site.btaBulgaria’s Consul General Radoslava Kafedzhiyska Highlights Edirne’s Cultural Resonance

Radoslava Kafedzhiyska, Consul General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Edirne, describes the historic city near the Bulgarian-Turkish border as a remarkable one. In her words, Edirne is a gateway between Europe and Asia, and vice versa, through which millions of people pass every year.

In a BTA interview, Kafedzhiyska noted that Edirne draws a steady stream of Bulgarian visitors, each with their own reason for crossing the border: for some, it’s the opportunity to marvel at the architectural perfection of the Selimiye Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; for others, it's about discovering unique landmarks like the Health Museum; and for many, it's a place for shopping or enjoying a stroll along the banks of the Maritsa River. "This is only a glimpse into the diversity and uniqueness of a city that is our closest neighbour across a shared border," she explained.

Since 2024, Kafedzhiyska, the first woman to serve as Bulgaria’s Consul General in Turkiye, has led one of the country's most strategically important diplomatic missions abroad.

She highlighted lesser-known historical facts about Edirne, many of which have been forgotten or are hard to find in travel guides. "I myself, like many Bulgarians, have heard grandparents speak of a time when over 10,000 Bulgarians lived in Edirne. We long to visit the places where they studied, celebrated, and built their lives," Kafedzhiyska said.

She referenced landmarks such as the Dr. Petar Beron Bulgarian Men's High School, the Bulgarian churches St. George the Great Martyr and Sts. Constantine and Helena, and the Bulgarian Catholic High School, established in 1906. "Edirne is much more than just a shopping or tourism destination for Bulgarians. It holds traces of our shared historical memory," Kafedzhiyska emphasized.

According to Turkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, more than 1 million foreign tourists visited Edirne in the first quarter of 2025, with the majority being from Bulgaria. When asked why the city is such a magnet for Bulgarian visitors, Kafedzhiyska pointed to several cultural and culinary reasons.

"Some come for the legendary local cuisine — above all the unbeatable tava cigeri (fried liver), almond-based sweets, or the famous Edirne phyllo dough. Others come for their weekly shopping, immersing themselves in the lively atmosphere of the Ali Pasha Bazaar or the Ulus Friday Market. Earlier in July, the 665th edition of the Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling Festival — a UNESCO-listed cultural event, took place, and the city was flooded with Bulgarian tourists," she added.

One factor strengthening ties between municipalities on both sides of the border is the Bulgaria–Turkiye Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Interreg-IPA, in which Bulgaria is the lead partner since Turkiye is not an EU member.

Asked about the programme's implementation, Kafedzhiyska detailed its achievements and future prospects. "The programme covers three Bulgarian regions – Burgas, Yambol, and Haskovo, and two Turkish provinces, Edirne and Kirklareli. Over the years, it has funded the restoration of community centers (chitalishta), cultural and historical monuments, and the construction of eco-trails," she said.

Looking ahead, the current programming period will focus on tourism, boosting competitiveness, improving energy efficiency, and supporting the green transition in enterprises. "More than EUR 5 million will be invested in forest fire prevention and fire protection measures in the cross-border area. Funds will be used to purchase vital equipment, improve response capacity, and upskill personnel," the consul further explained.