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Southeastern Bulgaria >> Malko Turnovo
It is 470 km south-east of Sofia, 83 km south of Bourgas, 58 km south-west of Tsarevo, and 9 km north-east of the checkpoint of the same name at the border with Turkey. Guard of the Bulgarian spirit in the region of Strandzha Mountain.
History. A Thracian settlement existed on the spot of the present day town; only mounds and necropolis have remained. According to the Shkorpil brothers that is where a Roman roadside station called Outsourgas was located. The present town of Malko Turnovo was founded by the end of 16th century and the beginning of 17th century, most probably by settlers that had moved from the adjacent huts and smaller villages to settle by the Golemiya Vris Spring where people still drink its nice water. The name of the settlement derives from the profusion of prickly thistles all over the place. Initially Trunovo changed into Turnovo and later the word "Malko" (small) was added to distinguish it from the name of the old Bulgarian capital Turnovo. G. Ensholm was the first to give information about the town. He participated in Dibich Zabalkanski's march at the time of the Russian-Turkish War of 1828-1829. In his book "Notes on the Towns beyond the Balkan Mountain" he claimed that the town had 3 500 inhabitants who earned their living primarily with sheep-breeding, and all the crafts related to it - aba manufacturing (coarse homespun woollen cloth and upper men's garment made of it), tailoring, leather-processing and manufacturing, wool spinning and weaving, cattle trade, as well as masonry and pottery. There were excellent goldsmiths and money-changers. People mined marble, part of which was used for the construction and decoration of the Dolma Bahche Palace in Istanbul. Trade was well developed in many workshops. In the second half of 19th century Malko Turnovo was a nice and rich town with a population of nearly 8 000 inhabitants - Bulgarians. They passionately preserved the Bulgarian spirit, customs and traditions. The first monastery school was opened at the beginning of last century. A secular school was set up in the 40s of 19th century, and about 1875 - a school for young girls. In 1902, the town had a performance hall. According to the Berlin Treaty signed after the Russian-Turkish War of Liberation (1877-1878), Malko Turnovo was left within the boundaries of the Ottoman Empire. At the time of the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising (1903) the district revolutionary committee was lodged in the town; the outstanding leaders were Stefan Dobrev, Raiko Petrov, Lefter Mechev, Diko Dzhelepov, etc. After the severe defeat of the uprising around 5 000 inhabitants of Malko Turnovo had to leave their native place. The town was liberated from foreign rule in 1912.
Landmarks. Some twenty or so old buildings in the typical Strandzha style have been declared monuments of culture. Some of them are Popikonomov's House where is the eth¬nographic collection, and Velko Georgiev's workshop with 18-meter long facade. There is a museum collection called "Preobrazhenie Uprising of 1903" arranged at the Prosveta Cultural Centre. There are interesting icons (made by Sokrat Georgiev, an icon-painter from Sozopol) and frescoes in the Uspenie Bogorodichno (Assumption) Church (1830). The Golyam Vris Spriog where the town sprang up is in the centre.
Accommodation. The Malko Turnovo Hotel.
Tourist Information - at the hotel and in the town hall.
Transport. Only buses are available. The international road from Bourgas to Lozengrad (Kurklareli) and Istanbul passes through Malko Turnovo. There are regular bus lines to Bourgas and Tsarevo, as well as to all smaller villages and towns in the region.
Surrounding areas. Several kilometers north of the village of Stoilovo (the village is some 10 km away from the town) near one of the curves of the Veleka River, is Petrova Niva -a sacred place for every Bulgarian; it is also known as Strandzha Oborishte. This is the place where the delegates of the Odrin Revolutionary District with leaders Georgi Kondolov, Mihail Gerdzhikov, Penyo Shivarov, etc. gathered and from 28th to 30th June 1903 worked out the plan for the uprising. It broke on the Christian holiday of Preobrazhenie (Transfiguration) (19th August in the old calendar); so people know it as the Preobrazhenie Uprising. At Petrova Niva there is a big monument-charnel house of Georgi Kondolov and a museum collection. Each year on 19th August national celebrations are held in memory of all that participated in the Preobrazhenie Uprising. There is a regular bus line to the village of Stoilovo only. Dolmenite - pre-historic tombs near the village of Gramatikovo, which is situated 25 km northeast of the town. There is a regular bus transport. Mt. Gradishteto (710 m) - the highest peak in Strandzha Mountain, which is on the territory of Bulgaria. It is situated on the very border with Turkey. There are remains of a Thracian fortress and a settlement. Twenty kilometers north of Malko Turnovo runs one of the most picturesque Bulgarian rivers - Veleka, a wonderful place for having a rest, fishing and practising water tourism with canoes. The Kachoula Resort is near the village of Gramatikovo. The village of Bulgari known for nestinari dances - dancers step on embers barefooted, is 41 km northeast on the way to Tsarevo. In this part of Bulgaria, one can find the Strandzha periwinkle - evergreen endemic bush included in the Bulgarian Red Book of Floral Species under Protection.
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