INTERREG III A DIGITAL RECORDING OF CULTURAL HERITAGE XANTHI, 4 MAY, 2007

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 century Bachkovo 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