Enhancing the cultural touristic product of the cross-border area of Prespes through the promotion of the natural and cultural heritage

HOLYWATER is a project implemented in the area of Prespa Park, the first protected cross-border (CB) area in the Balkans. Prespa Park was founded in 2000 in a Joint Statement by the Prime Ministers of Greece, Albania and Republic of North Macedonia. The overall objective of the project is the organisation of all the cultural, environmental and touristic information concerning the cross-border area of Prespa with the use of new technologies. One of the main actions of the project refers to the collection and mapping of information and data regarding the touristic points of interest (environmental, cultural, religious) of Prespa area as the basic material for the development of the electronic information materials and particularly 3D photorealistic augmented reality models of St. Achilleus basilica and Rebels’ Hospital. In addition, Bitola Museum will organize an exhibition about the common cultural heritage and a study for protection and promotion of the byzantine treasures of Prespa with a Data Base for the local cultural heritage, whilethe Ephorate of Antiquities of Florina will proceed to the collection and registration of icons and church items of the byzantine and post-byzantine period. The development of Infrastructure for the visibility of the cultural touristic product in the CB area’ includes the installation of wireless internet connection spots and the maintenance of the existing network in the Municipality of Prespes. It also includes the creation of a visiting space in Laimos with video projection, as well as equipment procurement for the display of the applications. The construction of a footpath connecting 5 monasteries in the Municipality of Resen, and also the restoration works in St. Elias church in Grncari, are important infrastructure for the promotion of the byzantine heritage of the CB area and for visit increase. Information management and promotion of the cultural touristic product includes a digital platform and application of augmented reality, an electronic gameand video production for the whole CB area and guided lake visits for visitors and groups with 2 solar boats, the placement of information signs by the Society for the Protection of Prespa highlighting the environmental character of specific monuments and the environmental significance of biodiversity preservation. Lastly, threecultural events in Athens, Thessaloniki and Laimos and a conference are also organized for promoting the Byzanitine Prespa and the local products that are unique due to the microclimate and the environmental features of the area.

INFORMATION COLLECTION AND DATA MAPPING OF TOURISTIC INTEREST IN THE CROSS-BORDER AREA, STUDY FOR IDENTIFICATION, PROTECTION, INVENTORY AND DATABASE ON THE CULTURAL HERITAGE (TANGIBLE AND INTANGIBLE) IN PRESPA REGION: The Study represents a sublimation of touristic potential of Prespa, manifested through dišerent forms of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, natural values and touristic peculiarities and visions that can contribute towards touristic and economic development of Prespa. INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND PROMOTION OF THE CULTURAL TOURISTIC PRODUCTS EDUCATIONAL PACK: The educational pack includes a fairy tale with the title, ‘The donkey, the wagtail and the watermill’, a booklet with word games and colouring pages, and a quiz with four dišerent categories of questions. All the material is available in either Greek or English to children who visit the mill and comes in attractive packaging. The aim of the activities in the pack is for the children to ‡nd out more about the Agios Germanos watermill machinery, as well as the ™ora and fauna of Prespa, in an enjoyable and fun way. SMARTPHONE APPLICATION: The ‘Watermill Games’ educational app is a digital version of the environmental education pack which the children can leaf through on a phone or tablet. They can learn all about the mill machinery through these games, as well as more about the ™ora and fauna of Prespa, whilst also having fun and spending quality time. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE VISIBILITY OF THE CULTURAL TOURISTIC PRODUCTS IN THE CROSS-BORDER AREA RESTORATION OF St. ELIJAH CHURCH IN GRNCARI VILLAGE: Conservation Interventions of the church of St. Elijah in Grncari village undertaken by the NI “Institute and museum” – Bitola consisted of two general parts i.e. preparation of the Conservation project and Immediate conservation on the church of St. Elijah. The conservation project was comprised of dišerent types of researches of the existing situation, as well as the proposed conservational methods and activities. The immediate conservation integrated several consecutive steps such as reinforcement of the building structure, preventive conservation of the wall paintings, interventions of the roof construction and similar activities that completely “brought to life” the monument. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE VISIBILITY OF THE CULTURAL TOURISTIC PRODUCTS IN THE CROSS-BORDER AREA CONSTRUCTION OF A PATH CONNECTING 5 CHURCHES IN PRESPA REGION, REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA: 35 Project co-funded by the European Union and national funds of the participating countries The Holy Water hiking trail spreads in the mountainous part of Prespa, or more precisely at the Baba mountain slopes. It connects the following churches: St. Petar and Pavle, St. Petka in Podmochani village, than the church St. Elijah in Grnchari village, St. Gjorgi in Kurbinovo village and the monastery of St. Mary in the village of Slimnica. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE VISIBILITY OF THE CULTURAL TOURISTIC PRODUCTS IN THE CROSS-BORDER AREA INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE AGIOS GERMANOS WATERMILL: Two folding ramps allow wheelchair users or those with limited mobility to access the traditional watermill in Agios Germanos and follow the guided tour of the building and its machinery, upgrading the quality of the facilities for visitors to the watermill. The watermill is also appropriately equipped for visitors with impaired vision, thanks to a Braille information panel that has been installed, informing visitors about the watermill building, the mill machinery and its cultural values. VIRTUAL AND AUGMENTED REALITY OF BASILICA OF St. ACHILLIOS OF PRESPA: Located on the island in Small Prespa lake, the basilica of St. Achillios is one of the most attractive and visited spots in Prespa. Although there are only partial remaining of the sometime existing basilica, the virtual and augmented reality application enables the visitors to “see” the recreated basilica in its full appearance and splendor. With a simple use of their smart phones visitors can move inside, or walk around the basilica enjoying the sounds of the prayers as well as the sounds of the nature. Project reuslts: Developed effective and easy-to-use application providing information about the cross-border area Photorealistic display of preserved monuments, digitally ‘’restored’’; Organized and graded information, depending on the visitor’s interests; Created thematic route connecting 5 churches in the Municipality of Resen; Restored St. Elias church in Grncari village; Created notable visiting space - Byzantine Collection of Agios Germanos; Improved quality of visitors’ tour in the respective monuments, provided instructions and data upon the user’s selection through smartphones and tablets; Improved touristic product of Prespa through the use of new technologies regarding the tour and created thematic routes, as well as the possibility ošered to the visitor to make his/her ‘’own route’’; Developed environmental tourism with expertised visitors, by tour operators in environmental tourism; Promoted local products; Promoted cross-border area; Created powerful brand name for the touristic product of the cross-border area of Prespa.