Revival History Museum - Varna
The first Bulgarian Municipality in Varna was created on 11 May 1860 by the brothers Nicola and Sava Georgievich, Stamat Siderov, Christo Popovich and others. The text on its seal - Seal of the Bulgarian School Administration- Audacity-Agreement-Success-1860 clearly reveals the aims and tasks of the Municipality. The first school was opened on 25 July 1862 and given the name Bulgarian Central School. The eminent Bulgarian national revivalist and pedagogue Sava Dobroplodny was appointed a headmaster. His successors were Petko Slaveykov, Georgy Jivkov and many others.
On 14 May 1865 on the ground floor of the school the priest Konstantin Dunovsky inaugurated the first Bulgarian church in the town. The next year, 1866, a new independent school for girls was opened in Varna, and a bit later it was moved into one of the halls of the Central School building.
The opening of the school and the church clearly show the consolidated national consciousness. The aspiration for higher cultural achievements gave life to the first Bulgarian community library centre in Varna as well. In 1870 the Community Library Centre Vuzrozhdenie(Revival) was founded thanks to the initiative of Yanko Slavchev, Konstantin Tyulev and Dimitur Stanchev. It was housed on the upper floor of the building, together with the pupils' society Prosveshtenie(Education). The Russian Liberating Army entered the town on 27 July 1878 and was met with bread and salt in front of the Bulgarian school. The memories of the past are now being retold by the old school building. So are the bright and noble impulses and deeds from the Bulgarian National Revival period.
ΕΘΝΟΓΡΑΦΙΚΟ ΜΟΥΣΕΙΟ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥΠΟΛΗΣ
Το Εθνογραφικό Μουσείο της Φιλιππούπολης (PLOVDIV} στη Βουλγαρία είναι από τα πιο αξιόλογα μουσεία εθνογραφικής παράδοσης στη χώρα, με πλούσιες συλλογές παραδοσιακών ενδυμασιών, κεντημάτων, μουσικών οργάνων και χορού, καθώς και με εκθέματα που σηματοδοτούν την εξέλιξη της γεωργίας, της χειροτεχνίας και του εμπορίου στην περιοχή των βουνών της Ροδόπης.
Το Μουσείο στεγάζεται στην ιστορική κατοικία του Αργύρη Κουγιουμτζόγλου (Argir Kuyumdzhioglu), ενός εξελληνισμένου κατοίκου της Φιλιππούπολης και πλούσιου μεγαλέμπορου, που διατηρούσε εμπορική επιχείρηση στη Βιέννη.
Η κατοικία του Κουγιουμτζόγλου οικοδομήθηκε το 1847 από τον αρχιμάστορα Χατζηγιώργη (Hadzhi Georgi), που καταγόταν από το χωριό Κόσοβο της Ροδόπης. Το κτίσμα χαρακτηρίζεται ως ένα από τα εξοχότερα δείγματα της μπαρόκ αρχιτεκτονικής σ' όλη τη Βουλγαρία.
Μετά την απελευθέρωση της Βουλγαρίας από τον οθωμανικό ζυγό το 1878, ο Αργύρης Κουγιουμτζόγλου έφυγε από τη Φιλιππούπολη και εγκαταστάθηκε στην Κωνσταντινούπολη. 'Eκτοτε, η κατοικία του λειτούργησε αρχικά ως παρθεναγωγείο και αργότερα χρησιμοποιήθηκε ως χώρος αποθήκευσης καπνών. Εγκαινιάστηκε ως το Εθνογραφικό Μουσείο του Πλόβντιβ (Φιλιππούπολη) το 1917. Σήμερα, το Μουσείο περιέχει πάνω από 40.000 εκθέματα.
Επιγραφή στην είσοδο του Μουσείου
Το σπίτι-μουσείο του Κουγιουμτζόγλου, που το αποκαλούσαν βασιλικό σπίτι, εκπροσωπεί την ακμή της λεγόμενης Περιόδου της Εθνικής Αναβίωσης (National Revival Period) στη Βουλγαρία. Το κτίριο καλύπτει μιαν έκταση 570 τ.μ. 'Εχει 12 μεγάλα δωμάτια και 130 παράθυρα. Έχει πλούσια διακοσμημένη πρόσοψη, με υπέροχη αρμονική διάταξη, που βλέπει σε μεγάλο κήπο μ' ένα μαρμάρινο συντριβάνι, ενώ το μεγάλο σαλόνι στο δεύτερο όροφο εντυπωσιάζει με την ξυλόγλυπτη οροφή του και τις τοιχογραφίες με φυτικά μοτίβα διακόσμησης.
Ethnographic Museum, Varna
The Ethnographic museum was opened in 1974 in a restorated house from the National Revival period, built around 1860. Due to the initiative of Maria Nikolova - ethnographer, Assen Stoychev - artist and Kamen Goranov - architect, the creation of the exposition was possible. The museum reflects the rich material and cultural heritage of the local population during the second half of the XIX and the beginning of the XX century - catering, crafts, clothes, jewellery, ritual bread, survachki (special colour folded sticks, decorated with pop-corns, candies, ribbons, used by children on the first day of the New Year to tap neighbours on the back, wishing them good health, happiness, success in the new year)..
Aladzha Monastery Varna Bulgaria 25th 04 2015 HQ
Загадочный поход в Аладжа Монастырь. Прикосновение к вечной тишине и мудрости.
Varna Archaeological Museum - Ancient Artefacts
Some of Europe's oldest antiquities on display in a very interesting museum. Well worth a whole day's visit.
Summer photos from Rousse (Bulgaria)
Ruse (also transliterated as Rousse or Russe; Bulgarian: Русе) is the fifth-largest city in Bulgaria with a population of 166 991 (by current address). Ruse is situated in the northeastern part of the country, on the right bank of the Danube, opposite the Romanian city of Giurgiu, 300 km from the capital Sofia and 200 km from the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. It is the most significant Bulgarian river port, serving an important part of the international trade of the country.
Ruse is known for its 19th- and 20th-century Neo-Baroque and Neo-Rococo architecture, which attracts many tourists. The Ruse-Giurgiu Friendship Bridge, the only one in the shared Bulgarian-Romanian section of the Danube, crosses the river here.
Ruse is located on the right bank of the Danube, which is the high bank, having two underwater terraces and three river terraces at 15--22 m (49.21--72.18 ft), 30--66 m (98.43--216.54 ft), and 54--65 m (177.17--213.25 ft). The average altitude is 45.5 m (149.28 ft) AMSL. The urban area is an approximately 11-km ellipse running along the river. The city extends from the land-connected Matey (Матей) island and the mouth of Rusenski Lom on the west to Srabcheto (Сръбчето) hill on the east. During the 20th century, the west end of the city was significantly modified by moving the mouth of Rusenski Lom to the west, as well as by moving the bank itself with its fairway considerably to the north. Sarabair (саръбаир) hill is to the south of the city and is 159 m (521.65 ft) high. The Rousse TV Tower is built there on the remains of Leventtabia, a former Turkish fortification.
Museums
* National Transport Museum
* Battenberg Palace, built 1892, which now hosts the Rousse Regional Historical Museum
* Pantheon of National Revival Heroes
* Kaliopa House, a museum depicting the old urban lifestyle
* Zahari Stoyanov Museum
Religious buildings
* Church of the Holy Trinity
* Church of the Holy Theotokos
* Church of St George
* Church of Holy Archangel Michael
* Church of the Holy Ascension
* Church of St Petka
* Russian Church of St Nicholas the Miracle Worker
* Roman Catholic St Paul of the Cross Cathedral, built 1890
* Armenian Surp Astvadzadzin Church
* Evangelical Baptist church
* Evangelical Methodist Church
* Seid Pasha Mosque
* Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo, a World Heritage Site, is situated 20 km to the south.
In 1978, the All Saints Church was destroyed and the Pantheon of National Revival Heroes was built thereupon.
The Jewish community in Ruse built and consecrated a synagogue in 1797. It was destroyed in the 1810 fire, but two other synagogues were later built in 1826 and 1852.
Other landmarks
* Dohodno Zdanie (literally: Profitable Building) is an old theatre and one of the most beautiful buildings.
* Monument of Liberty, built (1908--1911).
* Rousse TV Tower, the tallest TV tower in Bulgaria and one of the tallest buildings on the Balkan Peninsula .
Regular events
* The March Music Days is an international music festival for classical music.
* St George's Day (6 May) is Ruse's holiday. A local fair is organized for a week around this date.
* The Danubian Carnival is a masquerade held around 24 June, Enyovden.
* The Sexaginta Prista Summer Stage is an urban festival. Events are hosted at the Roman castle every Friday from May through October.
* At the end of October are BG MediaMarket and the Bulgarian Europe Media Festival.
Koprivshtitza - little town in the middle of Bulgaria.
Koprivshtitza is a small Bulgarian town in Sredna Gora, preserved its spirit and architecture from the National Revival Period of Bulgaria, nice place to visit.
Tsar Liberator Alexander II Museum Pleven
The house of Ivan Vatsov - a tradesman from Pleven, was built on the eve of the Russo-Turkish war 1877-1878. With its rich furniture it is a typical house of the Bulgarian national revival. On 11th December 1877 the Russian emperor Alexander II was given a warm welcome in that house and he was given a letter of grateful acknowledgement on behalf of the citizens of Pleven. Here in the presence of Grand duke Nickolay Nickolaevich, the Romanian Prince Karol I, the Russian minister of war Milljutin and other eminent Russian generals, the taken captive Turkish marshal Osman Pasha was met by the Russian emperor.
The first military governer of Pleven - general M.D.Skobelev lived and worked in that house from 12th to 22nd December 1877. On the initiative of the committee Tsar Liberator Alexander II it was bought to be turned into a museum. A very beautiful park was formed round the house. The fence was made from parts of weapons, rifles, swords and bayonets given by the Russian War ministry.
The museum-house Tsar Liberator Alexander II was inaugurated on 3rd September 1907 in the presence of Royal Prince Ferdinand I, Grand duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, Grand duchess Maria Pavlovna, and general P.Parensov - participant in the war, Russian generals, Bulgarian ministers, deputies, and members of the committee Tsar Liberator Alexander II, volunteers, guests and citizens of Pleven.
Bulgarie le Monastère Orthodoxe de Rila (Bulgaria the Rila Monastery)
( Merci de noter cette vidéo ) ABONNEZ-VOUS pour suivre l'évolution de mes vidéos sur YouTube,Claude Aven Saint Jean de Rila, ermite canonisé par l'Église orthodoxe, a fondé le monastère de Rila au Xe siècle. Sa demeure d'ascète et sa tombe sont devenues lieux sacrés et ont été transformées en un ensemble monastique qui a tenu un rôle important dans la vie spirituelle et sociale de la Bulgarie médiévale. Ravagé par un incendie au début du XIXe siècle, l'ensemble a été rebâti entre 1834 et 1862. Ce monument caractéristique de la Renaissance bulgare (XVIIIe-XIXe siècles), symbolise la prise de conscience d'une identité culturelle slave après des siècles d'occupation.Le Monastère de Rila est le plus important centre spirituel et littéraire de la Renaissance nationale bulgare, à travers son histoire qui se poursuit sans interruption du Moyen Âge à nos jours. Des travaux de reconstruction ont été nécessaires après un incendie et certaines parties du monastère, une nouvelle église et d'autres constructions datent du XVIIIe siècle. Le bien répond totalement aux exigences de l'authenticité en matière d'emplacement, de contexte, d'usage, de fonction et de tradition. L'esprit et le génie du site sont également préservés comme il convient.Le patrimoine culturel du monastère ne se limite pas à ses édifices, mais comporte aussi de nombreuses œuvres d'art et documents qui constituent un témoignage inestimable de la civilisation bulgare, et dont la plupart sont conservés au musée ou dans la bibliothèque. (Please note this video) Saint John of Rila, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church, founded the Rila Monastery in the tenth century. His ascetic dwelling and tomb became a holy site and were transformed into a monastic complex which played an important role in the spiritual and social life of medieval Bulgaria. Destroyed by fire in the early nineteenth century, the complex was rebuilt between 1834 and 1862. This characteristic monument of the Bulgarian Renaissance (XVIII-XIX centuries), symbolizes the awareness of a Slavic cultural identity following centuries of occupation. Rila Monastery is the most important spiritual center and literary Bulgarian National Revival, throughout its history which continues uninterrupted from the Middle Ages to today. Reconstruction work was required after a fire and some parts of the monastery, a new church and other buildings dating from the eighteenth century. Well fully meets the requirements of authenticity in terms of location, context, purpose, function and tradition. The spirit and genius of the site are preserved as cultural heritage monastery convient.Le not confined to its buildings, but also contains numerous works of art and documents that constitute a priceless testimony to the civilization Bulgarian and most of which are preserved in the museum or library.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Five centuries subjugated to Ottoman rule and, more recently, four decades locked very firmly behind the Iron Curtain turned Bulgaria into a distant, enigmatic country in the eyes of much of the rest of the world. Images of cheap wine downed at student house parties, budget ski holidays and umbrella-wielding Cold War assassins were once among the popular stereotypes, but Bulgaria today is a vastly different country from what it was even 10 years ago.
For most foreign holidaymakers, Bulgaria's main lure is its long, sandy Black Sea Coast -- which still boasts swaths of stunning beaches and picturesque bays despite the expansive construction work -- but there is so much more to this country, and so much of it remains largely untouched and unvisited by overseas tourists. Networks of well-maintained hiking trails and horse-riding routes allow you to discover Bulgaria's lush mountainous and forested landscapes, especially around the Rila and Pirin Mountains, inhabited by bears, lynx, rare birds and other kinds of wildlife now becoming scarce elsewhere in Europe. Getting around the country is easy, with cheap and efficient public transport to ferry you between the cities and into the remoter, rural corners, where the traditional, slow pace of life continues much as it has done for centuries. Here you'll come across multicoloured monasteries, filled with fabulous icons and watched over by bushy-bearded priests, and impossibly pretty timber-framed villages with smoke curling lazily over the stone-tiled roofs and donkeys complaining in the distance, where headscarfed old ladies and their curious grandchildren still stare in wonderment at the arrival of outsiders. The cities, too, are often overlooked highlights, from dynamic, cosmopolitan Sofia with its lovely parks, sociable alfresco bars and fascinating museums, to the National Revival architectural treasures and Roman remains of Plovdiv, and the youthful maritime cockiness of Varna.
A fully paid-up member of NATO and (since 2007) the EU, Bulgaria has the feel of a nation at a very important crossroads. Massive foreign investment has created a construction boom, not just around the larger beach and mountain tourist resorts, but in the cities, too. More tourists than ever are discovering this country and an ever-rising number of foreigners are investing in property here. At the same time, the Bulgarian population is declining faster than almost anywhere else in Europe, wages are amongst the lowest on the continent -- prompting increasingly long and bitter strikes -- and the old problems of bureaucratic incompetence and organised crime bubble away in the background. The environmental damage caused by overdevelopment has been a particular cause for public alarm over recent years, and there are several national and international organisations campaigning to bring some of these issues to wider world attention. However much they complain, though, Bulgarians are a patriotic, if modest, bunch -- when they ask you, as they often will, if you like their country, they genuinely care that you leave with good impressions.
Prices have certainly risen since Bulgaria became a member of the EU, but compared with countries in Western Europe, travellers will find it by and large a pleasingly cheap destination, and an easy and enjoyable one to travel round once you've mastered the Cyrillic alphabet and enough Bulgarian to buy a bus ticket. Bring your own transport and the whole country is yours to explore.
1 Sofia Synagogue Lovingly restored building with a superb interior; a fitting memorial to one of the capital's most historically important communities.
2 Zhenski pazar A popular central market, where you can pick up everything from fresh vegetables to the kitchen sink.
3 The Archeological Museum An outstanding collection of Thracian, Roman and Bulgarian treasures, this is a great introduction to the country's history.
4 Aleksandar Nevski Memorial Church The capital's prime ecclesiastical monument -- a magnificent neo-Byzantine edifice intended to symbolize Bulgarian-- Russian friendship.
5 Boyana Church The vibrant frescoes in this outwardly unassuming structure constitute one of the masterpieces of Bulgarian medieval art.
6 Zlatni mostove Scramble around the huge boulders of the so-called Stone River, or launch an assault on the Cherni vrah peak, Mount Vitosha's highest point.
Bulgaria - Gold treasures
Bulgaria - National museum of history
GOLD TREASURE
Two spacious houses, all comfort, beautiful area for living Vratsa Bulgaria
The property is situated in a picturesque village surrounded by hills, at 30 km from Vratsa and at 15 km from Mezdra town. The village is surrounded with pine woods and interesting rock formations. It is popular with the many caves and the diverse natural landscape. Nearby, there are two reservoirs and a river, offering excellent conditions for walks, picnics and many other leisure activities. The property consists of two houses and a garden of 830 square metres. The main house, 220 square metres of living area, has two floors, with four rooms on each floor, a new shower room, an attic space. Internal stairs link the floors; there is a terrace on the first floor. The roof was repaired. The second house, 110 square metres of living area, is a two-storey house as well. It consists of three rooms on the ground floor and four rooms on the first floor. There is a traditional wooden balcony. There are three garages on the property, each of about 30 square metres, also outbuildings. Good access road.
Region/Town: Vratsa
Living space in sq.m: 330
Land in sq.m: 830
Number of bedrooms: 11
Plovdiv - Bulgaria
Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia, best known after the largest fairgrounds in the Balkans, Plovdiv Fair, which hosts many important yearly events such as International Technical Fair, International Consumer Goods and Technologies Fair and specialised exhibitions AGRA, VINARIA, MEDICUS, DENTO, GALENIA, PrintCom and Foodtech.
So if Plovdiv is famous as a commercial centre, why would it be attractive for tourists?
Plovdiv is set on the banks of Maritsa River, strategically located at the crossroads of two important traffic corridors. Many nations passed Plovdiv throughout its history: Romans (they founded Trimontium), Turks and of course Bulgarians, and each of them left remarkable traces that can still be admired today.
Plovdiv's main sights include a very well preserved Roman theatre from the 2nd century, large enough to accommodate 3000 people. It is still used during Plovdiv's festivals. And then there is so called Old Town, a part of the town built at the site of the ancient Trimontium, characterised by beautifully preserved Bulgarian houses from the 19th century.
We visited Plovdiv on a day trip from Sofia. It isn't too far; a train journey takes about 2 hours. We were unlucky with the weather. It was rather gloomy, with an occasional raindrop splashing on us from dark, heavy clouds. But we still enjoyed Plovdiv very much, the stroll around the Old Town being one of the highlights.
The houses in Old Town were inspired by the baroque, but their core features remain distinctively Bulgarian. Some of them are transformed into museums, galleries and workshops.
One of the most beautiful houses in the Old Town is The Ethnographic Museum. It is a fine example of the Bulgarian Baroque architecture of the National Revival Period. It was built in 1847. The principal facade of the house faces west, giving onto a spacious and well-kept garden. We were lucky to stumble upon a group of Bulgarian ladies in traditional Bulgarian costumes, and got a glimpse of a flamboyant cultural performance, its centre point being Bulgarian masks belted with cowbells storming through the courtyard.
Djumaya (Friday) Mosque
Is an active Muslim temple, known also as Ulu (main) Djumaya Mosque. As legend goes, the last name is dated back to the time when the Ottomans conquered Plovdiv in 1371. The Muslim temple was built in the place of an Orthodox cathedral from the 13th c., dedicated to Saint Petka ( Paraskeva). Djumaya Mosque is the second biggest Muslim building within the boundaries of today's Bulgaria, having build-up area of about 1500 sq.m.
The Plovdiv Clock-tower
A The PlovdivA Clock-tower is situated on the Sahatteppe. It is considered that this is one of the oldest clock-towers not only in Bulgaria but also in the whole Europe. Its construction is dated back to the 16th c. In the beginning of the 19th c this remarkable monument broke down. In 1812 the town public undertook the restoration of the tower.
Ancient-revival ensemble around Hissarkapiya
The architecture of the Ancient Plovdiv represents a top manifestation of anotherA outstanding period of Bulgarian history the National Revival (18th-19th c.). There is homogeneous architectural ensemble, where the structures from the epoch of National Revival connect all historical layers, a rare combination of national traditional architecture and older historical layers, forming a homogeneous ensemble.
BalabanovA House
HadjiA Panayout Lampsha a rich merchant and moneylender, built house of the beginning of the 17th century. It is of imposing size built on an area of 546 sq.m. and with a capacity of 4723 cubic meters. Its last owner the merchant Louka Balabanov, whose name it bears to this day. Today a permanent exhibition of modern paining is displayed on the first floor of the house. On the second floor, once used to receive guests and even, today furnished in the typical town style of the National Revival Period.
Olympic rowing canal
Length 2320m, width 135m, normal depth 2,5 m. It is a thoroughly artificial canal. The canal was inaugurated in 1989 for the World Youth Championship in canoe-kayak.One of the best rowing canals internationally: covers all possible distances.
HISTORICAL PLACES OF BULGARIA IN GOOGLE EARTH PART TWO ( 2/5 )
1. ALYOSHA,PLOVDIV 42° 8'37.52N 24°44'14.89E
2. SVETI SEDMOCHISLENITSI CHURCH,SOFIA 42°41'23.81N 23°19'39.21E
3. ST.LOUIS CATHEDRAL,PLOVDIV 42° 8'40.59N 24°45'8.98E
4. MONUMENT OBELIX,GRIVITSA 43°24'54.26N 24°41'40.34E
5. ROMAN FORTIFICATION GATE,HISARYA 42°29'55.49N 24°42'20.90E
6. HISTORICAL MUSEUM,PLEVEN 43°24'14.54N 24°37'3.96E
7. ST.PARASKEVA PETKA CHURCH,VARNA 43°12'36.39N 27°54'56.18E
8. SOFIA SYNAGOGUE,SOFIA 42°42'0.79N 23°19'15.45E
9. MUSEUM & CHURCH,PLOVDIV 42° 8'59.62N 24°45'11.26E
10. CATHEDRAL OF ST.DIMITAR,VIDIN 43°59'13.67N 22°52'26.67E
11. RUINS TOWER,NESSEBAR 42°39'40.53N 27°44'15.99E
12. CHURCH OF ST.PETER&PAUL,VELIKO TURNOVO 43° 5'15.48N 25°39'3.64E
13. CITY HALL,PLOVDIV 42° 8'37.07N 24°44'56.51E
14. HRISTO BOTEV MONUMENT,VRATSA 43°12'4.40N 23°32'55.02E
15. HOLY THEOTOKOS CHURCH,ASEN'S FORTRESS 41°59'11.85N 24°52'27.53E
16. ST.IVAN RILSKI CHURCH,BURGAS 42°30'11.46N 27°28'10.55E
17. CLOCK TOWER,PLOVDIV 42° 8'46.74N 24°44'46.32E
18. MADARA HORSEMAN 43°16'41.28N 27° 7'10.52E
19. ROMAN TOMB,HISARYA 42°29'44.71N 24°42'11.39E
20. PANTHEON OF NATIONAL REVIVAL HEROES,RUSE 43°51'2.07N 25°57'39.23E
21. CLOCK TOWER,PAZARDZHIK 42°11'37.83N 24°20'5.91E
22. ROYAL PALACE (NATIONAL ART GALLERY),SOFIA 42°41'46.70N 23°19'37.88E
23. ST.PARASKEVA CHURCH,NESSEBAR 42°39'34.53N 27°44'8.02E
24. CASTLE BABA VIDA,VIDIN 43°59'35.02N 22°53'12.88E
Bulgaria
Rick Steves' Europe Travel Guide | Check your local public television station for this Rick Steves’ Europe episode or watch it on Bulgaria, so mysterious to most Americans, has a vivid identity as a crossroads of the Balkans. We'll trace the country's complex history, from ancient Thracian tombs to medieval Orthodox Christian monasteries to Soviet monuments. And we'll enjoy an intimate taste of contemporary culture: the yellow brick road of Sofia; the gregarious craftspeople of the medieval capital, Veliko Tarnovo; and the thriving pedestrian zones of cosmopolitan Plovdiv.
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Melnik, 2016, Bulgaria
The town is an architectural reserve and 96 of its buildings are cultural monuments. With a population of 385, it is the smallest town in Bulgaria, retaining its city status today for historical reasons.
The unique architecture of Melnik and the nearby Rozhen Monastery (located 6 km southeast of Melnik) make it a popular tourist destination. The town is also associated with the impressive natural sand pyramids in various forms, resembling giant mushrooms, ancient towers and obelisks, spread in an area of 17 km² near Melnik, Kurlanovo and Rozhen. The town has also been famous for producing a strong wine since at least 1346. The local wine from the varietal Broad Leave Melnik Vine was reportedly a favourite of Winston Churchill's. Lately, the area of Melnik is enjoying a revival of vine growing and wine making. Several new, modern wineries have been built and operate (Villa Melnik Winery, Sintika Winery, Orbelus, etc., producing high quality wine from local and international varieties. Several others are under construction, preparing for the new 2014 harvest.
Interesting architectural landmarks include the Byzantine House, one of the oldest civilian buildings in the Balkans (built probably in the 12th or 13th century as a Bulgarian fortress), the Kordopulou's House (named after the merchant Manolis Kordopulou to whom it once belonged), which also has one of the largest wine cellars in Melnik, the Pashov House (1815), which houses the Historical Museum of Melnik and the Pasha's House, built by Ibrahim Bey, one of the richest beys in the region, during Ottoman rule. Some of the old churches in the town worth visiting are St Nicholas (built in the 13th century),
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Жеравна заснемане с дрон България от високо Aerial Bulgaria Zheravna
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Село Жеравна се намира в полите на средния дял на Източна Стара планина. Някога на това място имало старо тракийско селище, наречено Потук. За произхода на името съществуват няколко версии: едната е, че идва от птицата, което е твърде неправдоподобно, понеже в района никога не кацат жерави; другата – от „жерна“, „жерка“, „жерков“ – думи със старославянски корен, значещ воденица. Тази версия е по-правдоподобна, тъй като в района са се намирали множество воденици. В близкото минало Жеравна се е наричала Жеруна, което след Освобождението плавно преминава в Жеравна.
Тук са се развили занаятите, животновъдството и търговията. Селото се замогнало през XVII век, защото е било на важния път към Търновград. Стаите на къщите са с резбовани тавани и изящни апликации по вратите, прозорците и иконостасите. Всичко е застлано с тъкани от този край и също със забележителните котленски килими. Днес старото училище е превърнато в галерия, а са запазени доста дюкяни, чешми и стари ханове. Някога в селото имало и школи по дърворезба.
Zheravna (Bulgarian: Жеравна) is a village in central eastern Bulgaria, part of Kotel municipality, Sliven Province. The village, set in a small valley at the southern foot of the eastern Balkan Mountains, is an architectural reserve of national importance consisting of more than 200 wooden houses from the Bulgarian National Revival period (18th and 19th century), and a quickly developing tourist destination.
The village emerged between the 12th and 14th century and grew to become a cultural and handicraft centre in the 18th century. As the local population came to wealth, the architectural appearance of the village was shaped by one- or two-storey wooden houses surrounded by stone walls and cobblestone alleys.
Popular sights in the village include the museum house of the merchant Rusi Chorbadzhi from the early 18th century, the Church of St Nicholas inaugurated in 1834 and housing icons from the 18th and early 19th century, the museum house of the noted writer Yordan Yovkov born in 1880, the art gallery occupying the old class school and the museum house of the educator Sava Filaterov.
As of September 2005 the village has a population of 460. Zheravna is at 579 m above sea level.
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Aladzha monastery
Aladzha Monastero (bulgaro: манастир Аладжа) è di origine medievale cristiana ortodossa . Complesso situato nel nord-est della Bulgaria , 17 km a nord del centro di Varna e 3 km a ovest di Golden Sands Resort sulla spiaggia, in una zona boschiva protetta dal vicino Parco Naturale di Golden Sands .
Tryavna, Bulgaria
Tryavna is located in Central Bulgaria, about 250 km away from both Sofia and Varna, and at 440 m above mean sea level. The town lies at the foot of the northern slopes of Stara planina (Old Mountain, the Balkan).
It is famous for its ancient crafts and typical National Revival architecture, featuring 140 cultural monuments, museums and expositions. Tryavna is the birthplace of Bulgarian poet Pencho Slaveykov and revolutionary Angel Kanchev.
Shumen railway station, Bulgaria
Shumen (Bulgarian: Шумен) is a city in the northeastern part of Bulgaria, capital of Shumen Province. From 1950--1965 it was called Kolarovgrad, after Vasil Kolarov. Other English variants include Shoumen and Šumen. The city has a population of 92 566 by current address (2010).
The city lies 80 km west of Varna and is built within a cluster of hills, northern outliers of the eastern Balkans, which curve round it on the west and north in the shape of a horse-shoe. A rugged ravine intersects the ground longitudinally within the horse-shoe ridge. From Shumen roads radiate northwards to the Danubian cities of Rousse and Silistra and to Dobruja, southwards to the passes of the Balkans, and eastwards to Varna and Balchik.
In 811 Shumen was burned by the emperor Nicephorus, and in 1087 it was besieged by Alexius I. During the golden age of Bulgarian culture under Simeon the Great (866-927), Shumen was a centre of cultural and religious activity, and may have born the name Simeonis. Until the 15th century, the city was located around the Shumen Fortress, a sophisticated complex of defensive installations, religious and civil buildings.
In 1388 the sultan Murad I forced it to surrender to the Ottoman Turks. After Władysław Warneńczyk's unsuccessful crusade in 1444, the city was destroyed by the Ottomans and moved to its present location. It was known by the Ottomans as Şumnu. In the 18th century it was enlarged and fortified. Three times, in 1774, 1810 and 1828, it was unsuccessfully attacked by Russian armies. The Turks consequently gave it the name of Gazi (Victorious). In 1854 it was the headquarters of Omar Pasha and the point at which the Turkish army concentrated.
During the 19th century Shumen was an important centre of the Bulgarian National Revival, with the first celebration of Cyril and Methodius in the Bulgarian lands taking place on 11 May 1813 and the first theatre performance. A girls' religious school was established in 1828, a class school for girls and a chitalishte (community centre) followed in 1856. The first Bulgarian symphony orchestra was founded in the city in 1850. In the same year, influential Hungarian politician and revolutionary leader Lajos Kossuth spent a part of his exile in the then-Ottoman town of Shumen. The house he lived in is still preserved as a museum.
On the 22nd June 1878 Shumen finally capitulated to the Russians and became part of the newly-independent Principality of Bulgaria. In 1882 the Shumen Brewery, one of the first breweries in Bulgaria, was founded.
Shumen boasts the Monument to 1300 Years of Bulgaria, regarded as the only monument in the world to depict the history of a whole country from its creation to the present day.
The Shumen Fortress, partially restored after being destroyed by the Ottomans in the past, is an important historical monument of the medieval Bulgarian Empire. It is located not far from the city on the Shumen Plateau.
The Madara Horseman, a World Heritage Site, is an ancient (710 AD) monument usually attributed to the Bulgar culture, and lies some 20 km from Shumen.
The religious buildings in the city include the Eastern Orthodox Holy Three Saints Cathedral and Holy Ascension Basilica, as well as the Tombul Mosque, the largest mosque in Bulgaria and one of the largest in the Balkans, serving Shumen and the region's Muslim minority.