Ihtiman

Ichtiman (also written Ihtiman, Bulgarian Ихтиман ) is a town in Bulgaria, in Sofia Province. It is the administrative center of the municipality gleichnameigen Ichtiman. Ichtiman is 50 highway miles southeast of Sofia and 100 km of motorway northwest of Plovdiv. It is 40 km from the resort of Borovets in the Rila Mountains.

In the region ( Ichtimanebene - along the river Maritsa - to Pazardzhik ) is a Bulgarian dialect is spoken, which belongs to the northern group of the south-western Bulgarian dialects.

• 5.1 Museums
• 5.2 Regular events

Geography

Ichtiman located in southwestern Bulgaria, situated in a valley in the Ichitmaner Sredna Gora. The Ichtimankessel has an average altitude of 650 m above sea level. The basin is to the north of the Ichitmaner Sredna Gora limited ( Wakarel Mountains, Belischka Mountains ), in the south of the valley lie the northern slopes of the " Septemwrijski rid" - a ridge of the city to the southeast lie the 35 km Septemwri over last). The highest peak of the region is 1186 m ( according to other sources 1181 m) of the summit Benkowski ( Bulg връх Бенковски ) early peak Eledschik ( Bulg връх Еледжик ), which lies to the east of the basin. The refuge Nadezhda ( Bulg Хижа Надежда; (42 ° 24 ' 47 " N, 23 ° 55' 21" O42.41305555555623.9225 ) is the starting point for hikes to the summit Benkowski - a very steep path leads in 20 Wegminuten, one other way in 50 Wegminuten to the summit.

In the immediate vicinity of the Ichtiman Awtomagistrala A1 " Trakija " passes, as well as the railway line Sofia - Plovdiv - Svilengrad.

The climate is temperate continental.

Population

Demographics

Religion

Traditionally, the majority of the inhabitants of Ichtiman, including the Roma, Bulgarian Orthodox faith. There are a small percentage of ethnic Turkish Bulgarians in Ichtiman, these are Muslim faith. Some families are Protestants and Catholics.

History

Around the 5th century BC, the region belonged to the Thracian Kingdom of Ichtiman Odrysians.

Later, the city bore the name Stipon (from Latin Stipo for " crowded or populated "; Latin stipator - plural - means " caravan guard "). The settlement was formerly a Roman way-station to guard the important Roman road Via Militaris, which led to Constantinople Opel. The way-station bearing the name mansio Helice.

Also in the Byzantine Empire and the Second Bulgarian Empire it was a guard station. The Bulgarians then moved the focus of their defense to the better -defended mountain pass Trajantor ( Bulg Траянови врата ) which is 12 km to the southeast.

After the conquest by the Ottoman Empire the city's name was changed several times until it acquired its current name Ichtiman. It is believed that it has Turkish origin.

According to the legend, an Ottoman Pasha have seen in the conquest of the city of fog shrouded the valley and the saying "I taman " ( Turkish for: "What a fog " ) have done. In modern Turkish language but are pus or sis the words for fog.

Other possible explanations for the name Ichtiman are:

• From the Bulgarian name for the Bulgarian folk holiday Peltljowden ( Bulg Петльовден ), which is also referred to as Ichtim or Ichtima. This day is also a day of remembrance for the Patriarch Ewtimi. Also a derivative of Ewtimi about Iwtim, Ichtim and Ichtima is discussed.
• The Turkish word Ihtiman means effort, concern, were necessary in the Ottoman conquest of the city.
• The Turkish word ihaman consists of ih and aman and is an exclamation of surprise, as the by -trotting people were aware of the dense fog in the city.
• The Russian I tuman (Russian их туман ) - oh this fog could also explain the name of Ichtiman.

According to the information from an Ottoman tax register ( Timar - register) in 1515, with details of the assets and to the population in the city of Plovdiv and its surrounding villages, there is a migration of the population from Ichtiman in the region of Plovdiv. Under the entry for the village Kotschatsch (now Kotschewo - Bulg Кочево - in Oblast Plovdiv ), the mentioned control register as residents of the village also has a certain ' Mustafa - Son of a Ichtimaners " from what a direct indication of the existence of Ichtiman in the first half of the 16th century. Can also be concluded that in Ichtiman not only Christians but also Muslims lived.

As part of the " Russian-Turkish War of Liberation " from 1877 /78 formally ended the Ottoman Turkish rule over the city. After the Congress of Berlin, however Ichtiman was again part of the Ottoman Empire and incorporated into the autonomous province of Eastern Rumelia until its union (1885 ) with the Principality of Bulgaria.

Economy

During the period of "socialism" in the People's Republic of Bulgaria were built the " Electrode " and the " cast iron plant" in the area of Ichtiman that formed the backbone of the economy in the region.

The " cast iron plant" is now the " cast iron foundry AG " ( Bulg " Чугунолеене " АД ). 2002, two automatic by a German company Gießstraßen were established there. The operation exported to Denmark, among others, Germany, France, Great Britain and Italy.

In recent years, many businesses moved out of the capital Sofia away, partly because of the relatively expensive labor and the higher Mieren, and settled in Ichtiman.

In Ichtiman there are, among others, some sewing plants, a weaving for " Rhodopendecken ", some food establishments and a cosmetic operation

The railway line Sofia - Plovdiv is just 2 km from Ichtiman away. An industrial area has settled, at the four-lane road to the railway station (42 ° 25 ' 47 " N, 23 ° 47' 57 " O42.42972222222223.799166666667 2 km southwest of the center ).

Culture

Museums

In Ichtiman there is a historical museum. It is located in the city center, opposite the administration building of the church. De Admission is free Saturday and Sunday it is sgeschlossen.

In the old Turkish bath of the city, also in the city center - close to the bus station in the building of the regional administration of the police, there is a gallery, will be exhibited in the paintings, prints, ceramics and wood carvings by local artists.

Regular events

Every year on Todorowden ( a holy day for Lent; Bulg Тодоровден ) gather horse breeders from all over Bulgaria in Ichtiman, they perform in front of their horses and their riding skills. At this meeting very many people from the nearby surroundings, to see the horses parade to be held. A competitive discipline after the parade, among other things pulling a fully loaded with wooden horse carriage. The car is loaded with about 4 m³ firewood ( about 2 tonnes in weight ). Participants stretch in succession her horse in front of this car. Victory is who thus travels the greatest distance, the horse with the most traction in this Holzrückebetrieb competition. The winner receives the load of wood.

On August 15, one each year, is the holiday town of the city, he goes over two days. It is held a market and set up the carousel. On a stage in the evening, a concert is held ( folk, pop, rock and pop ).

Every Saturday is market day clock 7-13 in Ichtiman.

Since 2006, in late May, the spring days of culture in Ichtiman instead.

Sister City

• Klimowsk (Russia)