On 6 September 2025, TOURAL was showcased in Sfântu Gheorghe – Danube Delta (Tulcea County, Romania), where Villages in Romania hosted the third edition of the Night of Museums in Villages, an event dedicated to celebrating rural cultural heritage and the communities that preserve it.
The Night of Museums in Villages is a unique initiative that opens museums, manor houses, blacksmith workshops, and historic sites across Romania, allowing visitors to experience authentic rural culture, listen to local stories, and connect with communities through cultural activities.
In Sfântu Gheorghe, the local Museum prepared a diverse programme that included a performance by the children’s dance and song ensemble Kateплзeька Зоря (The Star of Katarlez), a guided village tour presenting old houses and their construction techniques, a local produce fair, screenings of archival films (1950–1976) portraying the life of the fishing community, and presentations of books and leaflets about the history of the village. Visitors were welcomed with the traditional offering of bread and salt, an ancient tradition of hospitality across Central and Eastern Europe, representing friendship, trust, respect, and prosperity.
The Local Action Group Danube Delta joined the event by presenting the brochure “Cultural Heritage on Local Action Group Danube Delta territory – Sfântu Gheorghe”. The Danube Delta region is rich in both tangible and intangible heritage, encompassing monuments, archaeological sites, traditions, and folk customs that reflect the multi-ethnic identity of Dobrogea. However, limited promotion and sustainable use pose risks to its preservation. Recognizing and valorizing this heritage strengthens local pride and contributes to safeguarding cultural identity.
LAG Danube Delta contributed, through this action, to one of the measures that both Tulcea County Council and Sfantu Gheorghe Mayoralty are planning to be foreseen in their strategies, taking into account the UNESCO resolutions that acknowledge the role of culture as an enabler and a driver of sustainable development. The development of a new framework for measuring and collecting data on culture is foundational both for advocating for the role of culture in the SDGs, as well as for integrating culture into development plans and policies at the national and urban levels.
Together with other previous projects implemented on Tulcea County area, TOURAL recognizes the importance of considering the identity and local and regional specificity, which implies the need to protect cultural heritage and awareness of its value by the community.
