The selected area is region of Tran, which has an approximate population of 4000 people. It is a small town in Pernik Province, western Bulgaria, located 15 km from the border with Serbia. This region is very rich in cultural heritage as a lot of museums, churches, natural heritage parks and rivers are located there. The rural area is very appropriate for ecological tourism and different touristic activities. The area is characterized by beautiful mountains, hills, rivers and ancient churches which are only a small part of all the spots to visit in the area of Tran. There is big potential for tourism and agriculture in the rural area. Tran is an old, medieval settlement, founded in the Middle Ages. The existence of the settlement during this period is attested by the medieval cemetery church "St. Petka” from the discovered late medieval furnace for ceramics and from the buildings, discovered at the beginning of the newer construction in the town.

Tran is located in a mountain region in the Western part of Bulgaria, on the two banks of the Erma river, which forms a picturesque gorge. The town is 790 m above the sea level and is situated the valley Znepole, surrounded by the hills Kitka, Garkov stone, Charchalat and Mourgovitsa. Tran is a town in Pernik region. Tran municipality is an administrative centre, which borders with The Republic of Serbia. The town is just 75 km away from Sofia and 49 km form Pernik, also close to the towns Dragoman and Breznik. In the past the settlement was an important crafts and trade centre. The famous road Znepolski drum, which connected Dubrovnik an the Adriatic sea used to pass through it. The settlement was relatively dense populated, compared to nowadays. The archaeologist researches show traces of settlers ever since the Neolithic period. Stone axes and hammers from that period were found. Inhabited caves were found in Zelenigrad and Lomnitsa villages. Later on these lands were inhabited by Thracian, Goths and Slavic tribes. The Tran region offers mountain and semi mountain relief with a row of mountains from the Rui mountain range. The region is famous with two natural phenomena. The first one is Rui peak (1706 m). The second natural phenomenon is the gorge of the Erma river or the Lomnishko gorge (the name of the nearby village Lomnitsa). The gorge is included in the list of the 100 natural tourism sites in Bulgaria. The Tran eco trail passes through it. It is over 13 km long, located on 600 – 1000 m above the sea level and passes through vertical cliffs. The rocks of the gorge offer over 10 routes for rock climbing. The Tran region offers various rock formation, carst caves, cascades, small waterfalls, meadows, carst springs with drinking water, mineral waters (nearby the Bankya village). The whole diversity of the region makes it extremely suitable for mountain trekking, eco, rural, cultural, mountain tourism and rock climbing.

ctivities and categories of interest from that area: • Cultural and natural heritage • Ecotourism opportunities • Thermal waters, hot springs • Hiking, trekking, mountain walks • Cyclotourism • Rock climbing, alpinism • Rafting on Erma river • Caving • Religious tourism (monasteries, churches)