| Razlog Разлог |
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| Razlog skyline, Preobrazhenie Square, Central Park, Razlog skyline at night | |
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Razlog
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Bulgaria |
| Province (Oblast) |
Blagoevgrad |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Krasimir Gerchev |
| Elevation | 812 m (2,664 ft) |
| Population (2009-09-15) | |
| • Total | 13,448 |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Postal Code | 2760 |
| Area code(s) | 0747 |
Razlog (Bulgarian: Разлог) is a town and ski resort in Razlog Municipality, Blagoevgrad Province in southwestern Bulgaria. It is situated in the Razlog Valley and was first mentioned during the reign of Byzantine emperor Basil II.
During his 1894–1896 trip in the region of Macedonia, Bulgarian geographer Vasil Kanchov visited Razlog (then known as Мехомия, Mehomia) and reported that it numbered 820 households, of which 500 of Eastern Orthodox Bulgarians, 300 of Muslim Bulgarians (Pomaks), 16 of Protestant Bulgarians and 5 of Eastern Orthodox Aromanians, for a total population of around 4,620.[1] According to the same author's 1900 study on the population of Macedonia, Razlog was populated by 4,970 people, of which 3,200 Christian Bulgarians, 1,460 Muslim Bulgarians, 80 Turks, 200 Roma and 30 Aromanians.[2]
The town's population actively participated in the Kresna-Razlog and Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising, Razlog, which was part of Serez sanjak in Selanik vilayet as "Razlık", itself being liberated from Ottoman rule in 1912. Razlog has developed as a centre of winter tourism in the 1990s and 2000s owing to its favourable position in the vicinity of the Pirin, Rila and Rhodope mountains.
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The municipality of Razlog comprises the villages of Banya, Gorno Draglishte, Dolno Draglishte, Dobarsko, Bachevo, Godlevo and Eleshnitsa with a total population of 20,410 inhabitants. Each of these places has its own specific charm.
The fairy-tale village of Dobarsko, hidden in the outskirts of Rila, maintains the legends of the Dobarsko Singing School. One can see here the church "Saints Theodor Tiron and Theodor Stratilat" (1614) - a National Monument of Culture with high architectural and artistic culture. The murals depicting Jesus Christ in what observes claim to be a jet rocket astonishes foreigners as well as Bulgarians. The icons in the Tzar (King) Row of church "Sretenie Gospodne" (1860) were painted by Simeon D. Molerov, a representative of the Bansko Painting School.
The unbelievable generosity of a nature can be seen in the beautiful and cool forests, in the rivers, which flow through Razlog valley, in the numerous warm mineral water springs, mostly concentrated in the territory of the villages of Banya nad Eleshnitsa that are extremely attractive because of their open-air swimming pools.
The greenhouses, the Old Bath (1973) and the church "Sveti Georgi" create a pleasant and interesting atmosphere in the village of Banya. It is spa and climatic resort of local importance; of interest are also historic ruins nearby.
The spirit of the Bulgarian traditions and customs, preserved from many generations, give the unforgettable appearance to the villages of Gorno and Dolno Draglishte, Godlevo and Bachevo. The historic and natural landmarks are the perfect addition to the opportunities for rural tourism in the villages.
The resort locations Predel, Betolovoto, and Katarino present the visitor with a chance for an unforgettable experience with the marvelous nature of Rila and Pirin Mountains.
The natural conditions in the valley situated between Rila, Pirin and rodopi mountains, determine its settlement in ancient times. The old Thracian name of Razlog is Mehomia. According to the legend in the past at this place a Thracian war leader won a vicotry over his enemy and that is why he called this settlement "Meo Mia", which translated from Thracian means "my victory". In 1925 the town was renamed Razlog.
The Municipality of Razlog and the whole Razlog valley possess rich inheritance of cultural monuments from different ages and civilizations. Cultural monuments on the territory of Razlog are 7. These are the Christian temples: Saint Georgi Pobedonoset - built in 1834 in Razlog, Saint Gerogii - built in 1834 in Banya village, Uspenie Bogorodichno - built in 1835 in Dolno Draglishte village, the iconostasis in this temple was made by one of the most prominent representatives of the wood-carving school in Tryavna - Dosyu Koyuv; Saint Bogoroditsa in Dolno Draglishte village, specialists suppose that the temple was built before the 16th century; Sretenie Gospodne - built in 1860 in Dobarsko village and Saint Theodor Stiron and Theodor Stratilat - built in 1614 in Dobarsko village. this temple unique mural paintings, it is a cultural monument under the protection of UNESCO. There are 70 houses in the municipality, which are archeological monuments. They are mainly building from the age of the Revival - the so called "Razlog - Chepino" house.
The historic museum in Razlog presents a collection of pottery from 19-20th century, local traditional hand-made textile and bell-moulding.
Razlog is town with rich cultural traditions and customs kept through the centuries and still having the spirit if the original Bulgarian values.
Two of the most significant folklore events in Bulgaria are organized and held in Razlog. These are the New Year's Koukeri holidays nad the gathering for folk art - "Pirin sings". These events offer an unforgettable experience for the multiple participants, as well as for the thousands of visitors of the town of Razlog.
Proof for the original koukeri traditions is the insignia of honour, given to the municipality of Razlog by Mr. Henri Van der Kroon, President of the International Federation of European and Mediterranean carnival towns in May 2004. As a member of this Federation, the koukeri groups from the municipality of Razlog regularly participate in the events organised by it. Unique is the gathering for folk art "Pirin songs", which is visited on a mass scale and takes on of the leading positions in organizational and artistic organization. The gathering in the "Yavorov" hut has become tradition in the recent years. The hut is one of the most visited locations in the Pirin mountain. It was built 72 years ago and during the summer season it turns out to be small for numerous tourists. Interests for the tourists are local "valevitsi, craftsmen's shops and culinary art of Razlog with the scent of the "kapama", "chumlek", "church's beans", "sugrena banitsa", etc. Of great interest are also the Easter and Christmas holiday, religious and general life customs, such as Todor's day (horse race), Voditsi (celebration of Yordan's day with throwing of a cross into water), Grandmother's day, Proshki, etc.; these have been preserved until nowadays.
A big part of the specialized schools in the region are located in Razlog; they provide qualified labor for the different sectors of the economy, development in the municipality.
The educational network in the Municipality of Razlog comprises 9 municipality schools, 2 of which are primary, 6 secondary, there is one school with special classes in - English, Mathematics with German; there are also 4 national schools. Specialists the field of business administration and management in hotels and culinary arts., electronics, transportation, and agriculture are prepared in the Professional high-school in Tourism, the Professional Transport high-school and professional Mechanization and Agriculture high-school.
In 1999 in Razlog was established "ASIX"-Razlog, a club for martial arts, in which above 60 children train actively. The members of this club have won many prizes from republican, Balkan and international tournaments. There are more than 30 medals from the republican tournament in Karate-do and Dju-Djitsu in 2006. Other sports developed in the municipality are" volleyball, basketball, chess and sport orientation.
Nature is the greatest asset of Razlog valley. Norht of the town is the kingdom of the Rila National Park. Pirin raises to the south - the mountain that Slavs called "Mountain of Gods" (Perun). The Pirin National Park is included in the convention for the Preservation of World Natural and Cultural Heritage Sites. In Pirin, there are more than 100 bird species and over 1100 plant species among which is the symbol of the mountain - the edelweiss. There are also 42 mammal species - chamois, bears and others.
The most precious parts of Pirin are designated reserves. "Bayuvi Dupki - Djinjiritsa" is a biosphere reserve under the auspices of UNESCO, where unique formations of white and Macedonian and Bosnian pine trees are to be found, together with more than 27 Bulgarian and 43 Balkan relict species.
Pirin and Rila are a paradise for lovers of nature and hiking. Tourists are familiar with the locations of Predel and Betolovoto and with the Yavorov hut. A magnificent place in summer, Pirin becomes a heaven on earth for skiers in iwnter. More than 2000 years ago the Thracians called that wonder of Nature Orbelus, meaning Snow-Mountain.
In the recent years the Municipality of Razlog has attracted significant foreign investments, connected to the development of modern technologies in the field of machine-building, electronics, and furniture production.
Only for the period 2005-2006 projects for near 50 million levs have been implemented, and the investments applied for the beginning of 2006 are 100 million euro. The biggest private sites are the resort complex "Katarino SPA", "Hotel Razlog" with total investment of near 15 million euro. Of the foreign investments, the biggest are cleaning station for waste waters for 6 million euro and road II-19 "Simitli-Razlog-Sadovo" which connects Bulgaria and Greece - for 20 million euro.
Golf lovers may visit the tourism, sports and recreation center - Pirin Golf & Country Club. The complex is located in the Betolovoto location, at the foot of the Pirin mountain, with magnificent view to the Rila and Rodopi mountains. Besides the golf course with 18 holes and the necessary servicing buildings, the complex includes also construction of a "Welcome zone" with car park, residential zone; center (commercial center, restaurants, cafes), horse base, and sports complex.
Imminent is the realization of a project including completion of ski-zone "Kulinoto", building of water park and other concomitant structures. Other important project will significantly improve transportation infrastructure and the access to the region.
At the moment there are perspective researches for supplying Bansko, Razlog, Dobrinishte village and Banya village with natural gas, after which the construction of gas-conveying and distributing networks may begin in the locations foreseen for gasification.
Razlog Cove on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after Razlog.
Alexander Georgiev Barov (1931–1999) - famous Bulgarian architect. Born in 1931 in Razlog. His most remarkable work is the National Palace of Culture (1978). He has designed Universiada Hall (1961), Olympic Sports Complex in Accra, Ghana (1961), the building of the Bulgarian Embassy in Moscow (1977), Boyana residence (1974), National Historical Museum (1974 former government residence-Boyana) and many memorial complexes.
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