“Chepelare – hospitality in four seasons”
The municipality of Chepelare is located in the central part of the Rhodopi Mountain, and has a territory of 375 sq. km. The municipal centre is situated 230 km off Sofia, 80 km off Plovdiv, and 10 km off the resort Pamporovo. In the municipal area there are 70 monuments with cultural importance, 16 of which have been officially recognized as cultural monuments
History
The Rhodopi Mountain has been mysterious and enigmatic since the ancient times. This is the mountain of the mythic hero Orpheus and of the bessi – the keepers of the famous temple of Dionysius. The archaeological excavations reveal the existence of life during the Neolithic era. The remnants of many Thracian fortresses imply that during the ancient time the mountain has been a centre of busy social and cultural life. At that time the fortresses guarded the Thracian road from the town Abdera/ Avdira at the Aegean Sea to Istros (the Danube River). One third of all bow-like single-spiral pins were found at the present territory of Chepelare.
The archaeological finds such as glass vessels, glasses, buckles, coins and ceramics from the late Roman era (379 – 450 AD) are an evidence for the continuing intensive economic life. In 1911, archaeological excavations revealed remnants from a Roman bath, which still remains the only trace of town buildings in the central part of the Rhodopi Mountain.
From the period of the First and Second Bulgarian Kingdoms (681 - 1393) many mediaeval fortresses, villages and necropolises were found, some of which have been used since the Thracian period until today.
During the Bulgarian Renaissance (1762 - 1878) Chepelare and the surrounding villages were a place of a busy cultural and educational activity, which is illustrated by the 14 existing Christian and Muslim temples and 80 chapels. Four of the churches have been declared as cultural monuments of national importance, and one of them together with 15 chapels have been recognized for cultural monuments of local significance.
Contact us
Община Чепеларе
4850 Чепеларе
(00359) 03
30
93
05
12
00
4
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Topic : Landscapes and nature
Published on : 2008/10/10
Tags : chepelare hospitality four seasons
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