Mesdra

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Mesdra (Мездра)
Mesdra Coat of Arms
Mesdra (Bulgaria)
Mesdra
Mesdra
Basic data
State : BulgariaBulgaria Bulgaria
Oblast : Wraza
Residents : 9547  (December 31, 2016)
Coordinates : 43 ° 9 '  N , 23 ° 42'  E Coordinates: 43 ° 9 '0 "  N , 23 ° 42' 0"  E
Height : 214 m
Postal code : 3100
Telephone code : (+359) 0910
License plate : BP
administration
Mayor : Ivan Asparukhov
Mesdra (red square) in Bulgaria - neighboring towns: Wraza , Berkowiza , Montana , Sofia , Slatitsa , Lovech , Dolni Dabnik

Mesdra ( Bulgarian : Мездра) is a city in northwestern Bulgaria and part of the Wraza Oblast . It is located in the western Balkan Mountains , 14 km southeast of Wraza. The Iskar River flows through the city . Immediately south of the city, the river coming from the south cuts through the Balkan Mountains in a deep canyon .

history

Although the region has been continuously populated since prehistoric times, Mesdra remained a small village that had only 86 inhabitants in the first census in the Principality of Bulgaria on January 1, 1881, and only 76 inhabitants in 17 households in 1888. And this despite the fact that a bridge was built over the Iskar in 1887, which connected Sofia with Wraza. Mesdra was the third largest village in the then Wraza district.

Only when the construction of the railway line from Sofia to the city of Roman began in 1893 did the turning point. With the expansion of the infrastructure came the economic boom of Mesdra. For four years, hundreds of workers came from all over the country to lay tracks, build tunnels and bridges, and mend the roads.

With the opening of the railway on February 20, 1897, the place became an important transport hub and the population gradually grew. For the inauguration of the railway line by Metropolitan Constantine, Ferdinand I of Bulgaria and his wife Marie Louise of Bourbon-Parma and the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Konstantin Stoilow traveled by train from Sofia, as well as the Serbian King Alexander I of Bulgaria, who was staying in Bulgaria at the time Serbia . Northwest Bulgaria can only be reached by rail via the railway line at Mesdra. Here the railway lines Sofia - Vidin and Sofia - Varna separate .

In 1900 the place had 311 inhabitants and in 1920 there were 1015 inhabitants.

Mesdra was declared a city in 1950. Before that, Mesdra had the appearance of a small town. The city architects who had studied in Germany gave the village a Western European style.

Since 2006, the city has given its name to Mezdra Point , a headland of Snow Island in Antarctica.

Kaleto fortress

The Kaleto Fortress is located on the outskirts, on the banks of the Iskar, south of the train station, a 15-minute walk from the city center. The fortress has been destroyed and rebuilt several times throughout history. The foundations of the fortress were built according to the Roman design, but the fortress walls date from the old Bulgarian era. The ruins of the Kaleto Fortress, dating back to the 16th century, are the best preserved ruins in the region.

The oldest archaeological finds in the area around the fortress date from the 5th to 6th millennium BC. - Ceramics, arrowheads, clay weights for weaving, flint bits for woodwork, a processed deer antler, two clay ovens, one of which was destroyed during robbery excavations . A fortified settlement already stood here at the end of the Copper Age in the 6th millennium BC. Chr.

The archaeological finds show a changing settlement by the Thracian tribe of the Triballer , the invading Bastarnen and the invading Celtic tribe of the Skordisker . After the 1st century the settlement and all of Moesia were conquered by the Roman Empire .

The original Roman fortress was built in the 2nd century AD. However, it was not a military garrison , but a police station. This is where the most important roads of the Roman province of Moesia and the most important connecting road between the Roman provinces of Moesia and Thrace crossed , which ran through the Iskar Gorge ( Iskarski Prolom ; Bulgarian Искърски пролом or Искърското дефиле) through the Balkan Mountains.

In the 2nd to 3rd centuries AD, a settlement with a Roman sanctuary was built next to the fortress. Among other things, a medallion of Emperor Severus Alexander (222-235) was found by archaeologists , of which there are only three copies worldwide. The award of such a medallion was one of the highest honors. A gold coin ( aureus ) of the same emperor was also found here in 2006. It weighs six grams. The front is decorated with a portrait of Severus Alexander and the back shows the god Mars with a laurel wreath. Archaeologists assume that the coin was a gift to the sanctuary that stood on this hill at the time. The coin found was not in circulation.

This is also where the language border ran through the Roman provinces on the Balkan Peninsula . Latin was spoken to the west and Greek to the east.

The archaeological excavations around the fortress had been completed 20 years ago, but started again in 2008.

An episcopal basilica was built near the village of Ljuti in the first decades after the Constantinian change (313; compulsory introduction of Christianity) (episkop = bishop; see also episcopal church ). At 28 × 16 m, this basilica was on the right-hand side for the time. The wall paintings show the transition from the three-dimensional representation to, for the Eastern Orthodox Church , characteristic relief representation of the symbols (lamb, fish, pigeon, etc.).

economy

Its location on the important railway connection between Sofia and Varna favors the economic development of Mezdra. There are quarries, brick factories and breweries in the city.

Mesdra municipality

The municipality of Mesdra is 519 km² and includes the city of Mesdra and the following 27 villages: Bodenez , Brusen , Darmanzi , Dolna Kremena , Elisejna , Gorna Beschowiza , Gorna Kremena , Ignatiza , Kalen , Krapez , Crete , Lik , Ljutibrod , Ljutidol , Morawiza , Oselna , Oslen Kriwodol , Otschindol , Rebarkowo , Ruska Bela , Slidol , Staro Selo , Swerino , Tiptscheniza , Warbeschniza , Zakoniza , Tsarevets .

Most of the area is used for agriculture or is covered by forests. Of the 195 km², 25 km² are coniferous forests and 21 km² are deciduous forests. Gray earth soils that are suitable for the cultivation of feed grain predominate . The mean sea level of the municipality is 270 m. The ground relief is semi-mountainous.

Culture

The city holiday takes place every year on May 6th. The "Mesdra-Mai" cultural days are also celebrated in May.

The church "Sweti Georgi Pobedonosez" ( Saint George ) was built from 1930 to 1932, mainly from donations from the heirs of the factory owner Georgi Balbanow. The Chitalishte "Prosweta" was founded in 1925. There has been a gallery since 1971. In the railroader's house is a museum dedicated to the history of the railroad.

The city's football club is called Locomotive Mesdra .

Attractions

In the gorge of the nearby Iskar Gorge, directly on the river and surrounded by the high walls of the rocky gorge, stands the Cherepishki Monastery (Bulgarian Черепишки манастир), which was built in the 14th century, during the time of the Second Bulgarian Empire.

Twin town

Personalities

Web links