| The Town of Chiprovtsi |
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There, At the End of the World… The Chiprovtsi Municipality region is situated at the north foot of the Western Balkan Mountains. “And this eternal Ogosta ever flowing down, which springs like tears out of the clear blue eye of the Balkan. And you are sitting on the bank of the river, aware of the mighty presence of the mountain, breathing in the uneasy feeling that you are part of it, of this little river, this song and these outlined paths”. Mladen Savov The community centre – the town of Chiprovtsi, is at the foot of peak Three Chuki.1938m). Chiprovtsi is 35km. away from the county town of Montana and 155km. away from Sofia. It is close to the communication axis of International Transport Corridor 4 (Vidin - Montana-Sofia). The Municipality region includes the villages of Ravna, Gorna Kovachevitsa, Chelyustnitsa, Beli Mel, Mitrovtsi, Gorna Luka, Prevala, Zhelezna and Martinovo. The town is 550m above sea level, facing east. Its lay is mountainous and semi-mountainous. It is situated in the picturesque gorge of the Chiprovtsi River. The winter is mild and the summer is cool “The flower of Bulgaria” “In the southwest the bare ridge of the Balkan mountains was rising with its flanks dressed in beech trees, with the enormous pyramids of the proud Midzhur, Babin Zab, Vrazha Glava…while on this side at their foot were the wonderful wild outskirts of Chiprovtsi, as well as the paradise valleies of the Ogosta River.” Ivan Vazov The symbol of the Bulgarian state is the lion. Chiprovtsi of today also has its symbol a tree set between a billy goat and a very special lion, having two tails… The billy goat was borrowed from Petar Parchevich`s emblem, while the lion was from Petar Bogdan Bakshev`s emblem. It is the symbol of a town with two Christian communities, Catholic and Orthodox, which lived in harmony with each other. Probably the lion with two tails embodies the united church with the two Christian traditions, while the billy goat represents the strength and perseverance of the Bulgarians. A symbol of the past, present and future. Because Chiprovtsi is a town having its past! Because it has its present! Because it will exist forever! Petar Bogdan wrote in his report from 1640 that “the mountains around Chiprovtsi are rich with all kind of mines: golden, silver, copper, lead and iron”. …”5 km to the north of the village of Chiprovtsi, in the valley, called Rupski dol, there are wide open outlets of old mines, which are now full with water. Local legends tell that in those mines worked “Latins”. They were Saxons, ore miners and goldsmiths, and although they became Bulgarians remain Catholics… K. Irechek |
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 01 December 2008 ) |
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