Isperih
Encyclopedia
Isperih is a town in northeastern Bulgaria
, part of Razgrad Province
, situated in the central part of the Ludogorie
region. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Isperih Municipality
. As of December 2009, the town has a population of 9,017 inhabitants.
Isperih was called Kemallar during the Ottoman rule of Bulgaria and was later renamed in honour of Bulgarian khan Asparuh, whose name in Slavic
was Isperih.
The town has a mixed population of Bulgarians
and Turks
, with an Orthodox church and a mosque being present. Isperih emerged in 1545 at the place of a medieval settlement, with the earliest known traces of human presence in the area dating from the Bronze Age
. The village was first mentioned as Kemallar in an Ottoman
tax register from 1573 and was renamed Isperih in 1934, becoming a town on 31 January 1960.
The Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari
, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
, is located nearby. Another landmark in the area is the 17th-century Bektashi
Demir Baba Tekke, uniting Bektashi, Sunni, Christian
and pagan traditions. The oldest active windmill
in the country can also be found in Isperih municipality; it was built in the early 19th century.http://www.travelbg.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=90&Itemid=214&lang=bghttp://journey.bg/bulgaria/bulgaria.php?guide=2139
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 Razgrad Province
Razgrad Province
Razgrad Province , former name Razgrad okrug) is a province in Northeastern Bulgaria, geographically part of the Ludogorie region. It is named after its administrative and industrial centre - the town of Razgrad...
, situated in the central part of the Ludogorie
Ludogorie
The Ludogorie or Deliorman is a region in northeastern Bulgaria stretching over the plateau of the same name. Major cities in the region are Razgrad, Novi Pazar, Pliska and Isperih...
region. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Isperih Municipality
Isperih Municipality
Isperih Municipality is a municipality in Razgrad Province, Northeastern Bulgaria, located in the Ludogorie geographical region part of the Danubian Plain...
. As of December 2009, the town has a population of 9,017 inhabitants.
Isperih was called Kemallar during the Ottoman rule of Bulgaria and was later renamed in honour of Bulgarian khan Asparuh, whose name in Slavic
Slavic languages
The Slavic languages , a group of closely related languages of the Slavic peoples and a subgroup of Indo-European languages, have speakers in most of Eastern Europe, in much of the Balkans, in parts of Central Europe, and in the northern part of Asia.-Branches:Scholars traditionally divide Slavic...
was Isperih.
The town has a mixed population of 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:...
and Turks
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
, with an Orthodox church and a mosque being present. Isperih emerged in 1545 at the place of a medieval settlement, with the earliest known traces of human presence in the area dating from the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
. The village was first mentioned as Kemallar in an Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
tax register from 1573 and was renamed Isperih in 1934, becoming a town on 31 January 1960.
The Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari
Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari
The Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari is situated 2.5 km southwest of the village of Sveshtari, Razgrad Province, which is located 42 km northeast of Razgrad, in the northeast of Bulgaria....
, a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
, is located nearby. Another landmark in the area is the 17th-century Bektashi
Bektashi
Bektashi Order or Bektashism is an Islamic Sufi order founded in the 13th century by the Persian saint Haji Bektash Veli. In addition to the spiritual teachings of Haji Bektash Veli the order was significantly influenced during its formative period by both the Hurufis as well as the...
Demir Baba Tekke, uniting Bektashi, Sunni, Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and pagan traditions. The oldest active windmill
Windmill
A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
in the country can also be found in Isperih municipality; it was built in the early 19th century.http://www.travelbg.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=90&Itemid=214&lang=bghttp://journey.bg/bulgaria/bulgaria.php?guide=2139