Chitalishte

Tschitalischte [ ʧi'taliʃtɛ ] ( Bulgarian читалище, literally translated: Reading Room ) is a cultural center in Bulgaria. It involves typical Bulgarian municipal cultural institutions that combine the function of a library, a theater, a community college (foreign languages ​​, dance lessons, music lessons ), Dorftreff and clubhouse in itself. The literal translation of the reading room or reading room meets the comprehensive cultural mission of this " cultural multifunction centers " for the "promotion of ethnic work " and to " increase the education of the population " not comprehensive enough. The Tschitalischtes were also used as a cinema, pensioners clubs or for party meetings. Currently ( September 2008) there are over 3370 Tschitalischtes in Bulgaria.

During the period of the Bulgarian Revival than 130 of these facilities who performed active propaganda work during the liberation of Bulgaria from Turkish rule emerged. In its political importance they are most likely the workers' sports clubs in Germany comparable to those later banned. The first of these Bulgarian culture houses were built in 1856 in Svishtov, and Lom Shumen.

In the city descriptions of Bulgarian cities, the construction of a Tschitalischte is usually highlighted to emphasize the proportion of the city in the liberation from the Turks. The Tschitalischtes were during the Bulgarian Revival germ cells of the newly awakened national consciousness - they were training centers, was where lessons are taught in the language of the Bulgars, in which the far- reaching back Bulgarian history was taught and thus the Bulgarian national pride was encouraged, including through the promotion of the Bulgarian culture (dance, vocals). At this time, outside the Tschitalischtes Greek the language of education - because of the supremacy of the Greek Orthodox Church.

After the fall of Bulgaria ( 1989), their role fell sharply, partly because of insufficient funding. Today, they offer not only educational, and recreational activities (library, dance classes, chess or card clubs and etc. ) or an Internet cafe, what the visitor numbers since the late 90's left to rise again.

Literature and sources

• Bernhard Fabian: Manual German historical book collections in Europe, Georg Olms Verlag, 2001, pp. 221-261, ISBN 3487103591