Location: Kardzhali stands at 259 km from Sofia and about 100 km away from Plovdiv, in the heart of the East Rhodope Mountains, on the two shores of Arda River.
Population: Kardzhali has a population of 50 500 residents, which makes it one of the largest cities in the Rhodopes. The population in the region is mixed (Christians and Muslims).
History: The region of today’s Kardzhali was populated as far back as the Neolithic period. This is evidenced by the numerous artifacts, found during archaeological excavations. Later, the region was populated by the ancient Thracian people, who established their highly developed civilization here. Fortresses such as Ustra, Vishegrad and Perperikon (where the largest Thracian monastery was situated) date back from that period. During the 6th century, the Slav tribes of the Smolyan people settled here. When the Bulgarian state was established, this region remained within the borders of the Byzantine Empire, but the settlement became a centre of Christianity in East Rhodope and a centre of the Ahrida (Ahridos) eparchy. The monastery “St. John the Baptist”, which is among the models of medieval church architecture, also dates back from that time.
It is believed that the current name of the city dates back to the time of the Ottoman rule and is related to the name of the commander of the Turkish garrison - Kardzha Ali. Within the Ottoman Empire, Kardzhali became a large settlement, due to its strategic location on a crossroads between Europe and Asia.
According to the Treaty of San Stefano from March, 1878, the town fell within the borders of Principality of Bulgaria, but the Berlin Congress made it a part of the autonomous region of Eastern Rumelia. In 1886, with the Tophane Act, it was given back under the direct rule of the Ottoman sultan as a compensation for the Union between Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia. During the Balkan War, Kardzhali was liberated by the units of General Vasil Delov. Within the borders of Bulgaria, the town gradually developed as an economic, cultural and administrative centre in the Eastern Rhodopes region.
Landmarks: Kardzhali and the region are rich of natural and cultural-historical landmarks. The most interesting of them are:
- Regional Museum of History - located close to the city centre, near the exit road to the town of Haskovo. The building was constructed in the early 20s of the 20th century, designed by arch. Pomerantsev. It is impressive with its Moroccan arcs and details from Arab architecture. Because of its unique appearance, it is proclaimed as a cultural monument of national significance. The museum exhibition consists of three sections – Archaeology, Mineralogy and Ethnology. Each of them is placed on a separate floor. The archaeological collection, consisting of different exponents from the early Neolithic to the late Middle Ages (approximately from 5 900 B.C. to 1400 A.C.). The treasures of Perperikon and Tatul are also on display here.
- St John the Baptist Church is a Bulgarian Orthodox church, located on the right shore of Arda River in the town of Kardzhali (Veselchane quarter). It was part of a medieval monastery complex, established during the 6th - 7th century, after the end of the period of iconoclasm in Byzantium. The monastery was a centre of one of the largest medieval eparchies – Ahridos. The historical and archaeological data gathered here leads us to believe that during the 10th - 11th century, it was a functioning bishop’s, and later a metropolitan’s centre. In the beginning of the 13th century it was pillaged and burned to the ground, most probably during the Fourth Crusade. In 2000, the church “St. John the Baptist” was fully restored and opened doors for worshipers again.
Surroundings
- Perperikon is an archaeological complex, consisting of a large megalithic sanctuary, a holy town and a fortress. It is located in the Eastern Rhodope Mounains, 15 km north-east from the town of Kardzhali. The archaeological studies of the complex reveal treasures from the Neolithic era to the Middle Ages. It consists of four parts, which constitute a perfect composition: a massive fortress wall, an acropolis – constructed from huge stone blocks, a castle – engraved in the rocks and suburbs – residential buildings and temples. It is assumed that the central part of the complex is the sanctuary of Dionysius, whose priestly kin were the Thracians from the Bessae tribe.
- Tatul is an archaeological complex, which probably was the most sacred place for the Thracians. It is located in the region of the village of the same name, 15 km away from Momchilgrad and 32 km from Kardzhali. The complex consists of an ancient pagan sanctuary and a medieval fortress. According to the archaeologists, this is where the sanctuary of the mythic Orpheus used to be.
- Dyavolski Most (Devil’s Bridge) was built on a picturesque narrow gorge of Arda River in the beginning of the 15th century. It is located 35 km away from Kardzhali and 10 km away from Ardino. The bridge is part of an ancient road, which connected the Aegean Sea Coast with the inland of Thrace. It is amazing that for 500 years it has not been repaired at all. A local legend says that one can see the devil’s step in one of the stones, which is probably where its name comes from.
- Kardzhali Pyramids are rocky formations, located 3 km east from Kardzhali, close to the village of Zimzelen. These are among the most visited rocky pyramids in Bulgaria. They were formed approximately 40 million years ago, when the Eastern Rhodopes used to be the bottom of a long gone sea. The beautiful rocks were formed by the deposited volcanic ash and rocky pieces and resemble human bodies, horses, birds and obelisks. The rocky group “The Petrified Wedding” is a great tourist attraction.
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