Sultan's Intervention

Upon learning of the remarkable diamond, Grand Vizier Mustafa Pasha expressed interest in purchasing it directly from the Chief Jeweler. However, before he could act, news of the diamond reached the Sultan, who promptly ordered its transfer to the palace. Consequently, the diamond, upon examination, was revealed to be an extraordinary eighty-four carat gem, swiftly seized by the Sultan. As a reward for his role in the acquisition, the Chief Jeweler was elevated to the esteemed position of “Head of the Palace Doorkeepers” and granted several purses of gold.

Historical Accounts

In Komurciiyan’s historical account, reference is made to Gemelli’s narrative from the late 17th century, where it is stated that a diamond found among the ruins of a palace in Egrikapi had come into the possession of Sultan Mehmet, valued at one million koroners. These ruins likely belonged to the Blakerna Palace, described by Robert Clari, a participant in the Latin invasion, as containing magnificent treasures that were looted during the invasion. The mystery of how the Kaşıkçı Diamond survived the plunderers and reappeared centuries later in the dumps remains intriguing Guided Istanbul Tour Whirling Dervishes.

Treasury Records

An important document concerning the Kaşıkçı Diamond can be found in Sultan Mehmet IV’s Treasury register book. The Sultan issued a royal decree for the inventory of items in the Imperial Treasury and a general assessment within the Palace to fund a second campaign against Russia. The register lists various valuable jewelry items, including the “Great Diamond ring” weighing 85 carats, identified as the Kaşıkçı Diamond.

In a more organized register book from Sultan Abdülhamit I’s reign, the diamond is described as the “Great Diamond ring named Kaşıkçı,” weighing 1.85 carats and made of new gold. The entry provides detailed specifications, indicating the meticulous record-keeping practices of the time.

Queen of the Bulgarians

Uncovering the Story of the “Queen of the Bulgarians”

A journey to uncover the truth behind the “Queen of the Bulgarians” reveals unexpected layers of intrigue and tragedy.

Disraeli’s Wit and Turkish Brutality

Disraeli’s astute observation about the Turkish mode of dealing with captives finds grim validation in the fate of these young girls, left abandoned for days on end, a testament to the brutality of their captors Tour Packages Balkan.

A Curious Encounter

In the bustling streets of Philippopolis, tales of a derided “Queen” caught the attention of visitors. Rumored to be imprisoned, she was depicted as a figure of ridicule by the Turks. Intrigued by the mystery surrounding her, a visit was arranged to meet this enigmatic character.

Meeting the Fallen Queen

Led by Dr. Vlados, a Greek physician overseeing the welfare of prisoners, the journey led to a modest dwelling guarded by a stern-faced woman. Upon gaining entry, they encountered a frail figure, presumably the fallen Queen, accompanied by an elder woman, her guardian and protector.

Unraveling the Mystery

The encounter offered a glimpse into the plight of these women, trapped in the web of political upheaval and conflict. As they stood before the visitors, their expressions spoke volumes of their suffering and resilience, shedding light on the human stories buried beneath the layers of political intrigue.

In the heart of Philippopolis, a chance encounter with the “Queen of the Bulgarians” reveals a narrative woven with complexity and sorrow. As the visitors depart, they carry with them the weight of untold stories and the stark reality of human suffering amidst the tumult of history.

Januarius Aloysius MacGahan A Champion of Justice and Truth

Friendship and Valor in War

After joining the Russian army, Januarius Aloysius MacGahan forged sincere friendships with General Skobelev and General Gurko. He actively participated in all major battles for the liberation of Bulgaria, including the pivotal battles of Plevna and Shipka. His vivid descriptions of these battles stand as remarkable examples of journalism, capturing the intensity and heroism of the struggle for liberation.

Sacrifice and Service

Despite suffering a broken ankle, MacGahan remained steadfastly present at the frontlines throughout the Russo-Turkish War. His unwavering commitment to documenting the realities of war led him to Istanbul, where, exhausted and afflicted with typhoid fever, he passed away on June 9, 1878, at the age of 34. In his untimely death, MacGahan’s destiny became forever linked with the liberation of the Bulgarian people, a cause he served with unwavering dedication Sightseeing Turkey.

Investigating Atrocities

The reports on the April uprising in Bulgaria emerged from a conflict between the British government and the liberal leadership of the “Daily News,” led by Frank Hill, the chief editor. The “Daily News,” renowned for its well-organized foreign service, published a series of letters by correspondent Edween Pears, detailing monstrous atrocities in Bulgaria. These reports stirred doubts among the British public regarding the government’s Balkan policy.

Seeking Truth

To address public concerns and refute government accusations, the editorial board of the “Daily News” launched an inquiry, dispatching Januarius Aloysius MacGahan as a special commissioner to Bulgaria. MacGahan’s impeccable journalistic credentials made him uniquely suited for this mission. Simultaneously, the British government initiated its own official inquiry, led by Sir Henry Elliot and Walter Baring. Additionally, American Minister Maynard tasked General-consul Eugene Schuyler with investigating the atrocities.

Parallel Investigations

MacGahan’s investigation ran parallel to those of Schuyler and Baring. Schuyler and Baring, initially appointed to challenge MacGahan’s accounts, became supportive of his findings. While Schuyler’s report, published on August 28th, corroborated MacGahan’s observations, Baring, guided by a pro-Turkish stance, contradicted his earlier instructions to discredit MacGahan’s reports.

Legacy of Truth

Januarius Aloysius MacGahan’s legacy as a fearless journalist and advocate for justice endures. His courageous reporting and dedication to uncovering the truth about atrocities in Bulgaria not only galvanized public opinion but also reshaped diplomatic discourse. Through his unwavering commitment to truth and justice, MacGahan left an indelible mark on the history of journalism and human rights advocacy.

Soviet Influence in the Balkans

The Turning Point

Teheran Conference Decisions (1943)

At the end of 1943, the Teheran Allied Conference made two crucial decisions. First, they approved the bombardment of Bulgaria. Second, Bulgaria and Romania were designated as Soviet zones of interest until the war’s end, effectively placing their fate in Soviet hands. Additionally, the conference chose to support the Communist leader Tito in Yugoslavia over the nationalist guerilla leader Mihailovich.

Bombardment and Soviet Demands (1944)

Following these decisions, Sofia experienced heavy bombardment in January and March 1944, leading to extensive destruction. Simultaneously, the Soviet Union demanded Bulgaria open all of its Soviet consulates, a request impossible to fulfill with German troops still present. Bulgarian guerillas engaged in fierce fighting against the pro-Nazi government Daily Tours Istanbul.

Leadership Changes and Confusion (June 1944)

The Bozhilov government was replaced by Ivan Bagrianov’s administration in June 1944. Bagrianov hesitated for two months on clearing out German forces from Varna and Burgas, trying to prove Bulgaria’s neutrality to the Soviets. The nation faced confusion and weak leadership during these tumultuous days. A Bulgarian delegation went to the Cairo Conference to negotiate an armistice, but the efforts did not progress. By late August, Russian forces, assisted by Romania, reached Bulgaria’s Danubian frontier, positioning the Red Army for an invasion.

Soviet Declaration of War and Occupation (September 1944)

On September 2, 1944, Konstantin Moraviev replaced Bagrianov. On September 5, the Soviet representative met with Moraviev, expressing concerns about vital Soviet interests in the Balkans, especially the Straits. The Soviet representative reported to his government that the new Bulgarian government seemed no different from the previous ones. Based on this, and likely prearranged, Russia declared war on Bulgaria, instructing Marshal Tolbukhin to “bend the neck of the treacherous enemy.” Four days later, the Russians accepted Bulgaria’s surrender, occupying the country with full conqueror’s rights.

Soviet Influence in the Balkans

The Turning Point

Teheran Conference Decisions (1943)

At the end of 1943, the Teheran Allied Conference made two crucial decisions. First, they approved the bombardment of Bulgaria. Second, Bulgaria and Romania were designated as Soviet zones of interest until the war’s end, effectively placing their fate in Soviet hands. Additionally, the conference chose to support the Communist leader Tito in Yugoslavia over the nationalist guerilla leader Mihailovich.

Bombardment and Soviet Demands (1944)

Following these decisions, Sofia experienced heavy bombardment in January and March 1944, leading to extensive destruction. Simultaneously, the Soviet Union demanded Bulgaria open all of its Soviet consulates, a request impossible to fulfill with German troops still present. Bulgarian guerillas engaged in fierce fighting against the pro-Nazi government Daily Tours Istanbul.

Leadership Changes and Confusion (June 1944)

The Bozhilov government was replaced by Ivan Bagrianov’s administration in June 1944. Bagrianov hesitated for two months on clearing out German forces from Varna and Burgas, trying to prove Bulgaria’s neutrality to the Soviets. The nation faced confusion and weak leadership during these tumultuous days. A Bulgarian delegation went to the Cairo Conference to negotiate an armistice, but the efforts did not progress. By late August, Russian forces, assisted by Romania, reached Bulgaria’s Danubian frontier, positioning the Red Army for an invasion.

Soviet Declaration of War and Occupation (September 1944)

On September 2, 1944, Konstantin Moraviev replaced Bagrianov. On September 5, the Soviet representative met with Moraviev, expressing concerns about vital Soviet interests in the Balkans, especially the Straits. The Soviet representative reported to his government that the new Bulgarian government seemed no different from the previous ones. Based on this, and likely prearranged, Russia declared war on Bulgaria, instructing Marshal Tolbukhin to “bend the neck of the treacherous enemy.” Four days later, the Russians accepted Bulgaria’s surrender, occupying the country with full conqueror’s rights.

Soviet Influence in the Balkans

The Turning Point

Teheran Conference Decisions (1943)

At the end of 1943, the Teheran Allied Conference made two crucial decisions. First, they approved the bombardment of Bulgaria. Second, Bulgaria and Romania were designated as Soviet zones of interest until the war’s end, effectively placing their fate in Soviet hands. Additionally, the conference chose to support the Communist leader Tito in Yugoslavia over the nationalist guerilla leader Mihailovich.

Bombardment and Soviet Demands (1944)

Following these decisions, Sofia experienced heavy bombardment in January and March 1944, leading to extensive destruction. Simultaneously, the Soviet Union demanded Bulgaria open all of its Soviet consulates, a request impossible to fulfill with German troops still present. Bulgarian guerillas engaged in fierce fighting against the pro-Nazi government Daily Tours Istanbul.

Leadership Changes and Confusion (June 1944)

The Bozhilov government was replaced by Ivan Bagrianov’s administration in June 1944. Bagrianov hesitated for two months on clearing out German forces from Varna and Burgas, trying to prove Bulgaria’s neutrality to the Soviets. The nation faced confusion and weak leadership during these tumultuous days. A Bulgarian delegation went to the Cairo Conference to negotiate an armistice, but the efforts did not progress. By late August, Russian forces, assisted by Romania, reached Bulgaria’s Danubian frontier, positioning the Red Army for an invasion.

Soviet Declaration of War and Occupation (September 1944)

On September 2, 1944, Konstantin Moraviev replaced Bagrianov. On September 5, the Soviet representative met with Moraviev, expressing concerns about vital Soviet interests in the Balkans, especially the Straits. The Soviet representative reported to his government that the new Bulgarian government seemed no different from the previous ones. Based on this, and likely prearranged, Russia declared war on Bulgaria, instructing Marshal Tolbukhin to “bend the neck of the treacherous enemy.” Four days later, the Russians accepted Bulgaria’s surrender, occupying the country with full conqueror’s rights.

The Era of Communist Rule in Bulgaria

Liberation or Occupation?

Bulgaria’s alliance with Nazi Germany during World War II led to international isolation. Despite the Bulgarian army’s fight against the Germans on Yugoslav, Hungarian, and Austrian territories from late 1944 to May 1945, Winston Churchill and Stalin considered Bulgaria defeated. The Great Powers, led by Moscow with a 75% influence, imposed Soviet presence, burdening Bulgaria with $70 million in reparations. Despite this, Bulgaria maintained a constructive foreign policy, avoiding territorial claims and revenge-seeking aspirations against its neighbors.

The Impact of the September 9, 1944 Coup

Following the September 9, 1944 coup, Soviet Russia gradually introduced a new political system in Bulgaria. The three-year presence of the Soviet army played a crucial role in establishing communist dominance. The Goryani, an anti-communist partisan movement, resisted the occupiers and their local supporters but was eventually eliminated by the late 1950s.

Transition to a Republic

In violation of the Constitution, the Council of Ministers released the previous regents of the minor King Simeon II and appointed a new Council of Regents. A referendum on September 8, 1946, with over 93% in favor, declared Bulgaria a republic on September 15, with communist leader Vasil Kolarov elected as Chairman. Eight-year-old King Simeon II and his family were forced to leave the country. The new government refused to legalize other parties Turkey Sightseeing, accusing them of fascism, while the Communist Party expanded its influence, led by Georgi Dimitrov, a renowned leader of the international communist movement.

Communist Leadership and International Connections

Georgi Dimitrov, famous for his victory in the Leipzig Trial against the Nazis, guided the Communist Party from Moscow with the assistance of Traicho Kostov until the end of the war. The party consolidated its ranks around a new Political Bureau, solidifying communist leadership in Bulgaria.

The period from 1944 to 1989 marked Bulgaria’s transition to communist rule, shaped by international influences, resistance movements, and political transformations. The establishment of the republic and the dominance of the Communist Party defined Bulgaria’s trajectory during these decades.

Sir Henry Elliot's Allegiance Amidst Atrocities

Sir Henry Elliot’s Controversial Role

In the midst of escalating atrocities, the actions of Sir Henry Elliot, the British Ambassador, are scrutinized for his steadfast allegiance to defending the Turks and turning a blind eye to the gruesome events unfolding. This article delves into the sources of information available to Sir Henry and the diplomatic choices that shaped his response.

Defending Turks at All Costs

Sir Henry Elliot’s primary duty, as perceived by many, was to unwaveringly support the Turks, regardless of the atrocities they committed. The analysis explores the impact of such a singular allegiance on the ambassador’s ability to comprehend and respond to the humanitarian crisis that was rapidly unfolding.

Ignoring Weekly Reports from Consuls

A critical examination of the available information reveals that Consuls from France, Germany, Austria, Greece, and Russia submitted weekly reports detailing the unfolding events. Despite the accessibility of these reports, Sir Henry seemingly chose to overlook or dismiss them. The article probes the consequences of such selective information consumption on diplomatic decision-making Bulgaria Private Tours.

Discrediting Consuls and German Railway Officials

Sir Henry Elliot’s skepticism extended beyond dismissing reports from the Consuls; he also discredited the German railway officials living in close proximity to the affected areas. The article explores the implications of Sir Henry’s belief that these individuals were all somehow aligned with Russian interests, rendering their reports “worthless” in his eyes.

Sir Henry’s Allegiance Dilemma

The clash between diplomatic obligations and humanitarian concerns forms a central theme. Sir Henry’s unwavering defense of the Turks, coupled with a distrust of information sources, prompts reflection on the role of diplomats in times of crisis. Can diplomatic allegiance coexist with an ethical responsibility to address human suffering?

Sir Henry’s Controversial Lens

The article delves into the concept of worldview and how Sir Henry Elliot’s staunch allegiance may have shaped his perception of unfolding events. The impact of such a colored lens on diplomatic decision-making and the ability to respond effectively to crises is explored.

Reassessing Diplomatic Values in the Face of Atrocities

Sir Henry Elliot’s controversial stance raises broader questions about the values that underpin diplomatic decisions, especially during times of humanitarian crises. As the world reflects on his actions, there is a pressing need to reassess the balance between diplomatic allegiance and the moral imperative to address atrocities promptly and effectively.

The Lingering Shadows

Shattered Dignity and Collective Guilt in Otluk-kui

As we confront the chilling realities of Otluk-kui, a town scarred by heinous atrocities, the widespread outrage against women unfolds a tale of shattered dignity and the haunting burden of collective guilt.

No Exceptional Case A Town Enveloped in Outrage

The horrors inflicted upon the women of Otluk-kui paint a grim picture of a community ravaged by unspeakable brutality. It’s crucial to recognize that the violation suffered by the elderly woman mentioned earlier was not an isolated incident. In fact, there seems to be no woman in the town, whether old or young, who managed to escape the clutches of outrage. The very fabric of Otluk-kui’s society has been torn asunder by a relentless wave of violence that spared no one.

Shattered Sanctity The Pervasive Perception of Sin

The aftermath of these outrages reveals a curious and profoundly poignant circumstance—the women and girls, victims of these brutal acts, share a collective perception of themselves as “very great sinners.” In the cultural context of Otluk-kui, where the chastity of Bulgarian women is a deeply cherished value, the weight of sin adds an additional layer of torment to the already unimaginable dishonor they’ve endured.

The violation extends beyond the physical realm, becoming a stain on the very soul of the survivors. The notion of sin transforms the traumatic experience into a lifelong penance, an unrelenting burden that, even in forgiveness, leaves the women unable to absolve themselves fully. Every young girl affected by these atrocities foresees a future devoid of marital bliss, considering herself unworthy of finding a husband. The haunting impact is not limited to the female population; the young men of Otluk-kui, too, grapple with altered matrimonial aspirations Holidays Bulgaria.

Seeking Redemption Future Prospects and Altered Relationships

In the wake of the Bashi-Bazouks’ visitation, the young men of Otluk-kui find their matrimonial pursuits forever changed. The once straightforward path to marriage now takes a detour, steering them away from villages tainted by the atrocities. The quest for wives becomes a search for partners untarnished by the shadows of the past. The repercussions of the violences perpetrated against their community ripple through the fabric of relationships, reshaping the dynamics of love, trust, and familial bonds.

Otluk-kui stands as a testament to the enduring impact of violence on a community’s psyche. The shattered sanctity of its women, coupled with the collective perception of sin, paints a portrait of a town haunted by the ghosts of its traumatic past. As we bear witness to the aftermath, we are compelled to reflect on the profound resilience required for healing and the arduous journey towards rebuilding a community shattered by the weight of its collective guilt.

Travellers should examine all change

Travellers should examine all change tendered them, and refuse all worn and light coins.

Foreign Coins.—Gold coins of any European country pass current in Constantinople. Those most in use are the English sovereign, better known as Ingliz Lira, given and taken at 120 piastres silver value. And the foreigner tendering an English sovereign or half-sovereign will do well to call attention to the coin, otherwise it may be taken for a Turkish lira or half lira, which of course are of less value. Next come the gold twenty and ten franc pieces, given and taken at 95 and 47J piastres silver respectively. The Austrian ducat or kremitz is valued at 56 piastres silver.

The silver francs are worth 4 J piastres; the only ones to be taken or given by travellers should be the French, Italian, and Greek silver francs; those of any other European nation are with difficulty exchanged at the rate of 3 or 3 J piastres.

Bank of England notes for £5 and £10, and French Banque de France notes for 100 francs, are taken everywhere in payment, and are readily changed by the money-changers.

Legal Tender.—There is practically no such thing as legal tender in Turkey, and payment may be made in coins of any current denomination. In all the Government departments, however, as well as at the bridge toll-offices, and ferry-boat and railway booking-offices, only Turkish money must be tendered guided istanbul tour.

Imperial Ottoman Bank

Banks.—Imperial Ottoman Bank, an Anglo- French company founded by Imperial Charter, a large building in Rue Yoivoda, Galata. Branch office, Grande Rue de Pera. The Credit Lyonnais, branch office, in Karakeui. Messrs. Thomas Cook and Sons, 12 Rue Kabristan, Pera. At this latter firm’s office travellers always can get circular notes issued or cashed, and bank notes changed into any kind of money they may require at the time.

Sarrafs or Money-changers.—These are one of the special features of Constantinople and of all Turkish towns. Their name is legion; they are to be found in all the principal thoroughfares, and they generally combine their special calling with that of tobacconist. The charge for giving change varies

with the nature of the change demanded of them, and may range from Id. to 5d. in the pound. They are either Jews, Greeks, or Armenians, no Turk having yet been seen or heard of following the calling of a sarraf.

The Turkish Calendar.—Turkish chronology is computed from the flight of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, on the 16th of July 622 A.D., which on the prophet’s death seventeen years later was established as an era by the Caliph Omar, and was styled the Hejreh (Flight), corrupted by Europeans into Hegira. The Turkish year is the lunar year, divided into twelve months of thirty and of twenty-nine days alternately, so that there are 354 days in a year, and each year commences 11 days earlier than the preceding one, a cycle occurring once every thirty- three. years. Turkish time is computed from sunset, the day being divided into twenty-four hours counted as twice twelve; Turkish time, therefore, as com-pared with European time, varies throughout the year. Natives generally set their watches by Yeni Valideh Mosque clock.

ALPHONSE DE LAMARTINE COLLECTION

(Georgi Mavridi House) 19 Knyaz Tseretelev Street

This small but memorable exhibition of the life and work of the eminent French poet and politician is arranged in the house of Georgi Madridi. In the summer of 1833, during Lamartine’s travels in the Orient, he stayed here for three days and since then the house has been associated with his name. Mavridi’s House is one of the biggest and most beautiful in Old

Plovdiv. An unknown master-builder has managed to overcome the difficulties posed by the sloping terrain in a brilliant way. The foundations and the ground floor of the house have an irregular outline while the two upper floors have the typical symmetrical plan. Each of them juts out over the floor below which considerably increases the living area of the house by adding to its height. People compare it to a bird spreading wings before flying off, an effect achieved by its position on the corner of Zora and Knyaz Tseretelev streets and by its being in good sight from the foot of Jambaz Tepe bulgaria holidays.

THE ‘HIPPOCRATES’ PHARMACY COLLECTION

(Dr. Sotir Antoniadi House and Chemist’s, 16 Saborna Street)

The comparatively small two-storey Revival house is the site of a rich collection dedicated to the history of pharmacy in Plovdiv and the area. The house was built in 1872 for Dr. Sotir Antoniadi – a notable representative of the Greek ethnic community in Plovdiv, one of the first academically trained doctors before the Liberation. The Georgi Mavridi House, site of ‘Alphonse de Lamartene’ collection.

Dr. S. Antoniadi House – the old-world ‘Hippocrates’ Pharmacy.

building has an asymmetrical plan and is quite solid. The pharmacy was on the ground floor and the doctor’s family lived on the upper floor.The ceilings of the house are plastered and decorated with painted rosettes and plant ornaments. The museum pharmacy was opened in 1981 and is unique for the country. It is a truthful representation of the typical Plovdiv pharmacy of old times and has a functioning counter for the purchase of contemporary medicines.

CITY ART GALLERY

(The former Girls’ School)

14 Saborna Street

The distinguished-looking building of the former Girls’

Secondary School of Plovdiv now houses the permanent exhibition of the City Art Gallery. Over BOO paintings, graphics and sculptures show the development of art from the time of the National Revival to our days. One can see here the oldest portrait in Bulgarian art, executed by an unknown artist from Tryavna, of Sofronii Vrachanski as well as works by Stanislav Dospevski, Nikolai Pavlovich, Georgi Danchov, Anton Mitov, Hristo Stanchev and Ivan Mrkvicka.

The exhibition traces the development of the genres of still life, landscape and figured composition from the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th c. to our time. The work of painters from Plovdiv is extensively displayed, starting from the establishment of the ‘Association of the Artists from Southeast Bulgaria’ in 1912 to the present day.

Rhodope architecture

Tourist attractions: The District History Museum, the Art Gallery, monuments of Rhodope architecture from the National Revival period such as the Pangalov House, I860, which has an ethnographic collection, the AUbeev Police Station, the Shere- metev and Petko Takov Houses.

The only feudal building preserved in Bulgaria — Agoushev House in the village of Mogilitsa, 28 km southwest of Smolyan in the valley of the River Arda.

Hotels: Smolyan, 3 stars, 5 floors, 169 double rooms and 7 suites; restaurant, day bar, night club, national restaurant, hairdresser’s, coffee shop, free shop, parking lot, rent-a-car office, tel. 3-81-76, Sokolitsa, 2 stars 10 floors, accommodating 194, tel. 3-30-85; Orfei, 3 stars, tel 3-20-41, accommodating 170, restaurants and a national restaurant private turkey tours.

Smolyan lakes are north of the town amidst picturesque rocks and coniferous forests. There is a modern chalet accommodating 80.

The village of Shiroka Luka (pop. 2,000), is an architectural and ethnographic reserve. Particularly interesting here are the Sgourov House, Kalamdji House (with an ethnographic collection), the Kirov Houses, the old bridges, Church of the Assumption, 1834.

The village has a folk-music school, There is a restaurant, a national taverna and tourist chalet.

PLOVDIV – HASKOVO – HARMAN LI – SVILENGRAD- KAPITAN ANDREEVO

Among the valley of the Maritsa River, three km from Plovdiv stands the monument to Olga Nikolaevna Skobeleva, mother of the famous Russian General Skobelev who fought m the 1877-1878 Russo-Turkish War of Liberation, who came to Bulgaria to organize orphanages, hospitals and charity societies and who was murdered near Plovdiv by a band of Circassian brigands on 6 July 1880. The monument marks the spot.

Between Plovdiv and Sadovo is the Trakiya motel, 2 stars, and Chaiya camp site, 2 stars.

The village of Klokotnitsa lies ten km from the town of Haskovo and here in 1230 Bulgarian troops led by Tzar Ivan Assen II defeated the Epirate ruler Todor Komnin. The Bulgarian troops continued their advance and in a short time had captured Thrace of Adrianople, the Aegean region, the whole of Macedonia and Albania. In honour of this victory Tzar Ivan Assen II ordered a column to be erected in the Church of St Forty Martyrs in Turnovo. Shortly before Haskovo are the Iztok camp site and Klokotnitsa Inn.

Haskovo (pop. 84,117) existed in the 14th century as a trading settlement. A 9-12 century fortress has been discovered nearby. During Ottoman domination the town had only one Bulgarian quarter, near the Church of St Virgin Mary and the Church of St Archangel Michael After Bulgaria’s liberation from the Turks Haskovo developed as a major tobacco producing centre and today it is a large industrial centre.

Rila Monastery

Rila Monastery has been included in the World Cultural Heritage Fund and is under the protection of UNESCO

The new Hotel Rilets — (three star) has 14 single rooms, 64 double rooms and 5 suites. There is a drag lift near the hotel.

country. It is situated on the banks of the Blagoevgradska river. The town was built on the ruins of the ancient Thracian town of Scaptopara (3rd century B.C.), traces of which can still be found. The town was later destroyed to be rebuilt again in the 16th century under the Turkish name of Djoumaya (Market), It was a trading centre on the road leading south along the valley of the river Strouma.

Blagoevgrad is an industrial centre

Today Blagoevgrad is an industrial centre and potential for development. Around the town are mineral springs which were famous even in ancient times. The temperature of the water is around 60°C. There are two modem hotels, Alen Mak — (three star), with 22 single and 138 double rooms and two suites, restaurant, bar, and souvenir shop; Hotel Bor — (two star), with 29 double rooms, four apartments, restaurant. There is a car service rooms, four apartments, restaurant. There is a car service station on the road to Sofia The address of the District Council of Motorists is 6 N. Vaptsarov, tel. 5544. The town of Smith (population 6,500) is 17 kilometres to the south and has 30 hot springs with water temperatures round 60°C. From here a road forks left to the picturesque mountain towns of Razlog (population 17,000) and Barnko (population 12,000) in the foothills of the Pirin Mountains. Original buildings architectural interiors have been preserved in Bansko. It is the birth place of the founder of Bulgaria’s Revival, Paissi of Hilendar (1723) and of the eminent Bulgarian poet and revolutionary, Nikola Vaptsarov, whose house is now a museum. Of particular interest are the old houses of Todev, Sirleshov and Vilyanov sofia city tour, as well as the Church of the Virgin Mary built when Bulgaria fell under Ottoman domination. During the second half of the 18th century an unknown wood- carver made the iconostasis similar in artistic merit to that of Rila monastery The new Church of St. Trinity differs from other Bulgarian churches. Its architecture is reminiscent of Italian belfries although it was built by local masters. Its murals are the work of Dimiter Molera and Belyan Ognev. The Belfry and the Clock Tower were erected in 1846 to the desjgn of the local master Gligor Iyov, Todor Hadjiradanov from Bansko was the clock maker.

Other prominent Bulgarians are also associated with Bansko. In 1896 the Bulgarian revolutionary, Gotse Delchev, taught here. For four months he lived in Todev’s house whence he directed preparations for the 1903 uprising of Macedonia.

Visitors can stay at the Balkantourist Pirin Hotel which has 103 rooms and five suites, restaurant and night club. There is also a hostel with accommodation for 150. Bansko is a good starting point for exploring the Pirin Mountains.

The region of Kolarovgrad

The region of Kolarovgrad provided a most important find in recent years — a settlement of the type of Pliska was found at the village of Tsar Kroum (Chatalar) not far from Preslav. This is the place where the column with the inscription of Omourtag’s day, mentioned above, was found. The main resemblance to Pliska lies in the fact that we have here an outer earthen fortification, although on a far smaller scale than that of Pliska(515x 405 m.), and an inner stone fortress measuring 110×93 m. This may have been the palace, the military camp, which Omourtag built and ornamented with columns and the statues of two lions, as the Chatalar Column mentions.

A most important document has come down to us from the period of the greatest flowering and prosperity attained by the medieval Bulgarian state at the end of the 9th and in the 10th century: John the Exarch’s Hexameron. Here we find a most interesting description of Preslav, the second capital of the First Bulgarian State: «When a peasant, a poor man and a stranger, cometh from afar to the towers’ of the Royal Citadel (the Inner City) and perceiveth them, he is filled with amazement private tours istanbul.

And when he advanceth to the gate, he marvelleih and asketh, and upon entering within he perceiveth on both sides large buildings of stone, and ornamented with wood and other materials. When he entereth the Royal Palace and perceiveth all buildings and churches, decorated with stones, wood and paintings, and within with marble and copper, silver and gold, he knoweth not wherewith to compare them, for that he hath not seen such a thing in his land, except thatched huts — and the poor peasant loseth his mind in wonder.»

Excavations at Preslav

Excavations at Preslav, particularly in the last few years, have not only confirmed the truth of this description, but supplemented it as well. To this day, the monumental foundations of the royal palace still stand forth among the numerous ruins in Preslav; it was built of large, well-hewn stone blocks. The ruins of a 10th century church, highly original in plan, are also visible; it consists of a rotunda, a narthex and an atrium, the wall surfaces of which were highly broken up. Its polychromous interior ornamentation, with coloured marbles and wall mosaics on a gold background, and coloured faience tiling, harmoniously supplemented the rich variety of wonderfully light and ethereal forms of the interior.

With regard to plan, Preslav followed the town-planning principles applied in Pliska. Here too the «Inner City» was separated from the «Outer City» by strongly fortified walls, which defended the royal district. However, the «Outer City» was not fortified with a moat, and earthworks as at Pliska, but with a thick fortress wall, which surrounded an area of only about 3.5 square kilometres. Moreover, the fortress wall most certainly did not surround the entire «Outer City».

Neolithic cultural stratum at Karanovo

The first attempt at presenting the human figure in relief was found in the lowest Neolithic cultural stratum at Karanovo. Primitive plastic objects are found in all Neolithic and Eneolithic settlements.The oldest statuettes are of clay, later ones being made of bone and marble. However, the flowering of idol sculpture coincides with the Eneolithic Age, the age when hoe-cultivation attained its greatest development, when the matriarchate flourished.

This explains the predominance of female statuettes, embodying the idea of the Mother Earth as the source of fertility. These are objects in which the earliest religious conceptions of primitive man in Bulgaria are expressed, clearly formed and materially defined in the image of woman, the ancestress. A seated clay figure fromPopovitsa(Papazlii) in the region of Assenovgrad (now’ in the Natural History Museum of Vienna) and a marble statuette of a standing woman’s figure, found at Blagoevo (Razgrad district) and now in the Razgrad Museum, may be mentioned as masterpieces of this sculpture. The former is 10 centimetres high, the latter is 32 cm. high. The ornamental decoration of the body of the clay statuette may be taken to indicate some kind of a garment balkan tours.

Aegean world

Clay, bone and marble female idols are distributed over vast areas, including the Aegean world, Asia Minor, the Balkan and Danu- bian lands and the lands of the Dnieper-Dniester basin. Of course, the figures have their particularities in each of the regions, most of them, however, are the fruit of a common idea: «Mother Earth» as a source of fertility, an idea which seems to have been born first in the Middle East, Egypt and Asia Minor, about the fourth to the third millenium B. C., and to have penetrated from there into the remaining regions and in our country as well, probably at the beginning of the third millenium. In general Neolithic and Eneolithic culture in Bulgaria is not isolated. But while the culture of the first stratum at Karanovo is to be found as a general phenomenon in the entire Mediterranean world, along the middle reaches of the Danube (Yugoslavia and Hungary) and to the north through Rumania as far as the Ukraine, the pottery of the second stratum at Karanovo is far more rarely met with in the neighbouring regions, which indicates that the centre of this culture was in Thrace and North-Eastern Bulgaria.

The Eneolithic culture in the Bulgarian lands has many parallels in the neighbouring lands, especially in Yugoslavia and Rumania and in Asia Minor. However strong the local features of these cultures may have been, they were nevertheless not isolated from each other. They developed under strong reciprocal influences. The so-called Trojan cups, found during the excavations of Troy and quite common in Asia Minor, are a striking example of this. They were unknown in Bulgaria until recently. Not long ago they were discovered here, in the pre-historic settlement at the village of Mihalich (in the region of Svilengrad), since recently considered as belonging to the early Bronze Age.

Finds of gold objects have come to light more frequently in the settlements of the Eneolithic Age recently. A gold ring was found in the settlement mound near Rousse, with a diameter of 1.9 cm., and a gold convex plaque(1.8 cm. in diameter) with two small holes. A small female gold idol was also found here. But the find of gold objects at the prehistoric settl ement near the village of Hotnitsa, Turnovo district, proved particularly rich. Here 44 gold objects with a total weight of 312 grammes were found in the ruins of one dwelling; among these are four round concave plaques (with a diameter of 2.5 to 3.4 cm.), with a round hole in the centre, and two or three small holes in the upper part; 40 rings were also found, with diameters ranging from 2.5 to 3.4 cm.

MALYOVITSA

Less than 100 km south of Sofia and 38 km from Borovets in one of the most picturesque areas of the Rila Mountains lies the high-mountain resort of Malyovitsa (1,750 m above sea level). South of the complex rise the steep slopes of Malyovitsa Peak (2,729 m). The resort offers excellent conditions for holidaying both in summer and winter. Malyovitsa Hotel (lst-B class) has 40 twin-bed rooms with showers, and 30 rooms with three beds each and showers, i.e. a total of 170 beds. The restaurant can cater for 240 persons at a time, in the day bar there are 50 places and the night bar has room for 100.

In winter the resort is an ideal place for winter sports: ski tracks for competitions and for amateur downhill runs, a slalom track, training tracks and tow lifts.

Malyovitsa Complex is a starting point for many hikes in the Rila Mountains: to Malyovitsa Chalet at an altitude of 2,050 m, to Malyovitsa Peak (a 3-hours’ tramp), to the Ourdina Lakes or to the Seven Lakes (a tramp of 4-5 hours), to the Rila Monastery (6-7 hours away), etc.

An asphalt road leads from the resort to Sofia via Samokov.

ALEKO

In one of the most attractive parts of Mount Vitosha and some 25 km from Sofia is situated the most recently opened resort centre where Balkantourist now caters for foreign tourists. Its mean annual temperature is 3.3°C. The complex is made up of the first-class hotels Shtastlivetsa (altitude – 1,810 m) 206 beds, restaurant, bars; Moreni, 1st class, 26 beds; Prostor, with 200 beds, a bar and tavern. In immediate proximity to the toui st complex is a ski run which is 1,500 m long and has a drop of^20 m. Another run 2,800 m long and with a drop of 600 m e JS in the Knyazhevo suburb of Sofia local ephesus tour guides. Two cabin lif’ v two chair lifts and two tow lifts. Skis, sleds and equipment can be hired.

Cherni Vruh (The Black Peak), Mount Vitosha’s highest peak (2,290 m), can be reached very quickly and easily from the complex, as well as the Boyana Church, well-known for its unique murals, the Kopitoto Hotel (with restaurant), 1st class with 48 beds and 220 places in the restaurant, the Zlatni Mostove (Golden Bridges) Restaurant (114 places), the Tihiya Kut motel, 1st class with 67 beds and restaurant, etc.

Three kilometres from the village of Dragalevtsi near the lower station of the lift there are two original Millers’ Taverns, where national dishes and choice drinks are served.

Individual conception of some graceful spirit

The civilisation of whole races is petrified into them. For centuries, tens of thousands of men have toiled, thought, imagined, and poured their souls into the work. It would be an education in art to have known by heart that glorious facade of Notre Dame, as it once was, when every leaf in its foliage, every fold in the drapery, every smile in every saint’s face was an individual conception of some graceful spirit and some deft hand — to have known every legend which blazed in ruby, azure, and emerald in the countless lights of nave, choir, aisle, and transept, the thousands of statues which peopled it within and without, the carved stalls and screens, the iron, brass, and silver and gold work, the pictures, the frescoes, the tombs, the altars, the marbles, the bronzes, the embroideries, the ivories, the mosaics. A great national building is the product of a nation, and is the school of a nation. And for this reason it should stand in our reverence and love next to the great poems of a nation. Next to the Iliad and the Trilogy comes the Parthenon. Next to the Divine Comedy the Duomo of Florence and its adjuncts. Next to Shakespeare and Milton the Abbey.

There is thus a peculiar quality in the great historic building which marks it off from all other works of art. It is in a special sense a living work. It is not so much a ivork as a being. It has an organic life, organic growth; it has a history, an evolution of its own. The Pantheon at Rome has gone on living and growing for nearly nineteen centuries, the Castle of St. Angelo for nearly seventeen, the Church of the Holy Wisdom for thirteen, and our own Tower for eight centuries; and all of them are still living buildings, and not at all ruins or ‘ monuments.’ A building may undergo amazing permutations private tours istanbul, like Hadrian’s Mausoleum, the baths of Diocletian, or the Church of Justinian, and yet retain its identity and its vital energy.

Palace of Westminster

A building is indeed rather an institution than a work; and, like all institutions, it has its own evolution, corresponding with the social evolution on which it depends, and of which it is the symbol. Our Tower, Abbey, Palace of Westminster, and Windsor Castle are much more like our Monarchy, Parliament, and Judicial system than they are like a Madonna by Raphael, or a statue by Pheidias. They are not objects to be looked at in museums. They are organic lives, social institutions, historic forces.

Now I hold that all national, historic, monumental buildings whatever, however small or humble, partake of this character, and ought to have the same veneration and sacredness bestowed on them. Every building that has a definite public history, and has been dedicated to public use, be it church, tower, bridge, gateway, hall, is a national institution, is a public possession, and has become sacrosanct, as the Romans said. In the law of Rome, the ground in which one who had the right buried a dead body became ipso facto, religious; it ceased to be private property, it could not be bought or sold, transferred or used. It was for ever dedicated to the dead, and reserved from all c’urrent usage. So a building, which our dead fore-fathers have dedicated to the service of generations, should be sacrosanct to the memory of the Past.

Its size, its beauty, its antiquity, its celebrity, are matters of degree not of principle. Essentially it is a national possession, an irreparable monument, a sacred record, as the great Charter and ‘ Domesday ’ are. These records have become so pitiably few, their possible value is so incalculably great, their unique, inimitable, priceless nature as relics is so obvious, that wantonly to destroy one of them ought to be treated as a public crime, like smashing the Portland Vase, or defacing the Charter and ‘Domesday.’