Between September 1 and November 14, 2025, the Association “Connections for the Future” carried out a series of activities aimed at promoting short-term rural tourism in the communities of eastern Bacău County. Under the name “Bacău East – Heritage Values and Rural Tourism,” the project was co-financed by the Bacău County Council through the Non-Reimbursable Funding Program from its own budget for the year 2025, according to Law no. 350/2005.

The project aimed to capitalize on the natural and cultural heritage of the eastern area of Bacău County. The target group consisted of rural communities located in this area – considered less attractive for tourism – which were guided and encouraged to leverage their cultural treasures and develop entrepreneurial initiatives to create facilities necessary for rural tourism, such as Local Gastronomic Points (LGPs).

Thus, a first achievement of the project was the design and dissemination of a cultural calendar, containing relevant information about the life and work of twelve personalities born in the eastern area of the county. The personalities brought back into attention were the following: Ioan Borcea, a biologist of international stature, born on January 13, 1879, in the commune of Buhoci; Izabela Sadoveanu-Evan, literary critic, opinion journalist, poet, and feminist activist, born on February 24, 1870, in the commune of Săucești; Letiția Oprișan, painter, born on March 27, 1937, in the village of Căbești, commune of Podu Turcului; Mihai Bejinariu, sculptor and painter, born on April 4, 1950, in the commune of Hemeiuș; Nicu Enea, painter of global renown, born on May 28, 1897, in Valea Arinilor, Măgirești; Ion Ionescu de la Brad, founder of Romanian agricultural science, born on June 24, 1818, in the village of Brad, commune of Negri; Dan Verona, poet, prose writer, translator, radio editor, born on July 1, 1947, in the village of Luncani, commune of Mărgineni; Paul Anghel, novelist, essayist, playwright, born on August 8, 1931, in the commune of Răcătău; Teodor Gheorghe Negoiță, explorer, born on September 27, 1947, in Sascut; Olga Tudorache, theater and film actress, born on October 11, 1929, in Oituz; Eugen Uricaru, writer, born on November 1, 1946, in Buhuși; Radu Beligan, actor, poet, essayist, memoirist, born on December 14, 1918, in the village of Galbeni, commune of Filipeşti.

As part of the project, three brochures were also created that documented three tourist routes, each ending at the birthplace of a notable figure. The first brochure describes the Bacău – Stănișești route, including all the cultural, geographical, historical, and religious landmarks in the localities along this itinerary, as well as relevant information about George Apostu, an internationally renowned sculptor born in Stănișești. The personality who inspired the second brochure was Constantin Galeriu, one of the most important spiritual leaders of Romanian Orthodoxy, born in the village of Răcătău-Răzeși in the commune of Horgești. The Bacău – Horgești route is very scenic and includes sites listed as historical monuments in Bacău County and interesting geographical formations. The third brochure corresponds to the Bacău – Huruiești route. The commune of Huruiești is the birthplace of Vasile Pârvan, a Romanian historian, archaeologist, epigraphist, and essayist. The route description includes information about all cultural and tourist points of interest, including regional historical monuments, churches, manors, and ponds.

The brochures were illustrated with photographs of
students from middle and high school, from schools located in villages along
the three routes. The selection of photographs was done through a photography
contest intended for students living in rural areas, who are familiar with the
most beautiful and interesting spots in the region where they live. The contest
was launched through presentations in the schools of the communities along the
three routes, while also aiming to stimulate the young generation’s interest in
culture and photographic art. The winners of the contest were rewarded with
school supplies, books, games, and a brochure of the route they helped
illustrate with their images.

In collaboration with the town halls and local councils,
the Association “Connections for the Future” organized three meetings
with the citizens of communities located along the documented routes and
presented the cultural-touristic potential of the area, also highlighting the
need to establish local gastronomic points, important for supporting local
tourism. These workshops invited people who have developed successful
businesses implementing local gastronomic points in other areas of the country,
as well as representatives from the Bacău Veterinary and Food Safety
Directorate and the National Mountain Area Agency. Three meetings were
organized, with the support of the Association of Communes of Romania – Bacău
County Branch and the Local Action Group “Colinele Tutovei”, supporters of the
project, with local action groups active in the rural area of Bacău County: “Plaiurile
Bistriței”, “Cetatea Tamasidava”, and “Ulmus Montana”. During these meetings,
the project was presented and the materials produced within the project were
distributed, either electronically or in print.

On November 12, 2025, the Bacovia Theatre in Bacău hosted
the final dissemination event of the project: the workshop entitled “Tourism
and Culture in the Rural Area.” Representatives from all categories
interested in the theme participated and spoke: town halls, schools, local
action groups, and travel agencies. At the opening, the representative of the
Bacău County Council gave a brief introduction about the project activities,
and Prof. Dr. Liliana Topliceanu, president of the “Connections for the
Future” Association, presented all the project results, highlighting the
economic benefits for local communities, the potential for replication, and the
impact they could have on the development of tourism in Bacău County.