Berende, Sofia Province Explained

Official Name:Berende
Native Name:Беренде
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Province
(Oblast)
Timezone:EET
Utc Offset:+2
Timezone Dst:EEST
Utc Offset Dst:+3
Pushpin Map:Bulgaria
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Map Caption:Berende
Leader Title:Mayor
Postal Code Type:Postal Code
Subdivision Name1:Sofia
Population Total:33
Population Footnotes:http://grao.bg/tna/tab02.txt
Population As Of:2011
Postal Code:2212
Area Code:07172
Coordinates:42.9831°N 22.9169°W
Leader Name:Lidia Bozhilova (Kalotina)

Berende (Bulgarian: Беренде, in Bulgarian pronounced as /bɛrɛnˈdɛ/) is a village in Dragoman Municipality, Sofia Province, in the westernmost part of Bulgaria near the border with Serbia.

Berende is located in the western reaches of the Balkan Mountains, not far from the banks of the Nishava River. The distance to the national capital Sofia is 52km (32miles). Nearby towns are Godech and the municipal centre Dragoman, both 10km (10miles) away.[1] In 1985, Berende had 79 residents;[2] in 2011, its population had dwindled to 33.[3]

According to linguist Anna Choleva–Dimitrova, the toponym Berende stems from the Pecheneg tribe of the Berendei. The Berendei are known to have settled in various parts of the Balkans around the 10th–12th century.[4]

The village has a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church, the Church of St Peter, which features rich 14th-century interior frescoes. It is located 800m (2,600feet) west of the village, near the Nishava.[5] Today, the churches lies in the village's old graveyard. Not far from the church on the way linking it to the village is Mosta (Моста, “The Bridge”), a natural bridge rock formation.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Village of Berende. Guide Bulgaria. 10 October 2011.
  2. Book: Мичев. Николай. Коледаров. Петър. Речник на селищата и селищните имена в България 1878–1987. Dictionary of settlements and settlement names in Bulgaria 1878–1987. Наука и изкуство. София. 1989. 37. Bulgarian.
  3. Web site: Таблица на населението по постоянен и настоящ адрес. Table of population by permanent and current address. ГРАО. 2009-09-15. Bulgarian. 10 October 2011.
  4. Book: Чолева-Димитрова, Анна М.. Селищни имена от Югозападна България: Изследване. Речник. Settlement names from Southwestern Bulgaria: A Study. A Dictionary. Пенсофт. София. 2002. 954-642-168-5. 57603720. Bulgarian. 98.
  5. Book: Николова, Бистра . Православните църкви през Българското средновековие IX–XIV в. . The Orthodox churches during the Bulgarian Middle Ages 9th–14th century. 2002 . 954-430-762-1 . Академично издателство "Марин Дринов" . Bulgarian . София . 79–82.
  6. Web site: Църквата "Св. Петър" в Беренде (14 в.). https://archive.today/20141108121837/http://nishava.hit.bg/folders/culture_files/berende/petat_pavel.htm. 8 November 2014. The Church of St Peter in Berende (14th c.). Наследството на Понишавието. Балкански младежки клуб. Bulgarian. 9 October 2011. dead.