Trip to Delchevo

nina_nourLeave a comment
Delchevo village is situated high in the mountain of South Pirin, on 1050 m above the sea level.
Location: about 200 km from Sofia, 9 km from Gotse Delchev town, 18 km from the Greek border.
Landscape: Beautiful Pirin mountain
Near 45 km to the ski resort of Bansko, the dam of Dospat is 50 km from it.
I went in winter, month of January and the village was covered by quietness and stillness of landscape. There were hardly any other people, except us. We saw 2 lovely goats climbing the mountain sloops for grass. The goat keeper told us the village used to have 1000 people inhabitants, but now they remain just 20! So wonderful place with fresh air and so little people. (I thought of the hard path with many curves we went with the car, in order to reach to the village. How modern people feel difficult to give some effort and used to a comfort way of life in the city).
My photos preserve the atmosphere and feeling of stillness, like no sound it was to be heard, except of bird occasionally. The only “living” place was the little hotel- traditional house where we spend the night (Pavlovata kashta)
The occupation of people in this village (with the previous Turkish name Iuch Duruk) was connected mainly with agriculture – tobacco planting, logging and livestock breeding.
The village of Delchevo has an authentic, ethological outlook, attracting many visitors with its amphitheater location of houses, narrow streets, covered with cobblestones. Big part of the houses here are announced as architectural monuments of culture, as there are build in the end of 19 and beginning of 20 century, and belong to Bulgarian Revival style houses. Most of them have solid stone base and wooden upper part. For touristic purposes are renovated many of the buildings and the square of Delchevo. There are many nice houses awaiting their visitors for a warm meal and staying over night.
Here takes place one old cultural festival in February – “Day of Trifon Zarezan” (the wine and grape vine festival, on which we can see re-creation of traditional “Delchevska wedding” and competition for home made wine.
Another yearly festival is called “Konstantin and Elena” on 21. may.

Trip to Dobarsko church

nina_nour1 Comment

The church “St. Teodor Tiron and St. Teodor Stratilat” is one of the special sacred destinations to visit on our trip. We are going there on the first day of travel. It`s a nice little church in the south of Rila mountain. It was closed in this time of winter, so we called the number written on the door. One very kind woman came, then we went inside the low door and had very good lecture from her, viewing the amazing icons of the church. They are very well preserved until now, even the church was made in 1614. Photos were not allowed, so we just took cards of the church from the entrance.

Location: 180 km south of Sofia, 18 km from Razlog, 17 km from Bansko
Landscape: south of Rila mountain
Interesting: in this place in ancient times were settled many Bogomili brotherhoods, believed to be heretical for the official church, so the Byzantine authorities forbid their religious practices and were chasing them away.

The little temple is declared as a national monument of culture and 3rd of 100 national cultural landmarks in Bulgaria.
Altar icons traveled around the world as part of the exhibition “Bulgarian Medieval Cultural Inheritance”, then were returned to Dobarsko.
Many icons were painted with great mastery and even out of the classical icon canons. They depict many saints in almost real size with whole body (which is also not common in this time, as they usually depict saints only half body). Very popular and disputed are the icons of Jesus Christ, showing him in something similar to a shape of spaceship or a capsule. it could be taken also as a special field or aura, but its color is light red or pink.
In this little size church are depicted more than 400 separated images of Saints, some of them are the patrons of the church St. Teodor Tiron and St. Teodor Stratilat, others are: St. Georgi (in full size), St.Iliya, many women images like Maria Egyptian, St. Alexandra, St. Nedelia, St.Matrona.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Legend : it is believed that the first settlers in the place of Dobarsko were the blinded (by order of emperor Vaslilly II) Samuil soldiers. They were captured during the battle in village Kliuch (1014). They were heading to Rila monastery, but on the way the winter overtook, so they remain in the place of Dobarsko church. The legend says they found relief for their wounded eyes from the healing spring of the village. It is believed that not only they found relief for the pain, but some of them even return their sight. This healing water springs from the yard of the Medieval church. Anyone who goes there should sprinkle his eyes and face with this water.
The blinded Samuil Soldiers are depicted one the right wall of the church with Jesus Christ, a combination between the legend and the story from the Scriptures of when Jesus healed blind people.
The church in Dobarsko is one of the most unique historical monuments from Medieval time. Some researcher say, the real date of its building is even earlier 1122 -as announced on the square dug stone slab with carved on it two-headed eagle with wand and scepter. According to measurements this is the place with the highest energy filed. In this time probably there was a Byzantine temple, and the church was build on its basis later in 1614.
Icon with Jesus Transfiguration, showing him in something in shape of “rocket”

Travel to Razlog

nina_nourLeave a comment
City of Razlog is situated near to Blagoevgrad in the great valley.
It has rich traditions and customs, and it preserves cultural heritage, churches, and monuments.
Landscape : in the north mountain Rila, in the south: Pirin
From Sofia : 151 km
Names : The previous name of the city was Mehomia – and it was renamed Razlog in 1925.
Here you can see many ancient churches and cultural objects like: “St. Georgi Pobedonosets” (1834).
I was impressed by the nice climate, quite atmosphere in the center and nice renovated buildings, lake and playgrounds. There are many shops, little restaurants, offering traditional dishes of the region. (70 houses of Razlog city are archeological monuments)
house with a restaurant in the center
Beautiful lake and gardens
Nice sculptures of animals
Stone carved animals near the lake – ancient Bulgarian calendar (similar to Chinese with animal signs)
   Legend about peak “Dautov“: This legend tells the story of love between the Turkish girl Leila and her fathers apprentice – Mito. She said, she would become his bride, only if he has the strength to carry her from the lake to the mountain top without any rest! The boy didnt hesitate, but right away accepted the proposal of his master Omer aga, so they went to the peak accompanied by 2 servants. The beloved took time to look at every mountain flower on the way, listened to the bird songs, enjoyed the mountain landscapes and looked at each other gently. Like drunk from happiness which awaits him, Mito carried his beloved Leila and hurried to the top. But in the middle of the way he felt much tired, more and more wth every step, because of the strong blowing counter wind.
The wind felt envy to the two young people in love and started blowing even stronger. Then also appeared thick fog. Mito was confused and strayed from the path. Deadbeat Mito stumbled over a stone, lost the beautiful maiden from his hands, they rolled over the mountain scarp and disappeared in the fog.
The two servants cried out long time, to heaven and earth, but they remained unheard. They searched for them all over the place all day, but didnt find them, so they returned and tell about what happened. People then started to talk, that the two beloved died because of the “blowing wind” in this place. So after many years from that story always there is a strong blowing wind there, from there came the name of the top “Dautov” (means blowing).
beautiful art of fountain
waterfall near the garden
Lovely painted bird houses we saw on the way, along little playground. Their bright colors made me smile, so I captured the moment!
ever green trees around

Trip to Blagoevgrad

nina_nourLeave a comment
     Town of Blagoevgrad is a lovely destination to go and discover some beautiful spots of Bulgaria.
Situated in : south-west of Bulgaria
Located in : valley of Struma river
Landscape : at the foot of Rila and Pirin mountains
far from Sofia : 101 km south of capital city
When you visit this town you can enjoy the nice view of the mountains, surrounding it from all sides. So in winter be aware of the cold climate. The center looks calm and vivid in the same time. Some architecture styles are visibly from 19 century.
name : the name of the town is after the prominent Bulgarian Communist (Socialist) party founder – Dimitar Blagowev, who was born here.
history : the area of contemporary city of Blagoevgrad was an ancient Thracian settlement 300 years BC with the name “Scaptopara”. Later in the time of Ottoman rule in Bulgaria the town was famous with name “Gorna Dzhumaia”, having mixed population of Macedonian refugees, Bulgarians, Turks, Vlachs, Gypsies.
The building of famous “American university” is situated here, with growing number of foreign visitors.
Prominent industry in the region is food and tobacco processing industry, as well as textile and furniture.
I visited the town shorty on a trip to other villages, and took some snaps of the nice architecture, houses and monuments. (January)
I want to present the city as I saw it – an old and interesting town with atmosphere of “time stand still”, fresh and cool air and monuments.