2. Velingrad is a town inVelingrad is a town in
Southern Bulgaria,Southern Bulgaria,
located in the Chepinolocated in the Chepino
valley in the Westernvalley in the Western
Rhodope Mountains.Rhodope Mountains.
The town is theThe town is the
administrative center ofadministrative center of
the municipality ofthe municipality of
Velingrad.Velingrad.
GeographyGeography
3. ClimateClimate
The city has mountainousThe city has mountainous
climate. Summer is coolclimate. Summer is cool
and short and winter -and short and winter -
soft and long. Rainfall issoft and long. Rainfall is
relatively low. In therelatively low. In the
spring and early summerspring and early summer
rainfalls are more abun-rainfalls are more abun-
dant and late summerdant and late summer
and autumn it is dry.and autumn it is dry.
Snowfalls are sufficientSnowfalls are sufficient
and the retention of snowand the retention of snow
is long (150 days). Snowis long (150 days). Snow
is durable and thickis durable and thick..
4. HistoryHistory
Cultural layers give rise toCultural layers give rise to
claims that Chepino regionclaims that Chepino region
was inhabited by Thracianwas inhabited by Thracian
tribes in 6-5 century BC.Thetribes in 6-5 century BC.The
most persistent are themost persistent are the
vestiges of the Bessi tribe -vestiges of the Bessi tribe -
there are mounds,there are mounds,
cemeteries, walls of townscemeteries, walls of towns
and fortresses.Writtenand fortresses.Written
evidence of this era is givenevidence of this era is given
by the ancient historiansby the ancient historians
Herodotus and Thucydides.Herodotus and Thucydides.
5. BessiBessi
Bessi are priestly clan of theBessi are priestly clan of the
Thracian tribes Satri, oracleThracian tribes Satri, oracle
guardians of Dionysus, whoguardians of Dionysus, who
according to the ancientaccording to the ancient
information was in Pangaioninformation was in Pangaion
or "vsezemie" (Bulgarianor "vsezemie" (Bulgarian
Kushnitsa) and according toKushnitsa) and according to
modern scholars a questionmodern scholars a question
of the Rhodope mountains.of the Rhodope mountains.
There are other assumptionsThere are other assumptions
about the location of theabout the location of the
temple - the mountain Falakrotemple - the mountain Falakro
within the former Satriyskiwithin the former Satriyski
lands.lands.
6. BessiBessi
“ The Satri as far as I know - Herodotus wrote -
were not subject to anyone ever and only the
Thracians remain free ever since, living high in the
mountains, covered with forests and snow and are
all excellent warriors. They have the temple of
Dionysius, it is on a high mountain peak. Among the
Satri, the Bessi deal with oracle in the sanctuary; the
high priestess gives predictions, just like in Delphi,
there's nothing different”.
The first to mention the
famous temple was
Herodotus.
7. In the early 6th century the Chepino region was
inhabited by Slavs. According to Professor Peter
Petrov and Marin Drinov the dragovitchi tribe
lived here. Slavs adopted most of the traditions,
customs and culture of the Thracians, adding their
traits to them. Later, the Bulgarians joined the
Slavs. The valley was annexed to the Bulgarian
state under the rule of Malamir and his successor
Presian, who included the whole Rhodope region.
8. Coins from the time of Tsar Ivan Alexander wereCoins from the time of Tsar Ivan Alexander were
found in the Chepino region. It is believed that thefound in the Chepino region. It is believed that the
fall of the Tsepina fortress and the entire Chepinofall of the Tsepina fortress and the entire Chepino
region under Turkish rule occurred in 1371-1373.region under Turkish rule occurred in 1371-1373.
After this event a number of major changesAfter this event a number of major changes
occurred in the lives of the local Bulgarians. Theoccurred in the lives of the local Bulgarians. The
Ottoman Empire had need allies at the center andOttoman Empire had need allies at the center and
began to impose Islam voluntarily or by force in thebegan to impose Islam voluntarily or by force in the
early 16th century.early 16th century.
9. The population of Chepino is not left out of theThe population of Chepino is not left out of the
Renaissance and the national liberation struggle of theRenaissance and the national liberation struggle of the
Bulgarian people. In 1816 people of Kamenitsa builtBulgarian people. In 1816 people of Kamenitsa built
the new St.Trinity church. It became a center forthe new St.Trinity church. It became a center for
Bulgarian strengthen awareness and spreadBulgarian strengthen awareness and spread
knowledge and education. The church opened the firstknowledge and education. The church opened the first
school in 1823, and then secondary school, housed inschool in 1823, and then secondary school, housed in
a separate building.a separate building.
10. In 1948 the villages
Ladzhene, Chepino
and Kamenitsa
united into a town.
It bears the name of
Kamenitsa born
guerrilla Vela Peeva
and is called
Velingrad. In 1977,
it became an admi-
nistrative center.
