For a 14th year running, the Perperikon Festival is to take place at the site of the ancient Thracian city in the Eastern Rhodopes, Bulgaria.

In a week's time starting June 27, rich cultural heritage and contemporary Bulgarian culture will go hand in hand, and the main idea this year will be to show progress at the archaeological site itself, with new excavation works already under way.

Tasting of dishes that Perperikon's residents are thought to have enjoyed is also part of the program - this means lots of meat and cheese, fruits and vegetables.

"We will try to wake up the spirit of Bulgaria... to prove that the spirit of Perperikon still lives today," festival director Petar Savchov told the Bulgarian National Radio.

Apart from Bulgarians, there will also be performers from the Netherlands and Greece.

Perperikon Festival has been taking place annually since 2001. Initially it was supposed to include an open-air theater festival aimed at promoting cultural diversity and preserving ancient heritage. Other arts, such music and dancing, were added to the program.