INTERREG III A DIGITAL RECORDING OF CULTURAL HERITAGE XANTHI, 4 MAY, 2007
Jan 01, 2016
Cultural and Historical Inheritance of The Rhodope Region
The Rhodope Mountains are located within the territory of two countries –
Bulgaria and Greece, and have centuries-old history.
Various valuable cultural and historical inheritance of Thracians, ancient Greeks and ancient Bulgarians have
been preserved within the sacred mountains.
Government institutions and non-government organizations take care of the region. They
support exploration and preserve the historical and cultural treasures of the Rhodope region.
The material and the spiritual variety of the Rhodope region is the remarkable characteristic of its cultural
and historical inheritance.
Cultural and Historical Inheritance of The Rhodope Region
Archaeology has contributed to the enrichment of the knowledge about ancient history of Thracians by the excavation of the
sanctuary of Perperikon, which
was a main Christian centre
during the middle centuries.
Cultural and Historical Inheritance of The Rhodope Region
The sanctuary of Perperikon along with Thracians settlements
around Gela give a rich vision about the life and beliefs of the
ancient Thracians tribes.
Cultural and Historical Inheritance of The Rhodope Region
The rich culture of Visantian and Bulgarian medieval have developed the inherited cultural achievements of the ancient
Thracians tribes. There are many relics and remains of the ancient fortresses and Orthodox churches as Tsepine, Krichim, the Asen’s
stronghold, Podvis, Perperec, Kardjalie, Smolian, Bachkovo.
Cultural and Historical Inheritance of The Rhodope Region
The Asen’s stronghold – IX – XIII century Bachkovo monastery
Tsepine stronghold – XII – XIII century
Bachkovo monastery IX century
Archaeologists are persistent in looking for the ancient sanctuary of Dionisious, which according to ancient
descriptions was located in Rhodope Mountains.
Cultural and Historical Inheritance of The Rhodope Region
Town hall – XVI centuryBachkovo monastery IX century
The numerous orthodox churches have a significant place among the monuments of the culture of the region.
Cultural and Historical Inheritance of The Rhodope Region
Church st. George XVII century
Church st. Joan
Church st. Marry the Virgin – XVIII century
Arap’s monastery – XIX century
Church st. Marry the Virgin – XVII century
There are a few monasteries next to Smolian, Velingrad, Asenovgrad and Kardjalie, where valuable icons and relics
have been preserved.
Cultural and Historical Inheritance of The Rhodope Region
Bachkovo monastery IX century
There are many preserved old Bulgarian style houses built with natural exterior and interior design, which were
common during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Cultural and Historical Inheritance of The Rhodope Region
Many various relics related to the customs of the ancient Bulgarians are preserved in the museums such as old style
clothes, carpets, wooden and metal objects and etc.
Cultural and Historical Inheritance of The Rhodope Region
There are many scrolls and old documents which are kept in the museums. The archaeologists
continue to discover new scrolls from the rich past of the Rhodope mountains. The ancient documents are not written only in Bulgarian but also in Turkish and
Greek languages. These documents reveal significant parts of the domestic, cultural, religious
and political aspects of the life of the ancient people inhabiting the Rhodope Mountains. Such kind of
ancient documents are church chronicles, annuals, letters, and revival newspapers.
Cultural and Historical Inheritance of The Rhodope Region
The spiritual culture of the Rhodope region is various and it
is still alive among the people living there today. The Rhodope
folklore is multifarious and contains many songs, lyrics,
melodies, traditions and usages. The old traditions and holidays
have been inherited from hundreds and hundreds years
ago and the people still celebrate them. Such kind of holidays are St George’s day, Easter, Ilin’s day, holidays of
songs and music.
Cultural and Historical Inheritance of The Rhodope Region
The significant feature of the cultural and historical inheritance of the Rhodope region is that it has
gathered together the features of different cultures – Thracians, Greeks, Bulgarians, and Visantians. In
spite of the merging of different cultures, the Rhodope culture has its own specific image. As it was in the
past, the cultural inheritance of the Rhodope region is a kind of bridge unifying and binding together people
from different nations as Bulgarians, Greeks, and Turkish.
Cultural and Historical Inheritance of The Rhodope Region