Видин Сукарев

This study presents the background of cultural tourism in Bulgaria. There are a lot of definitions of tourism, but everywhere in the leading places is mentioned the cultural heritage. Cultural tourism became a global autonomy economy branch in the 1980s. In Bulgaria, in the middle of the 1950s, a growth of restoration, preservation, and presentation work began. The number of museums increased from 70 in 1949 to 233 in 1999. The peak of museum visitors was between 1976 and 1987, but statistical data are not reliable. The transition to a democratic society and market economy was the real start of cultural tourism in Bulgaria, established on the material base, institutions, and infrastructure constructed during the studied period. The applied data shows that the percent of museum non-budget incomes increased, but the system still needs reforms and investments.

This study is dedicated to a relatively understudied topic-the life of Major Raycho Nikolov. He was a Bulgarian hero in three wars, but it turns out that he is unknown and forgotten nowadays. Since the last quarter of the 19th century, three possible years of his birth have been in use-1839, 1840, and 1841. Analyses based on old and new sources have led to the conclusion that Nikolov was not sure about his birth year, and that he was most probably born in the early spring of 1840 or 1841.

Въз основа на личен опит от работата като уредник в Регионален исторически музей – Пловдив и познаване на местните институции, свързани с културното наследство и туризма, е направен анализ
на моментното положение. Основният акцент пада върху затрудненията, породени от пандемията и други проблеми, влияещи на организацията и развитието на туристическите дейности.

In 2014 Plovdiv was elected for European capital of culture in 2019. This big international recognition of the contemporary city would be impossible without the contributions from the time of the Communist regime 1944-1989 when were created the bigger part of the modern urban infrastructure, the cultural institutions and many traditions in the cultural and intellectual life of the society. The present paper is focused mainly upon the preserve of the cultural and the historical heritage in conjunction with the tourist development. This short review presents both the achievements and the substantial problems with actual significance nowadays.

This study is based on documents from Plovdiv State archive, newspapers, scientific researches, popular publications, handbooks, memories. The results are presented in synthesized variant. Until the second half of 30s the tourism in Plovdiv was accepted as outdoor excursions, especially in the mountains. The local tourist associations were branches of Bulgarian tourist association and Youth tourist union. The biggest achievement of Plovdiv tourists until the end of Second world war was the construction of hut "Zdravets". The new status of Plovdiv Fair as international since 1937 initiated development of "economic tourism". A Tourist committee was created by Plovdiv municipality and took measures for city advertisement and preservation of the cultural heritage. Unfortunately, the war ended these promising activities. Several years of economy transformations and postwar crises followed the coup d'état on 9 September 1944. The development of International fair and the preservation of cultural heritage, the main tourist resources, restarted at the end of 40s and especially in 50s. Other important area of investments was the near territory of Rhodopes. Different trade deficits and stock delivery problems accompanied the tourism during the communist regime. The termination of private entrepreneurship put a continuous trend of reduce or slow increase of tourist establishments. At the end of 1989, the beds in hotels were approximately 3000 but the Fair needed not less than 15000. The rest were supplemented by private accommodationsa paradox for socialist state and economy. Despite such disadvantages, Plovdiv was awarded with European gold medal for preservation of cultural heritage in 1979 and hosted three World EXPOs (1981, 1985, 1991). During the decade of democratic changes, last of the 20 th century and this research, Plovdiv confirmed its importance as a center of cultural and event tourism. The International fair multiplied its exhibitions, the State hotels were privatized, the number of private tourist venues grew rapidly. Plovdiv municipality was the main contributing authority throughout the whole period.

Here are observed the ruins on the Bulgarian lands from the Ottoman army and the Ottoman military allies as a factor for negative change in the Bulgarian national psyche during the XV-XVII century. Such calamities should not be underestimated but but the review of the sources leads to conclusion that Bulgarian mentality had visible stability and continuity with the time before Ottoman conquest.

In this paper is observed the history and some disputable issues of the most common Bulgarian family suffix. Probably as a part of Bulgarian anthroponimy sistem it was registered in 14th century, at first in South western Bulgarian lands, and during the following ages it was spread gradually around the entire ethnic territory.

In this paper are presented the main and little-known street and other urban items areas’ name changes in Plovdiv during the XX century. Attention is also paid to the background from the late Ottoman period. The renaming actions implemented by the central or local authorities usually lead to partial or complete loss of historical memory, independently regardless of the policy, purpose and ideology. Most seriously were affected the names from the time of the Ottoman rule but there were many more cases of throughout the Bulgarian national history.
Keywords: Urban space areas; Street names; Plovdiv; local memory

In this work are put the problems of the academy career in Bulgarian Regional museums, as well the researching status of this cultural institutions declared by the law. The results of poll, sent to all museums, are presented and commented, combined with data of other reliable sources. At the and are exposed common assessment some recommendations.

The article concerns the recently published study by Plamen Mitev
and Grigor Boykov about the year of birth of the Bulgarian national hero Vasil
Levski. The authors firmly established 1840 instead of hitherto accepted 1837. The
new evidences about the birth year of Levski require also a revision of the birth day.
The article proposes that the Apostle of Freedom was born on 9/21 of July 1840.
Keywords: Vasil Levski; Day of birth; Bulgarian pre-wedding rites

The study is an overview and analysis of the opinions of Bulgarian historians about the Bulgarian mentality during the first three centuries of the Ottoman rule. The topic is very debatable and only four authors stand out with contributions, but these are some of the most famous representatives of our national historiography in the twentieth century-Peter Mutafchiev, Hristo Gandev, Dimitar Angelov, Nikolay Genchev. Their research and opinions are presented along with other issues related to the topic of the study. The studies of the so-called "People's Psychology" for the period are untenable. The main approach in such research should be focused on cultural processes.

Настоящата работа е подготвена по повод приближаващата 70-годишнина на Регионален исторически музей – Пловдив. Основният замисъл е да се акцентира върху научната дейност – относително по-малко позната както на широката общественост, така и на изследователската общност. Крайният резултат е значителен брой заглавия и немалко достижения в качествено отношение. Проследя-ването на тематичните въпроси открива приемственост в работата на всички поколения музейни проучватели. Направеният анализ е повърхностен и засяга основно количествените показатели, но събраният в публикацията библиографски материал предлага много възможности за по-задълбочен поглед на заинтересуваните от историята на музейната институция и е важен ресурс за проучване на миналото на Пловдив и региона.

In this paper are presented some ottoman documents of famous Bulgarian Revival Geshovs family perserved in Plovdiv Regional History museum. Three documents are from their bussiness office in Istanbul, one is from Plovdv or Plovdiv region. The documents are translated in Bulgarian and commented. The Edition is Yearbook of Plovdiv Regional History museum, 9, 2014

In 1978 The Municipality of Plovdiv was extended and become super economic and demographic unit including 50 villages and four towns. Since then to the next administrative change by the central authorities  in 1987 were fulfilled great constructive project.  Plovdiv owes a considerable part of its contemporary look to these actions connected with the Mayors Diran Parikyan and  Hristo Mishev.

Tumrash, a village of Bulgarian spoken Muslims in the Rhodopes, was prosperous until the devastation in 1878 during the Russian–Turkish war. Restored in short time, Tumrash become centre of de facto autonomous mountain region, out of the East Rumelian administration. After the Unification in 1885, the settlement was turned again to Ottoman Empire and situated close to the new frontier increased its military and strategical importance. Unfortunately, during the Balkan War in 1912, Tumrash was demolished again. Today this place, only 40 km away from Plovdiv, is covered with thick forest and the ruins are hardly visible. In 2013 Plovdiv Regional History Museum held two research expeditions to Tumrash. 10 Muslim tombstones from 18th and 19th century were discovered, transported to the Museum and thus saved from vandals and treasure hunters. The Ottoman epitaph are translated and commented further. The tombstones are important part of the local historical heritage at risk.

A great number of things are preserved in the rich funds of the museum-documents and photos, which are a real temptation for the researching scholar. The present paper pays close attention to trophies taken by the Rhodopean detachment in the Central and Western Rhodopes and Aegean Thrace. There are 11 trophies listed that are divided into two groups. The accent falls mainly on the trophies captured by the Rhodopean detachment and their examination showed little or no contradiction. The second group includes exhibits from other war fronts and those of unknown origin. Specific details and new data about most of the objects in both groups discovered during the research are also given. Р егионалният исторически музей (РИМ)-Пловдив, има вече над 60-годишна история. Фондохранилищата с извънредно богато тематично разнообразие от документи, вещи и снимки са истинска съкровищница за историка изследовател. Предмет на настоящото кратко изложение са експонатите трофеи от Първата балканска война, като воде-що внимание е обърнато на придобитите в района на действие на Родоп-ския отряд. Ще бъдат обобщени и анализирани наличните данни за екс-понатите с по-неясно минало с цел то да се изясни, доколкото е възможно. Донесените от далечни земи трофейни предмети стават част от лич-ната и семейна история; предават се с вещина от поколение на поколение. В тях мащабните и съдбоносни исторически събития се разкриват през по-гледа на обикновените хора. Закодираната в трофеите информация за ми-налото може да бъде интерпретирана както като допълнение към общата историческа картина, така и като носител на много лични преживявания и

The Plovdiv Municipality and the Construction of the Urban and Tourist
Infrastructure. Research on institutional, economy and everyday life history of
Plovdiv.
By Vidin Sukarev
The research is dedicated to problems from the newest Bulgarian regional and
institutional history, as well the tourism and everyday history. In 2014 Plovdiv was
elected for European capital of culture during 2019. This important international
recognition of the contemporary city would be impossible without the contributions
from the time of the Communist regime 1944 – 1989. Throughout this period the
bigger part of the modern urban infrastructure, the cultural institutions and many
traditions in the cultural and intellectual life of the society were created. The
Municipality of Plovdiv, called in the most of the time according Soviet model
Gradski naroden savet (City people council), was main organizer, executor, controller
and provider to all of these actions. As a part of the centralized state authority the
Municipalities in that time were involved in the Government enterprises on their own
territories. Thanks to the nationalization of the industry, bank capitals and other
expropriation activities, between 1946 and 1953, the public sector concentrated huge
financial resources intended for building of the future socialist society.
The new political system demonstrated many disadvantages but during the first
two decades were achieved a lot of favourable facilities enlarging the access to
cultural life, free and rest time. The general urban and tourist infrastructure was
improved. Plovdiv became University centre, many new cultural institutions were
opened – museums, libraries, gallery, puppet theatre etc. Some new residential
neighbourhoods were also constructed. The most important anthropogenic tourist
resources were two. The first one is the showcase of the Bulgarian Economy – the
International Ploviv Fair. After its post-war resumption on new Municipal territory,
since 1947 the Fair got fast development. Each year, during the two weeks of its
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duration, it was visited by hundreds of thousands of guests from Plovdiv, Bulgaria
and abroad. The second essential contribution derived from the successful cultural
heritage policy. In 1956 the Old Plovdiv was proclaimed as museum neighbourhood.
Consequently, large scale restoration works were started, proceeding during the allresearched period. Several new big and modern hotels were erected. On the other
hand, in the area of service were encountering a lot of problems. The public authority
did not succeed to maintain in satisfactory level the supplying of mass consumption
goods in shops, restaurants and other eating and drinking venues. The number of
hotels and beds was always insufficient. The problems were most serious in these
branches connected naturally with the private initiative.
Different national and local events and processes mark the end of the First part
in the summer of 1971 and the commence of the Second part continuing to the
autumn of 1990. By that time was registered considerable increase of material
possibilities of the population, both national and regional. Many evidences showed
that at the early 70s the Communist Bulgarian consumer society was born. During the
next two decades, the difference between financial incomes and savings, on the one
hand, and the bad and poor trade supply with frequent deficits, on the other, was
deepening and became important explanation for the Regime collapse. At the
beginning of the 70s to the middle of the next decade the national and regional
economy still had reserves and relatively stability because was able to rely on Soviet
assistance. That time is considered in the literature as “The long golden decade” or
“The Bulgarian decade”. Here are added statistical and documental data for Plovdiv
as well formulation “The golden time” taken by contemporaries. Unlike the First part,
in the Second were outlined two significant persons, the presidents of the Executive
committee of the Plovdiv City People council – Diran Parikyan (1971 – 1979) and
Hristo Mishev (1979 – 1986). The governance of the first one achieved serious urban
development. The building of two big hotels was commenced, one of them with
French capitals, the number of venues and new sitting were discovered. The
restoration works got larger range and spread out of the Old Town. At that time were
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found four big monuments from the Thrace-Romanian antiquity – the Stadium, the
Theatre, the East gate and the Aqueduct. The oval part of the first (sphendone) was
exposed in 1977 and for that purpose the central boulevard was reconstructed to
pedestrian zone. As a result of continuous policy for restoration and adaptation of the
cultural heritage, at 2 of March 1979, Municipality of Plovdiv was honoured with
European golden medal by the foundation of Alfred Toepfer Stiftung F.V.S. The
prize was accepted in Plovdiv three months later.
The Parikyan administration planned and began the construction of several brandnew residential neighborhoods. Three big bridges over the Maritza River and large
auto transport overpass on the road to Karlovo were built; on the exit to Asenovgrag
and to Komatevo neighbourhood were commenced two similar appliances.
Christo Mishev substituted Parikyan because of central administrative change which
followed еvery few years during the whole Communist regime. The new city authority continued the fast infrastructural development with even bigger scope. The earlier
decision to be destroyed the old neighbourhood Kapana was cancelled, instead were
taken measures for its restoration. Thanks to that, nowadays Kapana is the urban core
of the nightlife and the arts.
Great attention was paid of important historical anniversaries. In 1981, during the
commemoration of 1300 years Bulgarian state, Plovdiv hosted World Expo for hunting and fishing. In October was opened a new restored Roman theatre. Four years
later, the city was centre of the national celebrations dedicated to one century from
the Unification of Bulgaria. In less than two years the urban environment was transformed with great number of new communications, memorial and Museum.
The main direction was solving the transport and housing problems. The contemporary street city net with main transport arteries is owed to the great extent to these activities. In short to believe terms the Mishev’s administration during the time of lack
of financing and materials gave a new shape and image of the municipal territory.
The housing problem was almost solved. Large boulevards connected all city neighbourhoods. The fast construction works, under hard pressure from the public opinion
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and the higher-level Communist Party officers, lead to some mistaken decisions and
actions, especially the loose of the cultural heritage, strange and in spite of many other activities for it preserving.
The inherited tourist infrastructure objects were completed and open. The more and
more tangible currency and economy crisis in the state did not allow to be started
others with some exclusions but they stayed unfinished in most cases. In 1986 the
successful Plovdiv governor did not entrust with next mandate as a part of the goalless reforms directed by the sinking central authority. Till the end of the researched
period Plovdiv had two other predsedatels. Each one continued as far as possible the
city development in the course of the desperate Communist Party attempts to keep the
disintegrating economy with imitations of the Soviet Perestroyka. During the first
year of the democratic changes, 1990, when the whole people was on the streets and
almost no one social and productional system functionated, the Municipality preserved relative budget stability and even with reduced finances succeeded to organise
two big international Junior World Championships in Canoe and Athletics. The replacement of the last Plovdiv Communist local administration with temporary Council from the opposition in October put a new stage in the city history.

The Plovdiv Municipality and the Construction of the Urban and Tourist Infrastructure
First Part. The Socialist building since 9th September to June 1971

The research is dedicated to the problems from the time of the newest Bulgarian regional and institutional history, as well the tourism and everyday history. In 2014 Plovdiv was elected for European capital of culture in 2019. This big international recognition of the contemporary city would be impossible without the contributions from the time of the Communist regime 1944–1989 when was created the bigger part of the modern urban infrastructure the cultural institutions and many traditions in the cultural and intellectual life of the society. The Municipality of Plovdiv, called in the most of the time according Soviet model Gradski naroden savet (City people counsel), was main organizer, executor, controller and provider of all these actions. As a part of the centralized public authority the Municipalities in that time were involved in the Government enterprises on their territory. Thanks to the nationalization of the industry, bank capitals and other expropriation activities, between 1946 and 1953, the public sector concentrated huge financial resources intended for building of the future socialist society.
The new political system demonstrated many disadvantages but at the same time were achieved a lot of favourable facilities enlarging of the cultural life access, free time and rest as well improvement of the general urban and the tourist infrastructure. During that time Plovdiv became University center, many new cultural institutions were opened – museums, libraries, gallery, puppet theatre etc. Some new residential neighbourhoods were also constructed. The most important anthropogenic tourist resources were two. The first one is the showcase of the Bulgarian Economy – the International Ploviv Fair. After its postwar resumption on new Municipal territory, since 1947 the Fair got fast development. Each year, during the two weeks of its duration, it was visited by hundreds of thousands guests from Plovdiv, Bulgaria and abroad. The second essential contribution derived from the successful cultural heritage policy. In 1956 the Old Plovdiv was proclaimed as museum neighborhood. Consequently, large scale restoration works were started, proceeding during the all researched period. Several new big and modern hotels were erected. On the other hand, in the area of service were encountering a lot of problems. The public authority did not succeed to maintain in satisfactory level the supplying of mass consumption goods in the shops, restaurants and other eating and drinking venues. The number of hotels and beds was always insufficient. The problems were most serious in these branches connected naturally with the private initiative. Different national and local events and processes marked the end of this period in the spring of 1971. The second one finished about the autumn of 1990 and will be considered in the next part.