Dolen (Blagoevgrad District)
Encyclopedia
Dolen is a village in southwestern Bulgaria
, located in the Satovcha Municipality
of the Blagoevgrad Province
.
. It belongs to the Chech region
.
.
Dolen is located on a Roman-Thracian road which used to connect Drama
with Trimoncium, the Roman name of today's city of Plovdiv
. Proof for the existence of this historic route are remains from the road itself at the eastern part of the village as well as the Roman bridge in the district of Banyan.
During the 1st century AD, the Romans moved the road-bed for military purposes, and built a new bridge close to the village of Kribul
, thus assuring the passing of their troops along sunlit roads. As a result, Dolen remained isolated from the main stream of troops and convoys.
and Kovachevitsa remained the only villages with Christian population in the region.
After the ascension of sultan Selim II
all the 12 chapels in Dolen were burned, the land was declared property of the sultan, and a mosque was built. The bey
resided in a luxurious house located on the Northern side of the river, which has been preserved up until this date.
During that time, the region was teeming with livestock, and the land around the village was once used for vineyards. However, an unknown disease destroyed completely this rare sort of grapes which used to thrive 900 m. above the sea-level.
In addition to being wine producers and livestock producers, the local craftsmen were also known by being good masons. Each one of the 300 houses in the village has a unique architectural design.
Until 1856, Dolen's school was а monastery school and is located in the precincts of a church. From the school year 1871/1872 the teacher Nikola Popfilipov, born in the town of Bansko
introduced the Monitorial system education method.
The "Ethnography of the Vilayets Andrianopol, Monastir and Salonika", which was published in Constantinopol in 1878 and provided statistics about the male population in 1873, indicates that Dolen had 149 households, 60 Pomaks
and 430 Bulgarians.
According to Vasil Kanchov
, as of the 19th century the village of Doljan was populated by 1170 Bulgarian Muslims
and 352 Bulgarians
-Christians.
architecture. The houses are typically built with overhanging top stories and the roofs are made out of stone plates. Some ceilings are decorated with wood carvings.
During archeological excavations, near Dolen were found an ancient village, a late ancient village, a late ancient necropolis, a late ancient fortress, a late medieval church, and the remains of a smeltery.
In 1977 the village is declared a historical cultural reserve.
One of the main attractions is the St. Nicholas Church, built in 1834 in a monastery school complex . The sacred images comprising the iconostasis of the church were painted by George Filipov, a painter from the region of Debar, who later moved and lived in Gabrovo
. Other attractions include the street junction, known as "Kavalite" ("Кавалите"), the "Nikolovski Fountain" (“Николовската чешма”) аnd the main street.
The narrow cobblestone streets are typical for the village.
The church bells were founded 7 times until the perfect sound was achieved. The sound of the bells can be heard in a radius of 8 kilometers.
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 in the Satovcha Municipality
Satovcha municipality
The Satovcha Municipality is a municipality in Southwestern Bulgaria and is one of the municipalities in the Blagoevgrad Province.- Geography :...
of the Blagoevgrad Province
Blagoevgrad Province
Blagoevgrad Province , also known as Pirin Macedonia , is a province of southwestern Bulgaria. It borders four other Bulgarian provinces to the north and east, Greece to the south, and the Republic of Macedonia to the west. The province has 14 municipalities with 12 towns...
.
Geography
The village of Dolen is located in the Western Rhodope MountainsRhodope Mountains
The Rhodopes are a mountain range in Southeastern Europe, with over 83% of its area in southern Bulgaria and the remainder in Greece. Its highest peak, Golyam Perelik , is the seventh highest Bulgarian mountain...
. It belongs to the Chech region
Chech (region)
Chech or Chechko is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe in our days Bulgaria and Greece. Most of its population inhabits about 60 villages and is almost completely Pomak....
.
Prehistoric and Ancient Times
Prior to Dolen's existence, the area was strewed with Thracians hamlets, the remains of which can still be seen around the village. The hills surrounding the village are scattered with Thracian necropolises. Preserved are also the Thracian vineyards which were used until the Bulgarian National RevivalBulgarian National Revival
The Bulgarian National Revival , sometimes called the Bulgarian Renaissance, was a period of socio-economic development and national integration among Bulgarian people under Ottoman rule...
.
Dolen is located on a Roman-Thracian road which used to connect Drama
Drama, Greece
Drama , the ancient Drabescus , is a town and municipality in northeastern Greece. Drama is the capital of the peripheral unit of Drama which is part of the East Macedonia and Thrace periphery. The town is the economic center of the municipality , which in turn comprises 53.5 percent of the...
with Trimoncium, the Roman name of today's city of Plovdiv
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
. Proof for the existence of this historic route are remains from the road itself at the eastern part of the village as well as the Roman bridge in the district of Banyan.
During the 1st century AD, the Romans moved the road-bed for military purposes, and built a new bridge close to the village of Kribul
Kribul
Kribul is a village in Southwestern Bulgaria. It is located in the Satovcha Municipality, Blagoevgrad Province.Kribul Hill on Trinity Peninsula in Antarctica is named after the village.- Geography :...
, thus assuring the passing of their troops along sunlit roads. As a result, Dolen remained isolated from the main stream of troops and convoys.
Under the Ottoman Rule
During the Ottoman rule, Dolen, SatovchaSatovcha
Satovcha is a village in Southwestern Bulgaria. It is the administrative center of the Satovcha Municipality in Blagoevgrad Province.-Geography:The village of Satovcha is located in the Western Rhodope Mountains...
and Kovachevitsa remained the only villages with Christian population in the region.
After the ascension of sultan Selim II
Selim II
Selim II Sarkhosh Hashoink , also known as "Selim the Sot " or "Selim the Drunkard"; and as "Sarı Selim" or "Selim the Blond", was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1566 until his death in 1574.-Early years:He was born in Constantinople a son of Suleiman the...
all the 12 chapels in Dolen were burned, the land was declared property of the sultan, and a mosque was built. The bey
Bey
Bey is a title for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. Accoding to some sources, the word "Bey" is of Turkish language In historical accounts, many Turkish, other Turkic and Persian leaders are titled Bey, Beg, Bek, Bay, Baig or Beigh. They are all the same word...
resided in a luxurious house located on the Northern side of the river, which has been preserved up until this date.
During that time, the region was teeming with livestock, and the land around the village was once used for vineyards. However, an unknown disease destroyed completely this rare sort of grapes which used to thrive 900 m. above the sea-level.
In addition to being wine producers and livestock producers, the local craftsmen were also known by being good masons. Each one of the 300 houses in the village has a unique architectural design.
Until 1856, Dolen's school was а monastery school and is located in the precincts of a church. From the school year 1871/1872 the teacher Nikola Popfilipov, born in the town of Bansko
Bansko
Bansko is a town and a popular ski resort in southwestern Bulgaria, located at the foot of the Pirin Mountains at an elevation of 925 m above sea level....
introduced the Monitorial system education method.
The "Ethnography of the Vilayets Andrianopol, Monastir and Salonika", which was published in Constantinopol in 1878 and provided statistics about the male population in 1873, indicates that Dolen had 149 households, 60 Pomaks
Pomaks
Pomaks is a term used for a Slavic Muslim population native to some parts of Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo. The Pomaks speak Bulgarian as their native language, also referred to in Greece and Turkey as Pomak language, and some are fluent in Turkish,...
and 430 Bulgarians.
According to Vasil Kanchov
Vasil Kanchov
Vasil Kanchov was a Bulgarian geographer, ethnographer and politician.- Biography :Vasil Kanchov was born in Vratsa. Upon graduating from High school in Lom, Bulgaria, he entered the University of Harkov, then in Russia. During the Serbo-Bulgarian War 1885 he suspended his education and took part...
, as of the 19th century the village of Doljan was populated by 1170 Bulgarian Muslims
Bulgarian Muslims
The Bulgarian Muslims or Muslim Bulgarians are Bulgarians of the Islamic faith. They are generally thought to be the descendents of Slavs who converted to Islam during Ottoman rule...
and 352 Bulgarians
Bulgarians
The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:...
-Christians.
Culture
Dolen is famous with its 350 old houses – an example of 19th century RhodopeanRhodope Mountains
The Rhodopes are a mountain range in Southeastern Europe, with over 83% of its area in southern Bulgaria and the remainder in Greece. Its highest peak, Golyam Perelik , is the seventh highest Bulgarian mountain...
architecture. The houses are typically built with overhanging top stories and the roofs are made out of stone plates. Some ceilings are decorated with wood carvings.
During archeological excavations, near Dolen were found an ancient village, a late ancient village, a late ancient necropolis, a late ancient fortress, a late medieval church, and the remains of a smeltery.
In 1977 the village is declared a historical cultural reserve.
One of the main attractions is the St. Nicholas Church, built in 1834 in a monastery school complex . The sacred images comprising the iconostasis of the church were painted by George Filipov, a painter from the region of Debar, who later moved and lived in Gabrovo
Gabrovo
Gabrovo is a city in central northern Bulgaria, the administrative centre of Gabrovo Province. It is situated at the foot of the central Balkan Mountains, in the valley of the Yantra River, and is known as an international capital of humour and satire , as well as noted for its Bulgarian National...
. Other attractions include the street junction, known as "Kavalite" ("Кавалите"), the "Nikolovski Fountain" (“Николовската чешма”) аnd the main street.
The narrow cobblestone streets are typical for the village.
The church bells were founded 7 times until the perfect sound was achieved. The sound of the bells can be heard in a radius of 8 kilometers.