Chiprovtsi

 For the photos about Chiprovtsi & Museum I would like to thank to Mrs. Tsetana Rusimova - keeper of the Historical museum in Chiprovtsi. She was so gentle to tell us many interesting things about the history of Chiprovtsi. You will be impressed by the beauty of Chiprovski carpets there and some models of very old traditional crafts. The collection of the museum is something special and merit to be seen.

If you would like to visit and see this Museum and others you could phone her for visit: ++359 9554 21 94.

 

Memorials of the Culture in BERKOVITSA

Berkovitsa is a small town which is situated in the northwest flanks of the Balkan, 90 km away from the capital city of Bulgaria Sofia, by the road via the Petrohan passage.

This region was inhabited by men since hoary antiquity. On the historical maps Berkovitsa is marked as an old settlement and an inner town of the Bulgarian state.

During the Ottoman rule it was an important administrative centre. The population made a living from agriculture, fruit growing, pottery, trade.

In the beginning of the 20^th century the town transformed itself in a “summer resort”, attractive for people from near and more distant places. They were arriving here mainly for the moderate climate with sunny and cool summer, curative mineral springs in the surrounding country because of the tasty and fragrant gifts of the nature – berries, chest nuts, and herbs.

Here you could rediscover one of the most beautiful corners of our native land, to have a walk in the century-old Beach and Chestnut forests, skiing or snowboarding on the tracks under peak Kom, prepare for himself jam from raspberries and blueberries, which you had collected by yourself and take away a portion of the fascination of this land incorporated in a small ocarina or a “Dyavolska kana” (A Devilish jug), the pride of the Berkovitsa’s potters.

In the Mountain nearby the town there are many tourists routs and pathways leading to the peak Kom, peak Sdravchenitsa, the Sinya Vir site (the Blue Pool), Samarite, peak Shturkovitsa. Some of the traditional rest places near the town are the picturesque surroundings of the Haidoushki Vodopadi (The Haidouc Waterfalls). This is also the name of the newest pedestrian footpath.

There are few interesting things to see in Berkovitsa. I will represent them to you:

The Clock Tower – It was built during the period of 1762 -1764. The tower is the most distinctive architectural monument in the centre of Berkovitsa and it has been the town’s symbol. Even today the tower keeps on counting the time with the clang of its copper bell.

“Ivan Vazov” House-Museum – This is an interesting monument with an unique Bulgarian architectural tradition. It is characterized by beautiful engraved ceilings, which are pieces of work mastered by Bulgarian craftsmen. Besides its ceiling the House-Museum is famous for its authentic means of heating. The House was built during the 19^th century. During 1879 -1880 Ivan Vazov – a famous Bulgarian author of poetry and prose lived there. He wrote also the first Bulgarian novel. In 1940 the House was declared as a national cultural monument.

Sarbinska House – This is a typical one-story house from the Renaissance with an authentic balcony looking south. The house was built during the 19^th century. It is characterized by fascinating door and cupboard woodcarving. Since 1992 an ethnographic exhibition has been held there. You can see some national cloths, carpets, some small things which were used by our old grossmothers and grossfathers.

“Birth Of The God Mother” Church – The Church is a contemporary of the Bulgarian Renaissance, a center if men’s and girl’s schools, as well as a spiritual source for the people of Berkovitsa. The church was reconstructed in 1843. The icon stills are skillfully made by the woodcarving master from Samokov – Stoycho Fandakov and the icons are painted by Dimitar Zograff.

“St. Nikolai Chudotvorets” Church – The temple was built by Georgy Dzhongar in 1871. Later the building went through a couple more reconstruction periods, which improved its architectural forms. It is assumed that the icon still, the bishop’s stall and the pulpit are made by Dimitar Fandakov, and the icons are painted by Konstantin Angelov and Daniel Shtipliata.

Antique and Medieval Fortress “Kaleto” is used to be the headquarters of diocese in Christian Byzantium. That is why in one of the two basilicas there is a synthrone for the priests and a throne for the bishop. “Kaleto” stands up immediately atop the town. It is a place for relaxation and a glance in every destination.

“Krasteva” House was built during the middle of 19^th century. It is characterized by the typical Bulgarian Renaissance architecture. There is a balcony on the south side of the house. In 1986 the house has been entirely reconstructed keeping the unique architectural style. Today the house functions as a restaurant-club.

For being information and photos in the Museums I would like to thank to Mrs. Dora Izatovska -  ex direktor of the Museum Complex in Berkovitsa. If you would like to visit and see Sarbinska House and “Ivan Vazov” House-Museum you could phone her for visit: ++359 953 88 045. Spoken languages: English and Russian.

 

The Fortress And The Rocks Of Belogradchik

 

 

The Fortress of Belogradchik is an impressive architectural-constructional and historical monument of the culture. It is situated in the south of Vidin between Peak Kom and Peak Vrushka Chuka. The slender silhouette of the fortress enters perfectly in the space surrounded by the reddish rock massifs dominating over Belogradchik.

The unique Rocks of Belogradchik were molded by the nature in the course of 200 millions of years.

Their formation has started as a result of the Early-Alpine tectonic cycle, when the red sandstones and limestones were on the bottom of the huge sea and the earlier folded Paleozoic rocks remained on dry land and began to deform. The character red colour is due to iron oxides and hydroxides.

The processes of weathering, detonation, river erosion, freezing, growth of moss and lichen, as well as other natural factors that lasted for millenniums, resulted in the formation of a multitude of fantastic figures and compositions. Not great imagination is required to recognize in the rocks "The School Girl", "The Mushrooms", "Haidouk Velko", "The Bear", "The Eagle", "The Madonna", "The Monks" and many others. During his journey in the region Konstantin Irechek exclaimed: "This cannot be described, it has to be seen!"

The Fortress of Belogradchik has risen during the 1st – 3rd A.D. centuries as a small fortress-rampart. The builder has used skillfully the inaccessibility of the elliptic rock terrace – "first plate" and has organized a structure that fulfilled defensive, observation, protective and communication functions. During archeological excavations were found bases of walls, ceramic fragments, iron spear and arrow gads, coins from Roman emperors – from the ruling of Vespasian, Trajan, Septimius Severus, Gordian III, Decii Trajan. Still may be seen Beds of rectangular beams, of light buildings and chutes, which were taking the atmospheric waters to an 85 m3 capacity water reservoir.

The Fortress was active also during the late antiquity. The ruler of Vidin – Ivan Sratsimir (1355 - 1396) evaluated its strategic significance. During his time it was additionally reinforced and enlarged. Two partition walls and auxiliary buildings were built. The hanging wooden bridges and the stone staircases were providing better possibilities for quick maneuvering.

The chronicle tells that within three months from the conquest of Bdin (Vidin) on 2 June 1365, all remaining in the area fortress were also captured, including the fortress Fehervar (Belogradchik). The garrison, which was placed in the fortress, was expelled by rebelling Bulgarians in 1369.

Also in 1369 the fortress was captured by Ottomans and partially destroyed. In 1454 - 1455 an 8-person guard was placed in it; 100 years later the garrison already consisted of 27 people and one dizdar (chief). Till the beginning of the 19th century the new masters made only mirror repairs and improvements of the fortress. The overall reconstruction and enlargement has been started in 1805 by French engineers and was completed by Italian fortification experts in 1837. Battle paths were securing speed and mobility to the defenders.

The name of the fortress is connected with the heroic deed of Haidouk Velko, who for a short period has gained command of the fortress in 1809, with the heroism of the Bulgarian rebels in 1805, and the actions of the Panayot Hitov's band in 1876.

For Belogradchik the prominent French traveler Gerome Blanqui has written in 1841: "Neither the famous Ollioules gorges in Provence, the Pincarbo defile in Spain, the Alps, nor the most ancient mountains of Tirol and Switzerland possess anything that could be compared with what I have seen in Belogradchik".