About the project
About us
Developing cultural tourism by building routes that connect heritage, nature and the people who live there.
About Mallakastra Routes
Mallakastra Routes is a project dedicated to promoting the cultural and natural heritage of Mallakastër while creating opportunities for local communities. It connects historical sites, natural landscapes, traditional crafts and local food with sustainable tourism, entrepreneurship and community cooperation. Its central idea is that heritage can support local development when the people who preserve it have an active role in shaping the visitor experience.
Mallakastër offers a rich combination of places and traditions, from Byllis Archaeological Park and the Vjosa River to geothermal resources, rural settlements and local production. The project brings these assets into a shared destination story, encouraging visitors to explore the territory, meet its people and discover the knowledge and practices passed down through generations.
Connecting heritage with local people
An important part of the project is its focus on women and young people. Local artisans and producers hold valuable knowledge of crafts, food traditions and production techniques, but often face difficulties in promoting their work and reaching new markets. Routes4Culture places this knowledge at the centre of its approach, linking cultural preservation with practical skills and opportunities for enterprise.
The project’s masterclass model combines learning from local practitioners with specialist support in business development, branding, digital marketing and sustainable packaging. Training and mentoring are designed to help participants improve how they present their products and connect them with tourism, while preserving their local identity and cultural meaning.
What we worked on in Mallakastër
Our work focused on connecting local heritage, community participation and tourism development. We engaged with the Municipality of Mallakastër and local stakeholders to discuss the project’s activities, understand practical needs and build cooperation around the territory’s cultural and natural resources. A local certified guide contributed to designing the trails, bringing knowledge of the landscape and local conditions into the process.
The project’s route concept brings together four complementary themes: the cultural and historical heritage of Byllis, geothermal and wellness experiences, eco-adventure along the Vjosa River, and crafts and agritourism. These routes are intended to connect places to visit with local products, community stories and opportunities to meet artisans and producers.
We also worked on the foundations of a Cultural Cluster, supported by a cooperation agreement. This structure brings together local producers, women artisans, businesses, public institutions and other cultural actors. Its purpose is to strengthen collaboration, improve visibility and create a basis for activities that can continue beyond the project.
Digital visitor information is another element of the approach. The project combines online content and QR-code access with printed information, helping visitors discover the territory through simple, accessible tools.
Building lasting local value
Our experience highlighted the importance of direct communication and trusted local partnerships. It also showed that producers need continued support with infrastructure, market access and formalisation. Routes4Culture therefore provides a foundation for longer-term cooperation: preserving local knowledge, supporting community enterprise and making Mallakastër’s heritage part of a more sustainable local economy.
