Atolovo
Encyclopedia
Atolovo is a village in southeastern Bulgaria
, part of Straldzha
municipality, Yambol Province
. , it has a population of 184 and the mayor is Nikolay Spasov. Atolovo lies at 42°36′N 26°45′E, 128 m above sea level, in the Straldzha Plateau.
The village, intended for ethnic Bulgarian refugees from Greek Macedonia and Eastern Thrace, was officially established in 1926 with the support of the British
organization Save the Children
and the financial aid of the 8th Duke of Atholl
. Tsar Boris III of Bulgaria
attended the official ceremony. Atolovo was named in honour of the Duke after his death. During the Communist rule of Bulgaria, the village was briefly renamed Harizanovo, after a local guerilla fighter, but the old name was shortly reinstated.
British volunteers helped construct houses for the refugees, as well as a cultural centre (chitalishte
) and a church. Today, there is a monument to the Duke of Atholl in the village made by the sculptor Mincho Ognyanov.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, part of Straldzha
Straldzha
Straldzha is a small town in Yambol Province, Southeastern Bulgaria. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Straldzha Municipality. As of december 2009, the town has a population of 6,021 inhabitants.-External links:*http://www.straldja.net...
municipality, Yambol Province
Yambol Province
Yambol is a province in southeastern Bulgaria, neighbouring Turkey to the south. It is named after its main city Yambol, while other towns include Straldzha, Bolyarovo and Elhovo...
. , it has a population of 184 and the mayor is Nikolay Spasov. Atolovo lies at 42°36′N 26°45′E, 128 m above sea level, in the Straldzha Plateau.
The village, intended for ethnic Bulgarian refugees from Greek Macedonia and Eastern Thrace, was officially established in 1926 with the support of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
organization Save the Children
Save the Children
Save the Children is an internationally active non-governmental organization that enforces children's rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries...
and the financial aid of the 8th Duke of Atholl
John Stewart-Murray, 8th Duke of Atholl
Colonel John George Stewart-Murray, 8th Duke of Atholl KT GCVO CB DSO PC ADC , styled Marquess of Tullibardine until 1917, was a Scottish soldier and Conservative politician.-Early life:...
. Tsar Boris III of Bulgaria
Boris III of Bulgaria
Boris III the Unifier, Tsar of Bulgaria , originally Boris Klemens Robert Maria Pius Ludwig Stanislaus Xaver , son of Ferdinand I, came to the throne in 1918 upon the abdication of his father, following the defeat of the Kingdom of Bulgaria during World War I...
attended the official ceremony. Atolovo was named in honour of the Duke after his death. During the Communist rule of Bulgaria, the village was briefly renamed Harizanovo, after a local guerilla fighter, but the old name was shortly reinstated.
British volunteers helped construct houses for the refugees, as well as a cultural centre (chitalishte
Chitalishte
A chitalishte is a typical Bulgarian public institution and building which fulfils several functions at once, such as a community centre, library and a theatre. It is also used as an educational institution, where people of all ages can enroll in foreign language, dance, music and other courses....
) and a church. Today, there is a monument to the Duke of Atholl in the village made by the sculptor Mincho Ognyanov.