RAZLOG
The town of Razlog (13,911 inhabitants, known as Mehomia until 1923), is the economic, cultural and administrative center of Razlog Municipality, and brings the spirit of the Bulgarian Revival and culture. Having visited the town, you will be able to see over 41 houses built in the typical architectural style of the Razlog-Chepino houses, which have been declared as cultural monuments. The old houses (built in 1930) situated in the town’s center, the verdancy of the parks’ areas, the freshness of the plentiful water, and the great panorama views towards Pirin and Rila Mountains affect the unforgettable feeling of the visitor. The “Sveto Blagoveshtenie” and “Sveti Georgi” churches, the town’s History Museum, the Kpire Maxev house, and the fulling-mill on the Yazo River are only some of the local landmarks. In the site of Stolovatets (situated on 5 km to the West from Razlog) there are remains of a Thracian sanctuary found, dated from the end of the Bronze Epoch and the beginning of the Iron Epoch. There are also two big marble plates with embossed decoration found, related to a sanctuary, dedicated to the sun. Almost 2 kilometres away from the town, in an ancient necropolis, there were an iron sword and two knives found, as well as rings, a bracelet and a fibula. There are remains of an ancient village (cultural monument) on 10 um away from Razlog, near the site of Predel. On 11 km northwest from the town there are remains of the Early-Christianity (5th-6th century) church, know as the “Saint Ilia” church, which is declared a cultural monument. Parts of the altar wall are very well preserved, also mouldings and columns with leaf-shaped decoration. Other cultural monuments are the castle from the Late Ancient ages, situated in the north foot of the Pirin Mountain (in the Kalyata site, on 19 km southwest from Razlog), as well as the ancient village in the foot of these slopes (the site of Krushe, 8 km southwest from Razlog). During the Middle Ages life in the site of Krushe is continuing – there are remains of villages found, a flat necropolis and a small church, called “Pisanata” (“The Painted Church”), most probably because of the wall-paintings inside. From the same period are the remains of the “Holy Trinity” church (2 km west from the town). Near the “Pisanata” church is the foundation of a Late-Middle-Ages church, called “The White Church” which is also declared as a cultural monument. Another interesting landmark is the “Saint Ekaterina” church situated in the site of Katarino, built in the beginning of the Ottoman slavery, later destroyed, but today it is restored. Probably the site has been a cult place for Thracians and Slavs.
BANSKO
Bansko is an important cultural centre for the region. According to historic records, the settlement was first established about 9th -10th century A.D. on the site where ancient Thracian settlements had existed. In the 18th century it was mentioned as a large and prosperous village of thriving crafts and trade reaching as far as the Aegean and Europe.Bansko is the centre of a historically important arts school. In the 18th and early 19th century talented painters and woodcarvers created works of art in the houses and churches of Bansko, the Rila Monastery, the monasteries on Mount Athos, Serbia and Macedonia. The most famous painters belonged to the Molerovi clan, starting from its founder Toma Vishanov. During the second half of the 19th century another group of painters lead by Usta (Master) Ognyan Ognev made the decorative elements in the "Sveta Troitsa" church, Velyanova Kashta etc. Also famed were other craftsmen and painters such as Angel Velyanov, Mihalko Golev, Dimitar Sirleshtov , Ivan Terziev, Nikola Benin. Bansko gained renown for its woodcarving and local masters.A monastery school was opened in Bansko in 1817 or 1838 and in 1848 a "mutual school" was founded. Bansko is the birthplace of nationally admired enlighteners, revolutionaries and poets such as Paisii Hilendarski - the author of "Istoriya Slavenobolgarskaya" (History of Slavo-Bulgars)(1762), Neofit Rilski - the founder of secular education and the first Bulgarian encyclopaedist, Nikola Vaptsarov - a remarkable Bulgarian poet of international renown.Original fortified and artistically decorated houses have been preserved from the 18th and 19th century, built almost entirely of stone, with small barred windows, tall walls, heavy metal-plated gates and interconnected by narrow and winding cobble-stone streets. Remarkable as architectural monuments and examples of fine art are the Velyanova, Benina, Sirleshtova, Todeva, Molerova, Dragostinova, Sharkova houses. The Sveta Troitsa church, the bell tower with the big clock, the midlevel church "Assumption of the Virgin Mary" with its remarkable wood-carved iconostasis make for fine accents in Bansko's atmosphere. Also noteworthy are the museum houses and collections, souvenir shops and romantic holiday residences, hotels and taverns cuddled in the narrow and picturesque streets.
Bansko has been declared a unique town of international importance to commercial tourism (1979). Apart from the beautiful Pirin and the numerous spots of natural beauty the town also boasts its many historic sites. Remains of ancient fortresses have been preserved in the Staroto Gradishte (Stankale) locality about 4 km southwest of the town and also in the Yulen locality (downstream Demyanitsa river). Thracian tumuli have been uncovered in the vicinity of Staroto Gradishte. Archaeological works have unearthed a 2nd century B.C. burial site containing a set of bronze surgical instruments, remains of medicinal preparations etc. in the centuries-old Dobrokyovitsa locality (west of Bansko). Scientists assume that a medieval settlement used to exist in the Sveta Troitsa (Holy Trinity) locality (northeast of town). Southeast of Bansko are remains of the late-medieval single-nave churches "St George" and "St Elijah".
Bansko is the birthplace of famous Bulgarian enlighteners, poets, writers, painters, iconographers and revolutionaries: Mile Bizev, Y. Vaptsarov, Nikola Vaptsarov, M. Vezyov, Lazar German, B. Golev, hadji K. Dagaradin, Lazar Konchagov, M. Kolchagov, Toma Vishanov, Dimitar Molerov , Simeon Molerov, Neofit Rilski, Paisii Hilendarski, Ivan Popstefanov, Mile Rahov, Terzi Nikola, Asen Todev, Blago Todev, Nikola Furnadjiev etc. Monuments commemorating Nikola Vaptsarov (1956, sculpture by Iliya Iliev) and Paisii Hilendarski (1976, sculpture by StoichoTodorov) have been erected in the town.
Bansko is famous for its well-preserved traditions and culture, its original Revival-period architecture and its local culinary specialities (Banski shashlik, Banska kapama). Visitors to this mountain town have always left it captivated by the spirit of Banskalii (Bansko residents) wishing they could once again return to the heart of Pirin; to one with nature is something everyone craves for in their hurried everyday lives.
© Buy Bulgarian Properties |
info@buybgproperty.com 
