Kardjali:
Bulgaria
| Copyright 2007 |
Kardjali, also spelt Kardzhali, is a town located in the province also called Kardjali that is
situated not far from the border with Greece and on the eastern slopes of the Rhodope
Mountains.
The town of Kardjali has a population of just over fifty one thousand (estimated 2006) and has
an emblem of a black panther with a yellow sun rise above and the town name located at the
top.
situated not far from the border with Greece and on the eastern slopes of the Rhodope
Mountains.
The town of Kardjali has a population of just over fifty one thousand (estimated 2006) and has
an emblem of a black panther with a yellow sun rise above and the town name located at the
top.
Kardjali has a history dating back to the Neolithic period when the Thracian tribes settled in the
area due to the mountain range and the location of two rivers that flow by the town. The
Thracian people that settled in Kardjali spent a lot of time worshipping the Gods of Sun and
Earth, this is known due to many sanctuaries that have been found dating back to this period
including a man made cave that was built in the shape of a womans womb and has been
created in such a way that in specific periods the suns light comes through a man made slit in
the stone to light the cave.
area due to the mountain range and the location of two rivers that flow by the town. The
Thracian people that settled in Kardjali spent a lot of time worshipping the Gods of Sun and
Earth, this is known due to many sanctuaries that have been found dating back to this period
including a man made cave that was built in the shape of a womans womb and has been
created in such a way that in specific periods the suns light comes through a man made slit in
the stone to light the cave.
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Kardjali also has many old stone castles from the Thracian period located close to the town,
these castles are constantly under archaeological work as new Thracian artifacts are being
found regularly. One of these castles located near Kardjali in an ancient Thracian city called
Perperikon is seen as an amazing archaeological find as it was the home of a Thracian king.
In old history the name of Kardjali was Zherkovo under the Second Bulgarian Empire but the
name we know today, Kardjali, comes from the name of a leader of the Turkish Ottoman army
this leader was named Kardzha Ali according to Ottoman literature from the 14th century.
Today Kardjali has an economy built on the retail and services industries but there is also a
growing interest in the town and surrounding areas due to its large deposits of zinc and lead
which could see different companies in the metal industry move in to the area.
There is hope that due to the historical and natural sights in the area as well as the towns
culture that a growth in the tourist industry can be expected.
these castles are constantly under archaeological work as new Thracian artifacts are being
found regularly. One of these castles located near Kardjali in an ancient Thracian city called
Perperikon is seen as an amazing archaeological find as it was the home of a Thracian king.
In old history the name of Kardjali was Zherkovo under the Second Bulgarian Empire but the
name we know today, Kardjali, comes from the name of a leader of the Turkish Ottoman army
this leader was named Kardzha Ali according to Ottoman literature from the 14th century.
Today Kardjali has an economy built on the retail and services industries but there is also a
growing interest in the town and surrounding areas due to its large deposits of zinc and lead
which could see different companies in the metal industry move in to the area.
There is hope that due to the historical and natural sights in the area as well as the towns
culture that a growth in the tourist industry can be expected.
