Samokov
Samokov [ samokof ] (also written Samokov, Bulgarian Самоков ) is a town in western Bulgaria. It is located 50 km south of Sofia in Sofia Province. The mountain resort of Borovets is 10 km further south in the Rila Mountains. Samokov is the administrative center of the municipality is Samokov.
- 3.1 Tourism
History
Samokov evolved from the small village Wlaitschewo ( Влайчево ) that existed on the slopes of Rila since the 12th century. The town grew stronger than the surrounding villages because of the early extraction of iron ores.
The town's name suggests a forge out ( " Samo " - himself, alone; " kow " - Hammer, annealing furnace, forge, root word " Kowatsch " - blacksmith ).
After the conquest of Bosnia ( 1463 ) by the Ottoman Empire ( Bulgaria was visited in 1396 conquered ), a caravan route between Sarajevo and Konstantin Opel over Pristina, Skopje, Kyustendil, Pazardzhik and Samokov was established. The caravan road then met in Pazardzhik on the "Great highway " Via Militaris.
During the Bulgarian Revival Samokov training center was an eponymous famous throughout the Balkan Peninsula carving school. In the Bulgarian - Greek church struggle for an independent Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the people of Samokov in 1829 removed to the Easter service as one of the first Greek priest. They demanded by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople Opel the holding of religious services in the Bulgarian language and the occupation of the clergy by Bulgarians. But they had also proposed a consecration of local candidates, including Neophyte Rilski. However, as a response sent them the Constantinople Patriarch again Greeks.
Samokov was a center of iron production during the last 200 years. With the newly introduced hammer forging and Blasebalgen to use the abundant water power, the original name of the village Wlaitschewo changed in Wlaitschewo Samokov (Hammer Schmieder Wlaitschewo ) and later in Great forge ( Голям Самоков - Goljam Samokov ) and ultimately to Samokov.
Geography
Geographical Location
Samokov is situated on the northern slopes of Rila. The valley of Samokov is situated between the mountains Rila ( to the south), Plana, Vitosha ( in the north), Werila, Ichtimanska Sredna Gora (near the city Ichtiman ). Through the valley of the Iskar river flows, with its numerous tributaries from the surrounding mountains. The basin covers an area of 185 km ² and has an irregular, two-part, form - the western basin ( Palakarijska basin ) and eastern ( Iskar basin ).
Climate
The climate is temperate continental, and is influenced by the adjacent high mountains (Rila ). Because of its location between mountains in a valley summers are not very hot and the winters are relatively mild but long. The mountains prevent strong storms and heavy snowfall. The ray of sunshine duration is relatively long and mist occurs almost never on.
Water resources
The valley of Samokov is very rich in water. He is dewatered in the Iskar. The main tributaries of the Iskar here are the White and the Black Iskar Iskar with its numerous smaller tributaries ( Palakaria, Schipotschaniza ).
Economy
The proximity of the town of Samokov to Sofia and their traditions in the trade, craft and industrial production gave the economic development of the region a solid base. The international tourism complexes Borovets and Maljowiza and the balneotherapy center Beltschin Bani contributed to the economic development of the region (hotels - 12 % of businesses in the municipality Samokov ) at.
In January 2001 3136 companies were registered in the Samokov municipality, of which 99.75% were small and medium enterprises - manufacturing ( textile, metal, wood), hotel industry. The number of established large companies (over 100 employees ) decreased from 19 (1997) 7 ( 2004). Medium-sized companies ( 50-100 employees), which have emerged particularly from the shrinkage of large companies, there are 13 Despite their small number have the medium and large companies a considerable share of the jobs and gross domestic production (value added? ) In the district.
Tourism
The favorable geographical location with the surrounding mountains and the climate is ideal for tourism. The Rila National Park in the central Rilamassiv is the largest Bulgarian nature reserve. Borovets is the main center of tourism in the town of Samokov and is of international importance. There all types can be operated by winter sports. In the health resort of Borovets, there are 26 hotels, villas and estates and villas with a total of 4,200 beds. Other tourist centers with development potential are the complex Maljowiza, the area around the village Gowedarzi, the village of Mala Zarkwa and the village of Beli Iskar.
In the town of Samokov, there are six hotels ( 2 and 3 stars ) with 120 beds and a motel.
Art School
The artists of the Samokower School (now Samokower art school of the " 20th century " ) were in the 18th century leader during the Bulgarian Revival. Her works are in numerous churches and monasteries of Bulgaria and Macedonia received ( icon painting, carving, engraving ). The founder of the Samokower art school was the icon painter Christo Dimitrov ( Bulg Христо Димитров ). After an education in Athos and Vienna, he worked in Macedonia and the Bulgarian western areas. His two sons Dimitar Hristov ( Bulg Димитър Христов, 1795-1860 ) and Zachary Christow ( Bulg Захари Христов, in the monasteries from 1810 to 1853, created many icons and murals Bachkovo Monastery, Rila, Troyan, Preobrazhensky ) were also known icon painter. Together with his son Kosta Waljow ( Bulg Коста Вальов ) they created significant murals in the Rila Monastery.
The four sons of Dimitar Hristov were known painter. The best known was his son Stanislaw Dospevski ( Bulg Станислав Доспевски, 1823-1878 ), who received an academic education as the first Bulgarian artists. He was known for portraits from the period of the Bulgarian Revival. Other well-known representative of the Samokower art school were Ivan Obrasopisow ( Bulg Иван Образописов, 1795-1854 ) and Nikola Obrasopisow ( Bulg Никола Образописов, 1829-1915 ), Kosta Waljow ( Bulg Коста Вальов ) and his sons Sotir, Ivan, Nikola, Dimitar and Petar ( Сотир, Иван, Никола, Димитър и Петър ), Christo Mischew ( Bulg Христо Мишев ), Anastas Karastojanow ( Анастас Карастоянов ), the brothers Zachary and Vasil Popradoijkowi ( Bulg Захари и Васил Попрадойкови ), Kosta Gerow ( bulg. Коста Геров ), Mikhail Belstoijnew ( bulg Михаил Белстойнев ) and many others. Kosta Waljow, Ivan Obrasopisow and Christo Jowewitsch also worked in the facilities of the Bairakli Mosque.
Sons and daughters of the town
- Vladimir Breitschew ( ski jumper )
- Christo Dimitrov ( iconographer )
- Petar Popangelow ( skier )
- Vladimir Sografski ( ski jumper )
- Krassimir Widenov ( biathlete )