Byala, Varna Province
Encyclopedia
Byala is a small town
and seaside resort in Eastern Bulgaria
, located on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast
in Varna Province. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Byala Municipality
and lies in a semi-mountainous region in the easternmost branches of Stara Planina about 50 km south of the city of Varna
and 70 km north of Burgas
. As of December 2009, the town has a population of 2,171 inhabitants.
The Byala municipality consists of the town of Byala and the villages of Popovich, Dyulino, Gospodinovo, Goritza and Samotino.
The first known settlement here, near Cape St. Athanasius
(Sveti Atanas) just south of town, is dated back to the 6th century BC. Its Greek name was Larissa, later, Aspros (White); later still, the Roman
road service station Templum Iovis (Temple of Jupiter) was erected, with a fortress nearby. The region became part of the First Bulgarian Empire
in 681 AD; the Bulgarian fortress of Vicha stood later perhaps on cape Beli Nos (Cape White) north of town.
In the Ottoman period (from the late 14th century through 1878), a village known as Akdere (White creek) existed at the town's present location; it was later renamed Byala. A customs office between the Principality of Bulgaria
and Eastern Rumelia
was temporarily established in 1878. Until the early 1900s, the majority of the population was ethnic Greek
; with the population transfers between Bulgaria and Greece following World War I, about 75% of them are now ethnic Bulgarians tracing their ancestry to the village of Athira (Bulgarian: Bozets) in Greek Macedonia. Byala was declared town on 5 September 1984.
Nature landmarks outside Byala inslude Karadere, one of Bulgaria's last remaining wild beaches with pristine dunes and freshwater wetlands, and the White Cliffs (Белите скали, Belite skali) displaying a classic K-T boundary exposure
; there is a demonstration centre.
In December 2007, plans were announced for a carbon-neutral resort at Karadere beach, some 3 km north of Byala, Norman Foster
's first project in Bulgaria. A series of car free hill towns in a setting of oak forests, meadows and river gorges, Black Sea Gardens shall create a year-round community for up to 15,400 residents http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=1730.
Local groups oppose the project. They say it will turn Karadere into a 6-star closed resort complex. The territory is extremely important from an ecological standpoint being part of the Natura2000 protected zones network and also vital part of bio-diversity zones in Via Pontica for preservation of the habitats of birds.
Due to the wilderness of the territory and lack of any infrastructure, the project needs huge investments and after assessment of these or maybe other reasons, the original investor has backed off (July 2008).
The Bulgarian government's failure to enact regulations outlawing extensive developments in such protected areas may have encouraged the project — even more as Norman Foster's consulting architects company "Projects Ltd." is owned and run by the brother of the Bulgarian Prime Minister.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
and seaside resort in Eastern Bulgaria
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...
, located on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast
Bulgarian Black Sea Coast
The Bulgarian Black Sea Coast covers the entire eastern bound of Bulgaria stretching from the Romanian Black Sea resorts in the north to European Turkey in the south, along 378 km of coastline. White and golden sandy beaches occupy approximately 130 km of the 378 km long coast...
in Varna Province. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Byala Municipality
Byala Municipality, Varna Province
Byala Municipality is a municipality in Varna Province, located in the central part of the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. It is named after its administrative centre - the town of Byala....
and lies in a semi-mountainous region in the easternmost branches of Stara Planina about 50 km south of the city of Varna
Varna
Varna is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, with a population of 334,870 inhabitants according to Census 2011...
and 70 km north of Burgas
Burgas
-History:During the rule of the Ancient Romans, near Burgas, Debeltum was established as a military colony for veterans by Vespasian. In the Middle Ages, a small fortress called Pyrgos was erected where Burgas is today and was most probably used as a watchtower...
. As of December 2009, the town has a population of 2,171 inhabitants.
The Byala municipality consists of the town of Byala and the villages of Popovich, Dyulino, Gospodinovo, Goritza and Samotino.
History
Athanasius of Alexandria
Athanasius of Alexandria [b. ca. – d. 2 May 373] is also given the titles St. Athanasius the Great, St. Athanasius I of Alexandria, St Athanasius the Confessor and St Athanasius the Apostolic. He was the 20th bishop of Alexandria. His long episcopate lasted 45 years Athanasius of Alexandria [b....
(Sveti Atanas) just south of town, is dated back to the 6th century BC. Its Greek name was Larissa, later, Aspros (White); later still, the Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
road service station Templum Iovis (Temple of Jupiter) was erected, with a fortress nearby. The region became part of the First Bulgarian Empire
First Bulgarian Empire
The First Bulgarian Empire was a medieval Bulgarian state founded in the north-eastern Balkans in c. 680 by the Bulgars, uniting with seven South Slavic tribes...
in 681 AD; the Bulgarian fortress of Vicha stood later perhaps on cape Beli Nos (Cape White) north of town.
In the Ottoman period (from the late 14th century through 1878), a village known as Akdere (White creek) existed at the town's present location; it was later renamed Byala. A customs office between the Principality of Bulgaria
Principality of Bulgaria
The Principality of Bulgaria was a self-governing entity created as a vassal of the Ottoman Empire by the Treaty of Berlin in 1878. The preliminary treaty of San Stefano between the Russian Empire and the Porte , on March 3, had originally proposed a significantly larger Bulgarian territory: its...
and Eastern Rumelia
Eastern Rumelia
Eastern Rumelia or Eastern Roumelia was an administratively autonomous province in the Ottoman Empire and Principality of Bulgaria from 1878 to 1908. It was under full Bulgarian control from 1885 on, when it willingly united with the tributary Principality of Bulgaria after a bloodless revolution...
was temporarily established in 1878. Until the early 1900s, the majority of the population was ethnic Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
; with the population transfers between Bulgaria and Greece following World War I, about 75% of them are now ethnic Bulgarians tracing their ancestry to the village of Athira (Bulgarian: Bozets) in Greek Macedonia. Byala was declared town on 5 September 1984.
Economy
Byala's economy is based mostly on tourism and agriculture, including viticulture. There are several hotels, camping areas and beaches. There are attempts to develop "village tourism", a new concept that is believed to be interesting to foreigners.Nature landmarks outside Byala inslude Karadere, one of Bulgaria's last remaining wild beaches with pristine dunes and freshwater wetlands, and the White Cliffs (Белите скали, Belite skali) displaying a classic K-T boundary exposure
Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event
The Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, formerly named and still commonly referred to as the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event, occurred approximately 65.5 million years ago at the end of the Maastrichtian age of the Cretaceous period. It was a large-scale mass extinction of animal and plant...
; there is a demonstration centre.
Cultural Buildings
- Churches: "Sveta Paraskeva"; "Uspenie Bogorodichno"
- Schools: Elementary School "Otets Paisii" (registered in 1880, built in 1894); Professional High School for Agriculture (founded in 1959); Kindergarten "Parvi yuni"
- Stadium: Chernomoretz (built in 1986, seats 1000)
- ChitalishteChitalishteA 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....
: "Probuda" (founded on 1 January 1928, an active local cultural and community centre) - Museum of Ethnography (founded in 1986)
- Military Monuments (mainly commemorating the soldiers who died in World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
)
Development
The town is lesser developed compared to other tourist areas. The local government supports a few environmental and tourism projects. Byala's port is currently under reconstruction and is planned to become a yacht marina. There has been much new residential building undertaken between 2003 and 2006 due to perceived higher interest from foreign (particularly Danish and Dutch) investors and tourists.In December 2007, plans were announced for a carbon-neutral resort at Karadere beach, some 3 km north of Byala, Norman Foster
Norman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank
Norman Robert Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank, OM is a British architect whose company maintains an international design practice, Foster + Partners....
's first project in Bulgaria. A series of car free hill towns in a setting of oak forests, meadows and river gorges, Black Sea Gardens shall create a year-round community for up to 15,400 residents http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=1730.
Local groups oppose the project. They say it will turn Karadere into a 6-star closed resort complex. The territory is extremely important from an ecological standpoint being part of the Natura2000 protected zones network and also vital part of bio-diversity zones in Via Pontica for preservation of the habitats of birds.
Due to the wilderness of the territory and lack of any infrastructure, the project needs huge investments and after assessment of these or maybe other reasons, the original investor has backed off (July 2008).
The Bulgarian government's failure to enact regulations outlawing extensive developments in such protected areas may have encouraged the project — even more as Norman Foster's consulting architects company "Projects Ltd." is owned and run by the brother of the Bulgarian Prime Minister.
External links
- Official Website
- http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jul/14/greenbuilding.climatechange