Eights cities in North Macedonia are included in the project “Knowledge, protection and old urban cores in the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania”, organized by the association of places and cities of particular value in France, which was one of the winners of a call issued by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France.

Sixteen cities from the three countries joined the project. “In addition to the Culture Ministry, other partners include Albania’s Culture Ministry, the Association of Local Self-Government Units (ZELS), the Association of Architects of Macedonia as well as experts on cultural heritage and urbanism from the participating countries,” said the Culture Ministry in a press release Monday.

Of the 16 cities, eight are in North Macedonia, including Bitola, Ohrid, Shtip, Veles, Berovo, Kumanovo, Kratovo, and Kavadarci.

“French, Macedonian and Albanian professionals had the chance at videoconferences to learn more about the cities and their architectural cultural heritage, regulations allowing study and sharing of experiences in the interest of the three parties,” said the press release.

The project is expected to result in several products, including inventorying parts of the architectural cultural heritage in old urban cores; informative boards with texts, photos and drawings in several languages to showcase cultural heritage by including natural heritage, urban landscape; mediation with a selection of tools and activities allowing the population to learn more about the values and beauties of their city and to open toward the world, said the Culture Ministry.