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Town of Batak - one of the most visited places in Bulgaria

See it on the map Bulgarian properties in Pazardzhik Region - Batak

Location


Town of Batak is situated in the Western Rhodopi Mountains on 667 sq.km. and comprises 15% of the Pazardjik region. Batak is located 1036 m above sea level and straddles the two banks of the Stara Reka (Old River). Batak is covered with many hills, above which rise the peaks of the Batak Mountains. The territory of Batak is bordered on the West by the Chepin River, to the South by the Dospat River and Reservoir, to the East by the Vucha River, and to the North by the Thracian Plains.

History


Batak’s lands are sprinkled with many monuments to the area’s culture throughout the ages. The oldest of these treasures was discovered at the archeological dig Kremenete, near the present day reservoir Golyam Beglik, by the historian Yosef Shopov, in 1958. Also in this area, in a cave in the locality of “Krivov Chark,” workers excavating building stones uncovered the remains of large animals. Researchers at the institute of paleontology, a branch of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, confirmed the remains as the bones of a rhinoceros. This archeological site contains fossils from the tertiary epoch, a period in which broad-leaved trees and mammals began to appear, and the Rhodopi region lacked snow and cold winters.
An old Roman road runs through the area, from Pazardjik, to Peshtera, to Batak, passing through an area once known as Kasukskoto Kale or Batashko Gradishte, located to the northeast of present-day Batak. Along this road also stood the Biglata castle. To the East of Batak stood the Novamahalska castle, and in the vicinity of the peak Batashki Snezhnik, stood Kamenishko castle. In the Beglika area stood two interesting castles, Monastira, in the Gerdjikov meadow, and the Toshboazko castle, just South of the dam wall of the present day reservoir Golyam Beglik.
Within the municipality is the famous Kemerov Bridge, which amazes many tourists with its beautiful design. Situated in a beautiful setting spanning the Vuchna river, the Kemerov Bridge is a unique monument of culture in the Rhodopis, and attracts many visitors and historians.
History describes Batak as the member of the Bulgarian community that paid the heaviest price to deliver the nation to freedom and independence from the Ottoman Empire. Batak began as a small village, first recorded in writings from the 16th century, nestled deeply in the bosom of the Rhodopi Mountains along the banks of the Old River. Throughout the 17th century, Batak was settled by people from the neighbouring villages, mainly from the Chepin area. Far from the eyes of their Ottoman enslavers, throughout the period of occupation, the people of Batak kept alive a spirit of independence and freedom. The freedom-loving and hard working people mastered the trades of logging, raising cattle, and woodworking. By the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries, Batak was already a prosperous community. A church was built (1813), and a primary school (1835), and the more prosperous and more inquisitive students from Batak travelled to Plovdiv, Pazardjik, and abroad to study.
The name of Batak will always be associated with the heroism of Bulgaria’s April Uprising. In the winter of 1876, feverish preparations began for the uprising. The men prepared their weapons, and when bullets could not be found, they used the pits of cherries. On April 21st, the commission learned of the premature outbreak of the revolution and immediately, in the “St. Nedelya” church, declared the uprising in Batak. The approximate number of fighters taking part in the uprising was 1,000. In the first days of the uprising, the enemy was surprised and frightened by the determination of Batak’s fighters. The first clash took place on April 30th. With indescribable heroism, the fighters of Batak fought back the advances of the enemy army. One after the other, four colour-bearers of the Turkish army were killed. In some places, they fired with cherry pits. But when the army of Ahmed Aga Barutanliyata arrived with 8000 soldiers, the people of Batak were confronted on all sides and forced to fall back to the village, where they continued their battle. Every house, yard, church and school was transformed into a scene of life and death struggle. The enemy showed unheard of cruelty and ruthlessness. In an unparalleled atrocity, about 5,000 were killed and the village was burned to ashes. Making no distinction for sex or age, the marauding army slaughtered their victims in the worst ways. “The sight we saw there,” writes the American journalist January MacGahan, “was more than we could cope with, everywhere death and horror.” Word of the massacre reached the Western press, and eventually provided the impetus for the Russian – Turkish war.
When you visit Batak's St. Nedelya church, the museum, and all the other historical places, you are unable to shield yourself from the spirit of the past, the spirit of the thousands of heroes that sacrificed themselves for the freedom of Bulgaria.

Tourism

 
Visitors to the Rhodopi Mountains are at once and forever astonished by the natural beauty of the area, the bright greens of centuries old fir trees, the mythic bravery of its heroes, the ringing melodies of its folk songs, the fresh air and crystal clear water of the streams.
In the Western Rhodopi, you will be captivated by not only the beautiful nature, but also the strong patriotic spirit, and the interesting traditions and customs.
For those who wish to get away from the noise and tension of the big city, Batak offers countless opportunities for relaxing in the enchanting nature of the Rhodopi.
Batak is heaven for fishermen, containing one of the biggest concentration of reservoirs in the country, including reservoirs Batak, Golyam Beglik, Shiroka Polyana, and Beglika.
The mountains within the territory of Batak make up a large part of the Western Rhodopi. Located between the Chepin, Devin, and Vucha rivers, they take up the central place in a large mountain range. The Batak Mountains take the form of a rainbow, protruding to the South-east. Parts of the range rises 1,800 to 2,000 meters, including the peaks of Golyama Sutka, Batashki Snezhnik, and Srebren.

Culture


The cultural centre was established on July 7th, 1897. The project was chosen and designed at the insistence of President Nikola Popov. Taking part in the initiative were interested teachers, artisans and other enlightened citizens of Batak. In order to commemorate the April Uprising of 1876, and the citizens of Batak that perished on May 4th of that year, the cultural centre is named “4th of May.”
In 1979, the cultural centre took up residence in a new building. The old building was transformed into the town’s movie theatre and bookstore. The new building contains halls for rehearsals, study groups, and lectures. The equipment is modern and well maintained. The large concert hall provides opportunities for theatrical productions, musical performances and other presentations. The cultural centre features a library with a large collection of books for lend, a reading room, a children’s collection and listening stations.

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