|
Central Southern Bulgaria >> Batak
It is situated 36 km south of Pazardzhik, 16 km south of Peshtera, 26 km south-east of Velingrad, 51 km north of Dospat, as well as at the distance of 156 km south-east of the capital Sofia. The name of this little town is sacred for every Bulgarian. It is a symbol of martyrdom and self-sacrifice in the name of freedom!
History. In spite of the ruins of ancient fortresses and towns, it cannot be stated with certainty when today's Batak originated. Its name was mentioned for the first time in 1592 on the stone embedded in the drinking fountain (cheshma) at the Krichim Monastery. The settlement grew up substantially after the Bulgarians from the region of Chepin River and its mountain valley migrated escaping from the forceful conversion to Islam. During the pogroms by the kurdzhalii (Turkish brigands) it was repeatedly ruined and rebuilt again, in 1819 Priest Konstantin wrote that it was "a little timber village with 100 houses". According to the traveller A. Vikenel, in 1847, the village numbered 1000 houses and in 1865, Zakhary Stoyanov indicated that it had "400 houses, a lot of inns, a multitude of cuttings and 1500 inhabitants". It can be stated with certainty that as of the end of the Ottoman Rule Batak was already a big and wealthy settlement with over 9000 inhabitants. In 1813, the citizens of Batak built St. Nedelya Church, which was to enter the tragic history of Batak and Bulgaria 63 years later. The school was opened in 1835 and Nayden Ivanovich was the first teacher in it. The name of the town is related most of all to the April Uprising. On 21 April 1876, its inhabitants announced the beginning of the uprising. Like everywhere else the initial enthusiasm and exultation were followed by an utter defeat but the defeat in Batak was more than terrible and reckless! Five thousand people died, the doom of the 2 thousand men, women, and children who found their death in the small St. Nedelya Church, which turned out to be their last stronghold, hope and tomb, too, being exceptionally dramatic and tragic. The stories of unparalleled heroism, self-sacrifice and inexorability told by the few people who survived this sanguinary Bacchanalia added up to dozens. The brightest intellects of humankind raised a voice of protest and indignation in answer to this outrageous occurrence - Victor Hugo, William Gladstone, Makgahan, Dostoevski, Lev Tolstoy. Zakhary Stoyanov wrote: "Kneel, kind readers, hats off! Batak with its ruins is in front of us. I summon everyone who is thoroughly Bulgarian, everyone who is honourable and homeland loving, to be with us here at this Bulgarian sanctuary, at this sacrificial altar to our Freedom, where, the blood of thousands of martyrs, saints, of about a hundred little children, of countless innocent lasses and lads was shed. Batak, glorious and unfortunate Batak! Should a Bulgarian heart be ever found not to palpitate at the sole pronunciation of your own name? I am standing in awe before your magnificence; History shall pay reverence to you, too." The people's poet Ivan Vazov added: "The Cheops Pyramid would be insufficient as a memorial to Batak." Those who remained alive in Batak welcomed the Russian Army of Liberation on 20th January 1878.
Landmarks. In the first place, this is the already mentioned little stone church of St. Nedelya, turned into a museum and charnel house. Even nowadays, the bones of the heroes, chopping-log, the traces of yataghans and bullets remind of those terrible and grandiose days. It is situated in the centre of the little town. The town Museum of History is located in a new building and houses over 500 exhibits of the history of Batak. The several old Batak. houses restored and proclaimed as cultural monuments are of interest, too.
Accommodation. Bulgaria Hotel (in the centre of the town); Kolarov's House Tourist Hostel (at the distance of 300 meters from the centre of the town, 2, Karlushka Street); private lodgings.
Tourist information: at the hotel, in the tourist hostel, at Batyovtsi Tourist Association (1, Osvobozhdenie Square, tel.: 03553 2285) or in the town hall.
Transport. The town is connected with the remaining part of the country solely through bus transport. There are regular bus lines to Sofia, Plovdiv, Peshtera, Pazardzhik, Velingrad, Dospat and other smaller settlements within the region. Town bus station - tel.: 03553 2328.
Surrounding areas. Batak Dam Lake, which was turned into a recreation and sports zone, spreads out at the distance of 3 km north-west of the town. The dam-lake offers superb opportunities for camping sites, water tourism, fishing, water sports, hiking, and recreation. The Tsigov Chark Resort offering greater opportunities for accommodation and entertainment than the town itself is situated on the south-west bank of the dam at the distance of about 8 km west of Batak. The complex of the Orbita Bureau of Youth Tourism is situated here with two hotels (2- and 3-star, tel.: 03542 3385, 3386, fax 03542 3200). The Orpheus Hotel (tel.: 03542 2094, 2255, fax 03542 2255). The regularly running buses to and from Rakitovo and Velingrad stop there. The area of the four dams is another magnificent site for recreation, sports and tourism: Golyam Beglik Dam (the biggest), Shiroka Polyana Dam (Wide Meadow) (the most beautiful), Beglika Dam (the smallest) and Toshkov Chark Dam. They are located along the road Batak -Dospat (51 km), in the middle of the distance, amongst the ravishing Rhodope countryside. There are a lot of established recreation bases, country houses, forest management, fisheries, and a camping site. The conditions for hiking and water tourism, fishing, herbs and forest fruit (raspberries and strawberries) harvesting or just recreation among the magical scenery here are more than wonderful. A whole resort originated here, which is scattered upon quite a large area amongst the dam lakes. One can find accommodation in the holiday homes or in the camping site with their own bivouac facilities. There is a road to all dam lakes. All regularly running buses between Batak and Dospat stop here. Hiking tours along marked routes may be started from here in the direction to: Teheran Chalet (4 hours), the village of Surnitsa (3.30 hours), Mt. Malka Syutkya (about 3 hours), Mt. Golyama Syutkya (about 5 hours), etc. Batak itself is a good starting point for various hiking tours into the Western Rhodopes (Batak Mountain). The route to the former Teheran Chalet (see the Rhodope section), passing by the first underground hydroelectric power station in our country and on the Balkan Peninsula (at the distance of 3 km south of the town) is the most popular one.
 | Detailed information about the Bulgarian towns and cities |
Central Southern Bulgaria
Batak, Bratsigovo, Peroushtitsa, Pazardzhik, Koprivshtitsa, Sopot, Karlovo, Kalofer, Hissarya - spa resort, Plovdiv, Asenovgrad, Chepelare, Smolyan, Devin, Pavel Banya, Kazanluk, Stara Zagora, Chirpan, Dimitrovgrad, Haskovo, Kurdzhali | Southeastern Bulgaria
Svilengrad, Elhovo, Yambol, Sliven, Kotel, Karnobat, Aitos, Malko Turnovo | Northwestern Bulgaria
Berkovitza, Chiprovtzi, Belogradchik, Vidin, Kozlodui, Oriahovo, Montana, Vratsa, Mezdra, Botevgrad, Etropole, Yablanitza, Cherven bryag, Loukovit, Lom | Central Northern Bulgaria
Teteven, Troyan, Apriltzi, Lovech, Pleven, Nikopol, Svishtov, Pavlikeni, Sevlievo, Gabrovo, Tryavna, Dryanovo, Elena, Veliko Turnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Byala, Rousse | Southwestern Bulgaria
Petrich, Sandanski, Gotse Delchev, Bansko ski resort, Razlog, Blagoevgrad, Doupnitsa, Samokov, Kyustendil, Pernik, Pirdop and Zlatitsa, Panagyurishte, Kostenets, Velingrad | Northeastern Bulgaria
Pliska, Shoumen, Veliki Preslav, Turgovishte, Razgrad, Toutrakan, Silistra, Dobrich, Provadia | Bulgarian Black Sea Coast
Shabla, Roussalka, Kavarna, Balchik, Albena, Zlatni Pyasutsi (GOLDEN SANDS), St. St. Konstantin and Elena, Varna, Kamchia, Obzor, Elenite, Slunchev Bryag (SUNNY BEACH), Nessebar, Pomorie, Bourgas, Sozopol, Dyuni, Primorsko, Kiten, Tsarevo, Ahtopol | Bulgarian Mountains
Rila, Rila Monastery, Borovetz, Malyovitza, Pirin, Melnik and The Rozhen Monastery, Shiligarnika, Stara Planina (The Balkan Mountain), KOM - Emine Route, The Rhodope Mountains, Pamporovo, Bachkovo Monastery, Shiroka Luka, Vitosha |
|
|
|
|
