The relative share of the money spent on medicines is 5,24% of the total material maintenance expenditures for 2000; social benefits - 38%, scholarships - 4,4%. The investment expenditures are connected with providing for the short- and long-term capital investment programmes including the gaining of long-lasting tangible assets. The relative share of the investment expenditure for 1999 was 6,8% of the total expenditure and for 2000 - 18,3%. 
The allocation of charges as per sections (functions) is connected again with the priority expenditure - health care, education, social care activity. The relative share of the money spent on "Education" function is 34% of the total municipal expenditure for 2000, on "Health Care" function - 31,3%, on "Social Insurance, Support and Care" function - 14,1%. 
According to the Pprogram for Ffinancial Stability and Effective Resorce Management after dismissals at the budget-funded enterprises made on the base of activity re-structure, cutting down the expenditures on materials and external services, it will be possible to reduce the expenditure for 2000 compared to the reported one for 1999. The municipal receivables by the end of 1999 acc. to the balance amounted to 106 011 BGL (from rents, power supply, etc.) including receivables from the previous years. The budget deficit for 2000 amounts to 1279050 BGL. 

FOOD INDUSTRY
Represented by 21 basic firms in the sphere of processing of milk, meat, fruits and vegetables, sun-flower, cereals. More extinguished plants are: "Mekom" AD, "Mir" ЕООD "Vladimir Distillers Company" АD, "Galax-oil" ООD. With the exception of "Mir" ЕООD, which is a municipality company, all the other firms from the food industry are private.

"Mekom" AD - firm for the production and processing of meat. Annually the firm processes about 20 000 t meats, and a considerable part from the raw material is provided by own swine farms. There is a wide range of products - short duration and long boiled - smoked salami, raw dried and boil smoked delicatessen, sliced meat and packages, hem and hem products. From 1993 the firm is licensed for the export of pork and lamb meat in the countries of the EU. In 1999 receives license for export of hem and hem products.

"Vladimir Distillers Company" АD - the firm occupies it self with the buying of grapes and fruits for the production of wines and brandies and the trade with them within the country and abroad. For the time being 92 persons work in the firm.

"Mir"ЕООD - municipality firm for the production of bread and pastries wholesale and retail trade with food goods and public catering. 95 persons work in the firm. The activity is performed in the four workshops for the production of bread, workshop for the production of bread products, refreshments, sheet of pastry, noodles, etc.; workshop for the production of soaked sweet products. For the realization of the own trade activity 8 places for the sale are established.

MACHINE BUILDING AND METAL PROCESSING
This branch of industry is represented by 6 basic firms and manysmall ones, possessing 1 or 2 metal processing machines. Basic representatives of the branch are:

Plant "Stomana" АD - produces wood processing machines, 80% of which are exported for the EU. Works on the system ISO-9000 for continuous control of quality. Possesses metallurgy workshop. Personnel -180 persons. Fully privatized.

"Hrom" АD - produces stainless and aluminum pots. Fully private. Exports for Greece, Israel, and Turkey. Personnel - 220 persons

"Siloma" АD - produces cutting machines. Exports for the USA and the EU. Works according to the system ISO-9000. Personnel of - 310 persons.
.

TEXTILE
There three main producers. The most famous representative is "Dobrudzha" AD. The plant is fully privatized. Produces threads and 100% cotton fabrics (jacquard and fibres), house interior - table clothes, serviettes, kitchen towels, bedroom underwear. Has a capacity of 3000 tons per year.. Has personnel of - 573 persons. About 95% from its production is for export - Italy, France, Denmark

CHEMICAL, WOOD PROCESSING AND PAPER CELLULOSE INDUSTRY
There are 6 basic plants , and the biggest of them is "Fazerles"AD, "Kaumet"AD, "Lesilhart"AD.
"Fazerles"AD - production of timber - fibre tiles, predominantly for export. Fully private. Personnel of -320 persons.
“Lesilhart" АD - produces paper for writing and typing for the interior and exterior market. The relation state/private ownership is equal to 28/72 per cent. At the present moment it is on the stage of renewal it production process after a long pause. After the start provisioned for the end of the year 2000, it shall give employment to 320persons.
"Kaumet" АD - produces technical rubber products, valves and brake hoses for the interior market and for export. Personnel of - 140 persons.

CONSTRUCTION
Because of the increased level of construction of Bulgarian holiday apartments, this sector is represented by two large scale and several smaller firms. The large ones are as follows:

"Glavbolgarstroy" - Varna, branch Silistra - with 100% private capital and personnel of 69 persons. Turnover for 1999 - 1300 thousand BGL.

"Blagstroy" EOOD - 100% municipality firm. Personnel - 83 persons. Turnover for 1999 -631 thousand BGL.

"Zadgranichno Stroitelstvo" - performs construction of projects in Ukraine

ELECTRONICS
Represented by one considerable firm - "Orgtehnika"AD and several smaller firms producers -"Elikom"OOD, KOS OOD- branch Silistra, "Daskalov Engineering" OOD, etc.

"Orgtehnika" AD is a plant with old traditions in the production of devices for the electronic industry. Its basic activity is the production of cashier apparatuses for the interior marker and.

TRADE, SERVICES AND TOURISM
1112 firms from the sphere of trade and services work on the territory of the municipality, from which 580 from the sphere the public catering and trade with foods. The predominant part of the firms are from the sphere of trade and services are private property, and three of them are property of the municipality.

PUBLIC PROPERTY
The bigger part of it is used for the performs of the function of the units of the municipality, and as a whole satisfies its needs. Considering the demographic collapse most of the buildings of the nurseries, kindergartens and schools in the villages are no more used, their protection is hard, and they still wait for the safe decision for their future administration.
 
MUNICIPAL PROPERTY
The municipality disposes with property, which is administered by various units. With small exceptions, the municipality fund of edifices is built before 15 years, and basic repairs have not been executed for the last 10years.

PRIVATE PROPERTY
The private firms are included in the capital of the trade companies with 100% municipality capital or directly managed by the municipality administration. The companies with subject of activity retail trade are liquidated and all their stores having steady city structure status are privatized. Those from them, who are from sphere of production and services for the citizens, are with low efficiency and low competitiveness, and that is why it is a better decision they to be privatized. One third of the residential edifices are from the so called old residential fund, and are rather worn out, and lack all the necessary requirements for modern life. During the recent 4 years the municipality managed through the usage of various methods (mainly giving consent for right of building ) managed to renew part of its fund of edifices. It is of utmost importance this tendency not only to be preserved, but also to be a guideline policy of the municipality.

MEASURES IN RELATION TO THE MUNICIPALITY PROPERTY
Inspection of the status of all the municipality places, elaboration and acceptance of all the necessary alterations in the city structure plans with consideration of the giving of long-term status of the temporary places, as well as of the terrains on which to be built the new stores for public services.

The municipality of Silistra and the town of Kettering (Kettering, Ohio) signed a memorandum for understanding on the 28.07.2000 - Friday, for Technical Twinning in the following spheres:
• Local economic development
• Development of park zones

Partnership between Silistra and Kettering realized and coordinated by:
• Foundation for Local Governing Reform (FLGR) - Sofia. Coordinator of the project from FLGR
• International City municipality Administrations (ICMA, Washington D.C.). Project coordinator on the party of ICMA - Judit Deilinger.
• Funded by US Agency for International Development (USAID).

ICMA is a partner with the foundation for the reform of the local self-governing - a serious Bulgarian non-governmental organization, which shall continue its support for the twinning of two towns.The aim of the foundation is to establish connections between the Bulgaria and the American cities for the assistance of the local authorities for the governing of the municipalities, improvement of the services in the public sector and promotion of the participation of citizens in the local self-governing.
The program starts in 1997 in Bulgaria and a successful partnership is realized between seven Bulgarian and American cities. On the one party: Stara Zagora, Ruse, Haskovo, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Razgrad and Blagoevgrad. The spheres of the technical cooperation include strategical planning, steady development, city development, strengthening of the public/private partnership for the development of land areas.
The partnership between Silistra and Kettering is the first one of four new partnerships which should develop in the forthcoming 18 months under the management of Foundation for Local Governing Reform.
The delegation from the town of Kettering had the following staff:
• Mr. Steven Husemann - City Manager
• James Garges - Director Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts;
• Albert Fullenkamp - City Planning Engineer.
The representatives of Kettering visited the town of Silistra for one week for the period from 24.07 till 28.07.2000 and worked with representatives of the municipality administration in order to determine the spheres of technical cooperation, in a long term program for twinning.
The signing of the memorandum is the first step unto the twining of the two towns. The representatives of the two towns shall meet once again in Kettering, Ohio, in September this year, in order to prepare plan for work, which in details shall define the tasks , which the twin cities shall perform during the next 18 months.

Tourism

Tourism is a branch, which considering the conditions in the municipality of Silistra, is well developed. The natural advantages of the river Danube, the Biosphere Park "Srebarna", the many archeological and cultural sites on the territory of the municipality should be better made use of. Travel Agency Oriks offering a trip along the Danube, a visit to an ethnographic house in the village of Alfatar and a visit to the Sreburna Nature Reserve; Travel Agency Neptun organizing trips to the Ukraine along the Danube.

History

Silistra, to a certain degree, is a port not only for Bulgaria, but for the whole Balkan Peninsula. Many tribes and nations, coming from the north, crossed the Danube river here and they made attempts to establish their own domination and to build their settlements in the region. Founded as a Roman fortress named Durostorum (or Dorostorum) in AD 29, the settlement became an important military centre of Moesia and grew into a city at the time of Marcus Aurelius. In 388, Durostorum became the seat of a Christian bishopric and a centre of Christianity in the region, and Roman general Flavius Aëtius was born in the town in 396. After the Roman Empire was split, the town (known as Δουρόστολον, Durostolon in Byzantine Greek) became part of the Byzantine Empire. Silistra is more of a fortress than a town and if you eliminate the fortifications a small piece of land will remain but if you look at the entrenched area, the fortress is vast. It is located on a riverside plain. The south Danubian banks rise like hills and their chains approach the town from the west and surround it in a shape of regular amphitheatre. The Romans liked the place and here, in the middle of the plain, in this amphitheatre they built a fortified camp from which the guards came out and went about the chain of rising ground to watch the Danube. Not far away, in present Wallachia they saw a vast expanse of land melting northward into the sky. Its desolation and infinity cast sadness on the heart of the Roman soldier. And beyond the Danube as if the Roman God of War himself was marching on its bank, to the east of Orshova. Then the enormous Trayanov Val (The Rampart of Trayan) appeared on his footprints: an impressive work, it seems created not by the Roman soldiers but by the Roman Gods themselves. The town was referred to for first time in 106 AD in a written order by the emperor Trayan about the moving of XI Claudius Legion from Panonia to Durostrum. This means that at those times the town was already a strong fortress. Roman soldiers had been stationed herein the Thracian fortress with the Legion for almost three centuries. It served as a striking force against the Empire enemies who came from the north crossing the Danube. Most of the soldiers were from the Empire possessions in Asia Minor and lived in a fortified camp in order to be alien and hostile to the natives.A village of small shops and sheds possessed by poor merchants, artisans and civilians who helped the economy and construction works at the legion sprang up out of the camp. Durostorum became a self-governing town - municipium in 169 AD, under Marcus Aurellus - phillosopher and writer, Emperor of Rome from 161-180 AD. The board of magistrates consisted of two duumvirs, two aediles - they were in charge of public buildings, streets, markets, etc. and two quaestors - treasury officers. Being an administrative and economy centre as well as an important customs station Durostrum experienced vigorous growth. The Romans undertook major building projects - large and beautiful public buildings, churches, basilicas, baths and private houses, water conduits and marble statues and bas-relieves on the squares.In 590 the Slavs settled here. They re-named the town Drustur. The town became rich and flourishing again. The caravans coming here from north and west roads and ships from the river carried furs, honey, wax and salt from the Carpathian Mountains to be dispatched to Pliska and Constantinople. Drustur became an important Bulgarian stronghold and played a main role during the Conversion of Bulgarian to Christianity. Being an old bishop's office, Drustur was recognized the first one among the Bulgarian bishop's towns. Under Simeon the Bishop of Drustur became Patriarch of the Bulgarian Church. In 895 Tsar Simeon was defeated by the Magyars and forced to hide behind the Drustur walls.Around the end of the 7th century, the town was incporated in the First Bulgarian Empire and the bishop of Drastar was proclaimed the first patriarch of Bulgaria. The town was captured by the forces of Sviatoslav I of Kiev in 969, before being seized by the Byzantines in 972 for a brief period until 976, when Tsar Samuil restored Bulgarian rule in the region until 1001, when it was once again incorporated within the bounds of the Byzantine Empire. In 1186, after the Vlach-Bulgarian Rebellion, the town became part of the Second Bulgarian Empire until the Ottoman conquest of Bulgaria in 1396.  During Ottoman rule, Silistra was part of Rumelia Province and was the administrative centre of the Silistra sanjak. This sanjak was later upgraded to become the Silistra Province that stretched over most of the western Black Sea littoral. The town was captured by Russian forces numerous times during the Russo-Turkish Wars. In 1878, following the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, Silistra was included in the newly autonomous Principality of Bulgaria, which became the Kingdom of Bulgaria in 1908. Following the Second Balkan War, the Treaty of Bucharest (1913) granted Silistra and the whole of Southern Dobruja to Romania. At the same time, Romania, making use of the Bulgaria's engagements during the war claimed for the fertile south Dobroudzha as a compensation for the large parts of Macedonia, which Bulgaria would eventually gain. After the unsuccessful Bulgarian-Romanian negotiations in London, the two countries accepted the mediation of the Great Powers and a conference was summoned in the town of Sankt Petersburg. The conference recommended Bulgaria to cede the town of Silistra and the area westward and southward of it within radius of 3 km, with total area of 10 sq. km to Romania.Although Bulgaria regained the town during World War I with the Treaty of Bucharest (1918), in which Romania surrendered to the Central Powers (including Bulgaria), the Treaty of Neuilly (1919) following World War I returned it to Romania. Silistra remained a part of Romania until the Axis-sponsored Treaty of Craiova of 1940, when the town once again became part of Bulgaria, a transfer confirmed by the Paris Peace Treaties of 1947. After 1945 the town became a sleepy border settlement, lacking in the vigour and comparative sophistication of Rousse. Economic activity in the town revolved around the port, main outlet for the grain of the Dobroudzha plain to the southeast. It was as late as 1970 when industry started developing here - wood processing, machine-building, food and wine industries, electronics. The first problems and town-planning mistakes appeared together with the construction of the industrial buildings. Taking advantage of the water road (the Danube River) the whole industrial area was built in the northern part of the town. From the ecological point of view it is not correct because the town remains after the industrial area along the course of the river. What is more, the town is limited to the northeast by the state frontier, to the north and northwest by the Danube and to the west by the industrial area. The only opportunity for town development is southwards which was not the best decision because the villa area is located here. The town-planning processes marking the period from 1970 to 1990 in Bulgaria made this problem even more acute. It was partly solved by the raising blocks of flats but in this way Silistra lost its originality and specific architecture and turned to a boring border settlement.

Education

The structure of the municipality educational system embraces 3 basic, 8 primary, 2 general secondary, 2 profiled secondary and 4 servicing units. There are 16 all day kindergartens in the municipality, where 1743 children from 3 to 7 years are trained distributed in 74 groups.
There state schools on the territory of the municipality too- construction high school "Penyo Penev", economy high school, light industry school "P.Slaveykov", production technologies high school "Evlogi Georgiev", professional high school "Vladimir Komarov" , agricultural high school "Dobrudzha". About 7596 students are trained in the schools distributed from І to ХІІ grade in 346 classes. The activity there is directed to the realization of the educational policy and strategy in the conditions of dynamic changes in the municipality of Silistra and relevant to the specific outlines of the demographic, migration and economical tendencies.
Preservation and development of come of the good achievements and traditions in the kindergartens and schools on the basis of the outlined priorities, targets and mission, characteristic of each educational institution. Increasing of the number of teachers innovators in the pedagogical practice who implement new interactive methods and techniques of education, with the purpose of the formation of more pragmatic and adaptable personalities, with value system of active citizens of a democratic society. Efforts are made for the bigger economic independence of the schools and the servicing units, in the conditions of work with delegated budgets and rights and responsibilities of the managing teams of the schools.

Health care

The sphere of health care in the municipality of Silistra gives employment to 1337 persons, working in 7 health establishments in the town - regional hospital (570 beds), ambulatory - policlinic center (diagnostic consultant center), regional dentist policlinic, dentists technician laboratory-(medical technical laboratory), House "Mother and child" with (150 beds), nursery, 7 rural and 7 secondary health stations in the villages Aidemir, Kalipetrovo, Ishirkovo, Srebarna, Babuk, Bradvari, Sratsimir, Smilets, Yordanovo, Vetren, Pop Kralevo, Balgarka, Kazimir, Lambrinovo. In reference with the obligations of the municipality of Silistra in accordance with the law for Health Assurance a unit has established in the municipality administration, occupying itself with the health assurance of the persons, for whom the health assurance installments are paid by the municipality budget. The register includes the following categories: person with out incomes, accommodated in the houses for social cares; persons without incomes accommodated in the “House for medical and social cares for children”; persons and members of families with right for social assistance. The average month number of assured by the municipality budget amounts to 325 for the year 2000.

Environmental protection

A project is underway to build a regional landfill for solid waste - Silistra, which will handle waste from 6 municipalities in Silistra District (Silistra, Alfatar, Dulovo, Sitovo, Kainardzha and Glavinitsa) and countryside Bulgarian holiday apartments. External funding is sought for the implementation of projects for optimum use of recyclable materials contained in domestic waste, as well as for optimum use of organic waste. A project for a Joint Air Quality Monitoring System in the towns of Silistra and Calarasi has been implemented. A program for Reducing Emissions and Reaching Acceptable Levels of Hazardous Substances in Ambient Air in Silistra District has been developed and is about to be implemented. Efforts are made to find ways to attract investors to convert the town of Silistra, the surrounded villages and Bulgarian holiday apartments to natural gas. A sewerage system and a water treatment plant for the village of Silistra will be built between 2003 and 2006. Options are being sought to build a waste water treatment plant for the town of Silistra. The highly fertile black soil is not damaged. No high levels of pollutants have been registered in the soil of the area. There are active landslides in some places.

Culture

No matter the objective difficulties there no terminated cultural structures, thanks to which the cultural processes in the municipality Silistra develop professionally, considering the specifics of the region for a purposeful influence. 
The town art gallery is the architectural landmark of Silistra and is over 100 years old. It has more than 1,500 works of art including paintings, black and white drawings and sculptures. The Museum of History is a combination of an architectural landmark and unique exhibitions. One of the most modern museums in Bulgaria, it displays tens of unique artifacts of Roman and Medieval Bulgarian culture, which have national and global significance. The museum contains over 60,000 movable cultural monuments. The immovable monuments with a special historical or cultural value in the municipality are: The architectural and archeological site called Durostorum-Drustur-Silistra 4-th c. A.D. - the site covers more than 2/3 of present-day Silistra and contains unique restored monuments of Roman and Medieval Bulgarian times; The ancient Roman tomb - a 4 c. monument of global significance with unique wall paintings, a Roman villa called Urbana, houses representing architectural monuments. The Museum of History has some permanent exhibitions too - represents the isolated material and spiritual culture of South Dobrudzha of the ХVІІІ and ХІХ centuries. The Ethnographic Museum displays material and spiritual culture in South Dobroudja between 18th and 19th c. A.D. The Partenii Pavlovich Regional Library contains 292,046 items.
Museum of archaeology - one of the most temporary and modern in the country, with tens of unique cultural memorials of the roman, and medieval culture with national and world importance.   

On the territory of the municipality function also: Dramatical Theatre with two departments- dramatic and puppet,

The cultural traditions of the town are considerable. - in 1999 function 84 teams with 3000 participants - 49 urban and 35 rural ensembles. Distributed in genres they are as follows: classic – 10; folklore – 58; interests groups – 10; entertainment – 6.

Distinguished artistic ensembles work in the town of Silistra, which realize a representative concert activity. The most distinguished are: Ensemble "Dobrudzhanche" - established in 1977 . 350children are actively included in it, with age from 5 to 15 years, united into there dance groups. In the extra curricular time they study the specifics of the dance, song, and music arts; Ensemble for national songs and dances "Silistra" - established in 1966 from a group of enthusiastic amateurs of the folklore of Dobrudzha. It till present time preserves and makes popular the rich heritage , created through the centuries by the hard working children of the plain. The programs of the ensemble include spring horo-dances of maidens, slow harvesters' and evening gathering songs, excited mens' and plays from weddings and festival convocations, joyful refrains and witty jokes; Dance ensemble "Dobrudzha" - established in 1956. 120 dancers work in the ensemble, who represent the eternal beauty and charm of the authentic folklore dance of Dobrudzha. The dancers perform with great inspiration the dances of the northern, thracian and shopy folklore regions; Ensemble "Grebentsi" - established in 1968 . 50 performers participate in the ensemble, performing Bulgarian national music and dances from the age 10- to -20-years. The dances , included in the repertoire expresses the children and youth emotions and spirituality. 
 
Particular Projects for Realization within the Period 2000-2007
Realization of international traditional events, steadily included in the cultural life of the municipality of Silistra: Annual International children dance festival "The peace of tomorrow starts with the friendship of today"; International puppet festival for the most little YAN BIBIYAN- once per 3 years; International summit of the choirs of the Danube countries - performed once per 5 years; Cross border cultural cooperation; Sociological study of the cultural processes in the municipality of Silistra "Culture in the mirror of sociology".
As a priority is determined the work over the preservation of the authentic cultural traditions of the population of Dobrudzha. New experimental and modern forms for the communication with arts and the development of culture.The new strategy is dictated by the specifics of the municipality and the new economic , social and financial conditions. Interaction with the European structures, values and models shall contribute for the popularization of the Bulgarian cultural inheritance and the Bulgarian culture. The mutual exchange of cultural values and cross border cooperation shall assist for the future cultural integration on all levels.
Тhe building of the “Youth Information Center”EOOD is modern one and with great capacity. It was built in 1978 and has area of 5800 м2 and disposes with 213 premises for activity, a large cinema hall, independent club and 5 rehearsal halls.  In connection with the new conditions in the country and the bigger flexibility, the youth house – Silistra was transformed with a decision of the of the municipality council, into a Youth informational center. This manner a opportunity for development is given also to the other types of activity as the elaboration and the realization of educational programs, publishing and informational services, preparation of the young people for small family business and ecology activities.

Associations, memberships, twin-cities and partnerships
USA, City of Kettering, Ohio - a Memorandum for Technical Cooperation in Economic Development, Landscape Architecture, Education and Culture; Republic of Romania, Danube East Euroregion, Slobozia Municipality, Ialomita District - An agreement for establishing a Euroregion, twinning; Russia, town of Rzhev, Tver Region, town of Solnechnogorsk - a friendship and cooperation agreement; Republic of Turkey, town of Luleburgaz - a Twinning Agreement; Serbia and Montenegro, Kikinda Municipality, Leskovats Municipality - a twinning declaration; The Ukraine, town of Bolgrad, town of Hmelnitski; Macedonia, Veles Municipality; Greece, Komotini - Protocol of Intention /purpose - sign a twinning agreement/; The Municipality of Silistra is a member of: the Silistra-based Association for Crossborder Cooperation and Development called Danubian Dobroudja; the Agency for Economic Development and Investment - Silistra; the Dunav Association of Danube Municipalities and the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria.

Sports

On the territory of the municipality of Silistra there are 11 established and licensed sports clubs, which perform educational, training, and sports tournament activity.

Football club “Dorostol 1902” with president and trainer Ivan Narlev. The representative men’s team took Ist place in the North-Eastern “B” Division for the competitive 1999/2000 year. Participates in the “B” professional football division. A procedure is in progress for the transformation of FC “Dorostol 1902” into professional footfall club “Dorostol 1902” JSC. 

Sports club of light athletics “Durustorum” with president and trainer Tefic Nasafov. The club disposes with 79 registered competitors from all age groups with participation in regional and republic tournaments in the open air and with the range of over 100persons, occupied with track- and-field athletics indoors.

Sports competitive club for wrestling “Bagain” with president and trainer Nedelcho Tsvetkov. There are registered and taken participation in republican and zone tournaments in judo about 110 competitors. The club has established groups unot the kindergartens and the City Assistance School with which the total number of the training amounts to 160 persons.

Swimming sports club “Spirala” with president Nikola Kirchev and trainers Hristo Bonchev and Pencho Velikov. The general number of the engaged children is over 200. Participation in zone and republic level tournaments - Radostin Varbanov with IIIrd place on the regional tournament.

Sports club in judo “Dorostol” with president Emil Goychev and trainer Petar Tsvetkov. Range – about 110 children and adolescents. With participations in zonal and republican tournaments.

Sports club in chess “Silistra” with president Alexander Vasilev. Two remuneration trainers work unto the club. Range of – 50 persons. Participation in regional and republican tournaments.

Priorities
The development of the physical training and sports, with accentuation over the children and adolescent sport.
Establishment of special fund for assistance and promotion of the physical training and sport – founding of Board Of Sponsors.
Provision of opportunities and appropriate conditions for the citizens to practice sports for health and longevity.
Realization of control over the contracts of the sports clubs for the management and rational use of the sport places and equipment. Annual defense of the sport programs by various sport clubs.

Places of interest

Srebarna
Biosphere Reserve “Srebarna”, on 3 km from the right bank, 392 km
No one knows why the name of the lake is connected with the silver. One of the legend says that here were found many silver coins on the place where was the roman border point Tegulicium. The biosphere reserve “Srebarna” has 902.1 hectares. In 1942 it was announced as breeding-pool of wading birds and in 1948 it received a status as reserve. In 1993 it became a biosphere reserve. The biosphere reserve “Srebarna” is famous with its birdie riches and the glory of this place was received for the only colony in Bulgaria of threatened with extinction specie of pelican (Pelecanus crispus). In the Biosphere Reserve “Srebarna” are seen 1 430 species of vegetations and 1338 species of animals. In the reserve can be found 11 rare and protected vegetations from the Red book of Bulagria and the most significant are the bubbled aldrovanda, the stink cikuta and other. In the reserve is notes the only one habitat of the European green frog. In 1975 year the reserve is definited as damp zone with International statut in accordance with The Ramsar convention. In 1977 year is definited for Biosphere reserve in accordance with criterion of International network about biosphere reserves. From 1983 year is inclided in register of objects from International and culture inheritance under aegis of UNESCO. In 1989 year year is inclided in register of ornithology importance places in Europe. In 1989 year year is inclided in register of objects from International and culture inheritance in dangerous. During 27 sesion of committee for International inheritance in Paris between 30.06-05.07.2003 . Supported reserve "Srebarna" is erased from registry of objects in International naturaly inheritance in dangerous.

Vetren
The second important center for cultural, economical and spiritual life in the region during antiquity, medieval and until XVIII century after Dorosotrum /Silistra/ is Vetren. Here, on the bank of Danube, in II century was built roman fortress Tegulicium, which remains can be spot on the high hill near the village. In VI century there were rested the famous Byzantine commanders Prisk and Theodore. In the medieval /IX-X century/ the Bulgarians changed the Latin name Tegulicium with the Slav name Vetren. It was mentioned as Vetrinon by the famous Byzantine writer Anna Komnina in the connection of the campaign of her father Alexis I Komnin against Drastar /Silistra/. Here he was crushed and somewhere around the fortress he hided the emperor’s treasures. It is possible that this event is connected with the discovered treasure of silver and gold coins from XI-XII century. In 1425 the united Christian army, including the known commander Pipo the Florentine, the wallachian leader Dan and the Bulgarian tsar Frujin caused the biggest defeat upon the Ottoman army. According to a letter from the archive of Matthias Korvin the fortress Vetren was destroyed in a battle between the Turks and Wallachians of Vlad Tepesh in 1462. Then the survived Bulgarians abandoned the fortress on the bank and settled in the valley about 4 km in the interior, where Vetren is situated today. It is one of the few villages in Dobrudja, where is preserved the ancient /medieval Bulgarian population who keeps their ancient ritals and living. In the village is preserved the oldest active church in Dobrudja /XVII-XVIII century/ with interest sacred images from the XVIII-XIX century. Vetren is a village with pure air, for it was found that has healing virtue as the same in Bankia. In the village until 1997 was functioned a section for treatment of pulmonary and cordially illnesses. At this moment there are functioning 6 tourist hovels in good condition in Vetren village. The nearness of Vetren village with Danube River gives special opportunities for visit the nearest Danubian islands which are moistly zones with European importance. From 444 km to 374 km on the Danube River is the sector of Silistra region. In this region are situated 16 islands of which 12 are Bulgarian.

Garvan
Garvan village – “Protected area “The Garvan’s marshes”
In the village of Garvan are found tracks of the roman castel Diochetia. Near of this area are tha Danubian islands Garvan and Slavianin. The protected area “The Garvan’s marshes” is spread on an area of 280 hectares. “The Garvan’s marshes” is announced as Natural Landmark in 1985 and in 2003 the protected territory got a status as protected area. It includes the territories of Garvan and Popina. The protected area is formed to protect the natural inhabitations of rare floating birds and places with rare vegetations. At this moment the three water areas are strongly authrophical and overgrown with marshy vegetation. For this reason there aren’t many floating birds. There are urgent measures to be taken for the recovery of the normal water level.

Popina
Port of Popina, right bank, 403 km
In records the name Popina was found for the first time in one of the earliest Ottoman documents – a register for the djelepkeshans, in 1573-74. The village was mentioned as Popkyoi. On the territory of Popina village, in the Razuvana area near Danube river, were found remains of the life of the primitive man from the neolith. For the well polished surface of the stony tools and their perfect workmanship there are consideration that thtis tools dates from the time near Aenolithic-chalcolithic Age. The finds in Popina’s land comes from roman dominion /IV-VI century A.D./, that were found near the place Kaleto, 2 km away in north-west of Popina. By the excavations, made in 1954 there were found two cultural layers: lower – antiquity and upper – medieval. During IV-VI century A.D. the Kaleto was a military camp, situated between the two important fortresses along the Danube – Dorostorum /Silistra/ and Transmariska /Tutrakan/. At about 20 meters in the south side of the Kaleto there was a roman road which remains could be found today. The materials from the excavations in the Kaleto and the area Gradishteto, situated at east near the Kaleto show that by the roman military camp there was a village which residents cater the army. It is possible that in the village was an inn /Popina/ where the travelers and visitors rested between the two towns – Dorostorum and Transmariska. Remote from the central Byzantine authority, the villages in the Popina’s land did not feel the weight of the slavery, but they did not receive protection in case of danger, coming from the rushing tribes beyond Danube. The population suffered during the quarterly siege of the nearest fortress Drastar. The siege was made by the Byzantine emperor Glava in the 70-th of XIII century. Most of the population was robbed or killed and other part that participated in the rebel army of Ivaylo, was hided behind the tough walls of Drastar, where they found a salvation. Later they were brutally chased and drowned in blood by the united nobility with Gergi Terter. They were suffered the misfortunes tested from the Bulgarians. The village grown up in the second half of XVII century. The fast increase of the population in Popina came in answer of the deserted villages, where the colonization with muslim population continued in XVIII century. Popina as village, near the bank of Danube river, was passed away fron the Turkish colonialists. It protected its Bulgarian image and became a center for the population from the nearest villages. Popina village is at 1 km from the bank of Danube. The shipping company BRF has a base for relaxation in the village.

Maluk Preslavetz village
On the territory of Maluk Preslavetz village there are combined natural facts with historical landmarks. Along the stretch of Danube river, on the right bank, at 413 km, is located the port of Maluk Preslavetz village. It was built on the embarkment which detaches the Kadakoysko Lake from the Danube River. On the closer wooded hill were found during excavations remains of the roman fortress Kandidiana. According to some scientists on this area was built a palace for Tsar Omurtag, near Danube River. The name of Maluk Preslavetz comes from this fact and was given to the Kadukoy village in 1934. On the port there is a base for relaxation, owned by the shipping company Bulgarina River Floating (BRF). On the territory of Maluk Preslavetz village is situated the Natural Landmark “The Maluk Preslavetz marsh” with area of 38.5 hectares. The protected area is announced for protection of the natural inhabitations of floating and rapacious birds and of rare vegetations.

Pojarevo
“Pojarevo Island”, from 424 km to 423 km
The protected area “Pojarevo Island” is announced as protected area in 1995 with 71.0 hectares. It is located in the territory of Pojarevo village, Tutrakan municipality. It is announced to protect the natural inhabitations of the protected and rare species of birds, named in the “Red book of Republic of Bulgaria” and the list for birds, threatened with extension in Europe. The island of Pojarevo is important place from ornithological point of view and has world-wide importance as a nest-place of the world threatened with extension species of little cormoran /Phalacrocorax pygmeus/.

Tutrakan town
Tutrakan is placed at 59 km from Silistra. The impressive amphitheatre of our “Danubian Turnovo” could be seen in one sight. The height and width of the survey are intensified by the spacious lowland near Romanian town – Oltenitsa. “The settlement behind the marshes” – this is the meaning of the roman name of Tutrakan – Transmariska. The town has rich history, carrying the sight of the roman time, the glorious moments of the liberation from the Turkish yoke and Romanian authority until present days. In XX century Tutrakan was poor fishing, crafting and vineyard town. In its workshops were made boats and water mills. In the past Tutrakan was the biggest fishing center along the Danube River with the biggest fishing catch. A mark for that are the fishing quarter and the exponents in the unique Ethnographical museum in the country for Danubian fishing and building boats, placed in the old Turkish bath. Among the 500-th articles which discover the fishing from antiquity until present days are nets, spears, anchors, the typical Tutrakan fishing boats, the biggest fishing nets – “difans”, long about 150 meters. In an old building is placed the city museum. Eastern from Tutrakan, in 1867 the rebel group with leader Panayot Hitov and color-bearer Vasil Levski came from Romania, in 1876 – a rebel group with leader Tanyo voivode. At south from Tutrakan are the islands Kalimok, Radetcki and Tutrakan. Kalimok-Brashlen” is announced as protected area in 2001. It is the biggest in Bulgaria and embrace 5 952 hectares from Danubian marshes, moistly meadows and seven islands. It is situated on the territory of Silistra and Ruse Regions. From the Silistra region it embraces lands of the villages of Tsar Samuil, Nova Cherna, Staro selo and town of Tutrakan. It is important place of the ornithological point for the five species of birds. The large bio-diversity in the protected area “Kalimok-Brashlen” is owing to the different types of living places that gives living conditions for organisms that had different preferences to the environment. There are protected eco-systems and land shafts, peculiar for the region and living places of rare and threatened with extinction species. The protected area “kalimok-Brashlen” is created with main purpose to protect one of the few rested Danubian moistry zones and its unique bio-diversity. With its marshes, reedy areas, woody gulf, moistly meadows and sandy hairs it is a home for more than 400 vegetation species, 60 species of fish, 20 reptile’ species and amphibians, 230 bird’ species, 40 mammals species and thousands species of invertebrate animals.

Tracian stony temple “Badjilia”
The Tracian stony temple “Badjilia” is placed between the villages Strelkovo and Voynovo. It has got three entrances, a big semicircle Altar and a hole on the roof. The sanctuary was been active several unturies, as including and the Roman age. According to the legend once here was served Zalmoksis - a pupil of the famous greek philosopher Pitagor.

Architectural and archaeological park  “Dorostorum – Drastar – Silistra”
Protected Area “Dry River”, near Kainardja
Museum of archaeology in Silistra
Museum of ethnography in Silistra
Dobrudja’s house in Alfatar