Rudolfovo and FUDŠ Received Silver Award for the Culinary Trail Innovation

Rudolfovo – Science and Technology Centre Novo mesto and the School of Advanced Social Studies in Nova Gorica have received a silver award for the innovation Kulinarična pot – Culinary Trail, a digital platform for preserving, promoting and experiencing the culinary heritage of ethnic minorities in the Danube Region.

The award was presented as part of the call for the best innovations of the Northern Primorska Chamber of Commerce, which has been highlighting the region’s most outstanding innovation achievements for the twenty-fourth year in a row. This year, six gold and nine silver awards were presented, with FUDŠ and Rudolfovo among the recipients of the silver award for their joint innovation Kulinarična pot – Culinary Trail.

Culinary Trail is a digital platform that connects more than 700 units of culinary heritage from 14 countries and 35 ethnic groups. It places these contents in space through the network of European EuroVelo cycling routes, thereby linking cultural heritage, sustainable mobility and modern digital technologies.

The platform is intended for local communities, tourism organisations, providers and visitors who wish to explore culinary heritage in a modern, inclusive and sustainable way. It enables users to discover dishes, beverages, preparation techniques and culinary traditions directly in the physical environment, with each heritage unit complemented by geolocation data, knowledge holders, historical and cultural context, and multimedia content.

The innovation addresses an important challenge in preserving the intangible cultural heritage of ethnic minorities, which is often dispersed, poorly documented and primarily based on oral tradition. Through a structured data model, the platform enables systematic collection, comparability and reuse of data, while creating a transferable model that can also be expanded to other geographical areas.

Rudolfovo contributed its expertise in digitalisation, data models, user experience and the development of innovative digital solutions. It participated in designing the platform concept, developing the structured model for capturing heritage, and creating a system that enables the involvement of various stakeholders and the further expansion of the innovation.

Culinary Trail operates within an international development environment that connects more than 27 partners and over 250 organisations from 14 countries. By linking cultural heritage, sustainable tourism and the local economy, it strengthens the visibility of minority communities, encourages the intergenerational transfer of knowledge, and opens up new opportunities for the development of authentic tourism experiences.

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PRESS RELEASE

The Tastes of the Danube Festival in Novo mesto Celebrated the Flavours and Stories of the Danube Region

The Tastes of the Danube Festival in Novo mesto Delighted Visitors with Danube Flavours and Cultural Diversity

Novo mesto, 30 May 2026 – The Culinary Trail Demonstration and Education Centre and Mundus Restaurant hosted the closing festival of the Culinary Trail – Tastes of the Danube project, offering visitors a unique culinary journey through the Danube region. The event was attended by a large number of visitors, who explored the rich heritage of the diverse communities living in the Danube region through food, wine, and cultural stories.

The festival brought together numerous providers and representatives of culinary traditions. Their delicacies and stories were presented by Karlovček Farm, the Society for the Recognition of Roasted Potatoes as an Independent Dish, Ukrainian, Turkish, Macedonian, and Thai cuisine, as well as the culinary heritage of the Gagauz people from Moldova.

An important part of the festival programme was also the presentation of the natural and cultural heritage of the Krka River. Visitors were able to take part in a pilot riverboat ride and enjoy a trip on Rudolf’s Raft operated by KNM Travel Novo mesto, a tourist attraction of Novo mesto that offers a unique view of the town centre from the river perspective. The experience on the water brought visitors closer to the importance of the Krka River for the development of the town and connected the festival’s gastronomic offer with local cultural and natural heritage.

Visitors had the opportunity to taste traditional dishes, learn about the typical ingredients of individual cuisines, and discover the cultural influences that have shaped the gastronomic identity of the Danube region over the centuries. A special experience was also provided by a tasting of wines from different parts of the Danube region, which complemented the culinary offer and introduced visitors to the richness of the region’s wine tradition.

Under the slogan “Tastes of the Danube. Countless Stories.”, the festival highlighted the importance of cuisine as a means of connecting people, preserving cultural heritage, and encouraging intercultural dialogue. Visitors discovered flavours through tastings and socialising, while the stories were presented through three short films created as part of the A Family Recipe project. In this way, visitors discovered how food can tell the stories of communities and their identities.

The event confirmed that gastronomy remains one of the strongest bridges between cultures. By presenting diverse flavours, traditions, and stories, the Tastes of the Danube Festival successfully contributed to greater recognition of the cultural heritage of the Danube region and to strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation between communities.

Event Details

Event: Culinary Trail Festival – Tastes of the DanubeDate: Saturday, 30 May 2026Location: Culinary Trail Demonstration and Education Centre / Mundus RestaurantAddress: Dilančeva 7, 8000 Novo mesto

The Culinary Trail Project

The project Culinary Trail of the Ethnic and Local Cuisine in the Danube Region is co-financed by the Interreg Danube Region Programme. The Slovenian partners in the project are: the lead partner FUDŠ – School of Advanced Social Studies in Nova Gorica, and the project partners Rudolfovo – Science and Technology Centre Novo mesto and FIŠ – Faculty of Information Studies. The project connects partners from 14 countries of the Danube region.

The project supports the preservation and promotion of the rich culinary heritage of the Danube region – both local traditions and the gastronomic heritage of indigenous and non-indigenous minority communities. Through cuisine, it connects people, cultures, and stories, while encouraging intercultural understanding, knowledge exchange, and the sustainable development of the region.

More information about the project: https://interreg-danube.eu/projects/culinary-trail

Media Contact:

Jasmina Jakomin

Email: culinary.trail@fuds.si

Phone: +386 (0)64 258 891