• City: Vidin
• Source: Tova e Bulgaria
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General information and infrastructure
Territory - 501 sq. km
Number of population centers - 34
Population - 80,761
Administrative center - Vidin city

Vidin municipality is located in the farthest northwest corner of Bulgaria. It is situated along the two most characteristic meanders of the Danube River. It is close to neighboring Serbia and Montenegro and borders on Romania. The municipality is at a distance of 200 km from Sofia. Two trans-European corridors pass through it: No. 4 and No. 7. The city of Vidin is the location of choice for the construction of Danube Bridge 2. 2.5 km from the city is the Vidin-Calafat ferry servicing the European transport corridor No. 4. In close proximity is the Duty-free Area. The total length of the road network is 218.3 km. 6 km from Vidin there is an airport that was closed down in 1998 but with preserved air traffic control systems; the airport may be re-opened if necessary. The Vidin-North Port is located 2,5 km outside the city. Freight port - South, in the South Industrial Area, with RO-RO and RO-LA terminals. The River Station Vidin Customs Office processes goods and passengers along the second European transport corridor No. 7 - the Danube River; the Bregovo Customs Office is 30 km away, The Vrashka Chouka Customs Office is 45 km away.

Economy and business
The companies of primary importance in the municipality include: the Koshava Mines - the only one for the extraction and processing of gypsum; Knauf Gipsfaser, AD - the only manufacturer of plasterboard on the Balkans with 100 % foreign interest; "Gips" EOOD - extraction and processing of gypsum; "Vida Style" EAD; "SO MAT" Vidin branch - internal and international transport; "Vipom" AD - production of water pumps; "Vida Style" EAD - production of men's shirts, as well as some small and medium enterprises of the foodstuffs and tailoring industry. One of the advantages is the Duty-Free Area constructed on the banks of the Danube, with 7 300 sq. m of indoor and 3 000 sq. m of outdoor storage facilities, technical infrastructure and modern telecommunications, providing all necessary conditions and opportunities, established by the international standards on special business areas. Vidin municipality is an agrarian and industrial area with potential and traditions in vegetable growing, viticulture and grain production. Farming land occupies 374,416,000 sq. m, the arable land is 331,419,000 sq. m, with 43.87 % under irrigation.

Strategic projects
Gasification Craiova - Vidin - Zaicar; Waste water treatment plant of the city of Vidin and remaining settlements; the "Danube University"; Construction of International Trade Fair - Vidin; Design and construction of ring road; Industrial park for small and medium-sized enterprises; Construction of a plant for the processing and preservation of fruit and vegetables; Reconstruction of Vidin Airport; The Baba Vida Fortress - A Gate Through Millennial.

Environmental Protection and Tourism
There are specialized units providing hotel services, recreation and tourism opportunities. The hotel accommodation and the educational facilities provide conditions for organizing business meetings, conferences and similar events. Another source of tourist and business services is the Vidin Ship whose accommodation facilities and catering establishments in combination with the opportunity for travel along the Danube, make the ship an attractive place for holding symposia, exhibitions, forums and others.

Natural sights and monuments of culture
There are a number of cultural sights on the territory of the municipality, of which 40 are historical monuments, 2 are archaeological, 68 are architectural and there are 6 sights manifesting high standard of architecture and arts. The municipality is also home to 18 protected natural sites (centuries-old trees) listed as nature landmarks. The sites attracting the most visitors are the Baba Vida Fortress, the "Krastata Kazarma" ("Cross-shaped Barracks") Museum, the medieval walls of the Turkish Town-Hall (Konak). Foreign visitors are mostly from the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy. Some of these include wine-tasting trips to sample local types of wine, traditional local cuisine, organized cruise trips down the Danube, short hiking expeditions in the countryside, production of souvenirs and local handicraft items, etc. The city is famous for its riverside park situated along the river bank, which includes recreational sites and beaches.

Associations, memberships, twin-cities
Vidin municipality a is member of: Euroregion Danube 21; Association for Cross Border Cooperation and Development of Northwest Bulgaria - Vidin; Cross-border Co-operation Development Foundation; National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria; Danube Association of Municipalities; Association of Democratic Municipalities; The following are Vidin's twin cities: Ulm -Germany; Hungary, Demre - Turkey, Rivne - Ukraine and West Carolton - USA, state of Ohio.