On 22 September 2013, for the six year in the row, was held Tour de Culture, an attention-grasping activity that has become a traditional in Kosovo.

This years’ edition of Tour de Culture was the most successful so far, with the new records in the number of participants – more than 900 enthusiastic bikers.
Participation in Tour de Culture was FREE for all, as the tour is intended to promote cultural heritage, non-motorized mobility and environmental protection in Kosovo.

The tour has begun at 12:00 from START at Ferizaj/Uroševac, and after 25 km of easily traveled distance, participants arrived at the FINISH of the tour, city castle of Kacanik/Kacanik.

6th year edition of Tour de Culture has brought great novelties to the activity: – A special bus for 30 participants with special needs that joined the tour from the START up to 2 km length distance. – A photographic exhibition overlooking the first 5 years of Tour de Culture – exposed for 5 days prior to activity at Mother Teresa Square in Prishtina/Priština, and the at the START on the day of the tour. – For the first time, three different souvenirs and gifts were sold on special stands on the day of activity at START:

1) Specially crafted Tour de Culture logo, Nika’s Mill and Kaçanik Fortress souvenirs by a local company “Cocra”
2) “The Ideas Partnership” has promoted and sold their products (bags, olive oil soap, candle holders and jewelry made by Roma women)
3) “Woman for woman in special needs”, and NGO from Prizren, presented by group of women with special needs, was selling their products.

After the START, several stops were made (one of them being restaurant PARK-U), where participants relaxed, had water, fruits, vegetables and food.

Also, this year, included the Kosovo Cap Project participants which collected the plastic bottle caps that would be converted into wheelchair donation.

Tour de Culture 2013 edition, for the first time, in cooperation with Peace Action Foundation and Charity Miles organizations, participants could use their miles to be converted in their favorite charity. For every mile they have biked, one of corporate sponsors donated to their charity of choice.

Three police escort, two ambulance vehicles, three bike mechanics, and an extra bus for those who wanted to be part of the tour, but couldn’t continue on, accompanied the whole tour.

At the FINISH, all participants gathered at the park in front of Kaçanik/Kačanik Castle, where the Chairman of the municipal assembly of Kaçanik/Kačanik, Mr. Xhelal Gashi, greeted the participants. The Acknowledgement for being one of the hosts was handed to Mr. Gashi by organizers of Tour de Culture.

Finally, a performance by a local folkloric dance ensemble was conducted followed by a refreshment and food for all participants. Beside souvenir selling points, youngsters of Kaçanik/Kačanik have promoted their paintings with cultural heritage theme.

Tour de Culture, apart from being recreational and enjoyable, served to raise people’s awareness about our common cultural and natural heritage, discovering potentials for the development of sustainable cultural tourism as well as importance of safer roads and healthier lifestyle. Being part of wider initiatives like European Heritage Days, European Mobility Week and Bikes for life initiative and moreover strengthened by man and women, youth and elderly and participants with special need cycled once again to promoting human values above all.

Tour de Culture is an initiative of Cultural Heritage without Borders (CHwB) and UN-Habitat’s Municipal Spatial Planning Support Programme (MuSPP), both funded by Sweden, and conducted in close cooperation with local partners in Kosovo.

For more photos visit Facebook page Tour de Culture Kosovo