THE SOURCE: capacity building in Ruse, Bulgaria

THE SOURCE capacity building in Ruse, Bulgaria

Can a river, a fountain and a holy spring tell us a story of history, environment and community?

From 30 June to 3 July 2026, the partners of THE SOURCE gathered on the banks of the Danube for the project’s second and final transnational capacity building event, hosted by Development of Social Capital🇧🇬 under the theme “Water and People – Natural, Cultural and Social Heritage”.

After Dubrovnik in April, this was the moment to close the circle: two days exploring how water shapes urban life, spiritual traditions and local communities, and to turn what we learned into material for THE SOURCE Handbook of Good Practices.

Day one: water in the city

The first day was dedicated to water as part of the urban environment and quality of life: a thematic tour of the Fountains of Ruse took our stakeholders and us through the city’s water features, from the Courthouse fountain to the central pedestrian area, followed by a visit to the Danube riverfront and port district and a discussion on water as a driver of local development. The day closed at the Ruse Yacht Club with “People by the Water”, an evening of networking and local culture right where the city meets the river.

Day two: water, nature and communities

The second day moved from the city to the region: we visited the St. Marina Monastery in Karan Varbovka, where a holy spring has been a spiritual and social centre for generations, and the Gyur karst spring, before walking the Rusenski Lom eco-trail. Springs, monasteries and karst landscapes: a reminder that water heritage is not only built in stone, but also lived in traditions and nature.

The morning also hosted the project’s Steering Committee meeting, where partners reviewed progress across all work packages and planned the months ahead. A lot is yet to come 🙂

What comes next⛲

Ruse marked the end of the capacity-building phase, but not of the learning. The insights collected in Croatia and Bulgaria now flow into the Handbook of Good Practices, due later this year, while fountain mapping continues in all four countries.