Dobrogea takes an important step in strengthening its candidacy for the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2029 through the signing of a collaboration protocol with the Institutul Național al Patrimoniului (National Institute of Heritage – INP).

This strategic partnership brings institutional expertise, methodological rigor, and a professional framework for documenting and promoting Dobrogea’s gastronomic and cultural heritage.

Alongside Harghita (European Region of Gastronomy 2027) and Banat (candidate for 2028), Dobrogea consolidates its role in Romania’s national process dedicated to gastronomic heritage and culture-led regional development.

Why This Partnership Matters for Dobrogea 2029

The Dobrogea 2029 candidacy is built on the understanding that gastronomy is living cultural heritage. Recipes, traditional markets, ethnic communities, culinary practices, and historical influences are all part of the region’s identity.

Through collaboration with the National Institute of Heritage, Dobrogea benefits from:

• specialized research and documentation in the field of cultural heritage
• integration of tangible and intangible heritage into the Dobrogea 2029 strategy
• methodological support for responsible communication and promotion
• development of long-term cultural and educational projects

This professional framework is essential for preparing the Dobrogea 2029 bid for the European Region of Gastronomy title.

INP Projects That Have Already Highlighted Dobrogea’s Heritage

The collaboration between Dobrogea and the National Institute of Heritage is not new. Over the years, INP has carried out important projects in the region, focusing on multicultural identity and heritage research:

• Constanța Multietnică (Multiethnic Constanța) – mapping cultural diversity and urban memory
• Boemă și Loisir! (Bohemia and Leisure!) – dedicated to built heritage, architecture, and lifestyles
• Multiculturalitate și gastronomie tradițională în Dobrogea (Multiculturalism and Traditional Gastronomy in Dobrogea) – research connecting cultural and food heritage
• Summer Schools in Eforie Sud and Hârșova – guided tours, workshops, and community-based activities

These initiatives have strengthened the documentation of Dobrogea’s multicultural heritage and provided a solid research base for future development.

Flavours of Dobrogea Film Awarded in Barcelona

Within the INP – Romanian Riviera partnership, the documentary film dedicated to Dobrogea’s heritage and gastronomic identity was awarded at the Food Film Menu 2025 festival in Barcelona.

This international recognition confirmed Dobrogea’s potential to tell its story through gastronomy, culture, and community. The film brought local producers, culinary traditions, and ethnic diversity to the forefront, demonstrating how gastronomic heritage can become a powerful cultural promotion tool.

For the Flavours of Dobrogea project, this award represents a validation of its core mission: transforming heritage into experience, identity into narrative, and gastronomy into a driver of regional visibility.

What’s Next for Dobrogea – European Region of Gastronomy 2029

In the coming period, the partnership with the National Institute of Heritage will support:

• mapping Dobrogea’s gastronomic ecosystem
• documenting intangible and food heritage
• integrating research into the Dobrogea 2029 bid book
• developing sustainable cultural projects

Dobrogea is not building just a title for 2029. It is building a long-term regional development model rooted in cultural heritage, multicultural identity, and gastronomy.

Because gastronomy cannot be separated from history, memory, communities, and the dynamics of a port city.

And Dobrogea embodies all of these layers.