Petrich, Sofia Province Explained

Official Name:Petrich
Native Name:Петрич
Settlement Type:Village
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Provinces
(Oblast)
Subdivision Name1:Sofia Province
Subdivision Type2:Municipality (Obshtina)
Subdivision Name2:Zlatitsa
Timezone:EET
Utc Offset:+2
Timezone Dst:EEST
Utc Offset Dst:+3
Pushpin Map:Bulgaria
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Petrich
Postal Code Type:Postal Code
Population Total:288
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population As Of:2007-01-01
Population Density Km2:auto
Area Total Km2:67.193
Elevation M:475
Postal Code:2085
Coordinates:42.5833°N 25°W
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Ivan Uzunov

Petrich (Bulgarian: Петрич in Bulgarian pronounced as /pɛˈtrit͡ʃ/) is a village in Zlatitsa Municipality, in Sofia Province, western Bulgaria. The name of the village is pronounced with a stress on the last syllable, in contrast with the name of the town of Petrich.

Geography

Petrich is located in Ihtimanska Sredna Gora in the forested valley of the river Topolnitsa which flows through the village. The neighbourhood Brodyad is part of the village although it is located at several kilometers from the center.

History

The village took active part in the April Uprising. On 23 April 1876 Georgi Benkovski arrived in Petrich with his Flying Cheta. The population helped by the villagers from Smolsko and Kamenitsa fought bravely against the Ottoman regular and irregular army. One hundred and seventy-two rebels were killed in the fighting and dozens were captured and exiled. The event is commemorated annually with fireworks at the monument of the uprising which resembles a bell and symbolizes the bells which were melted for bullets.

According to the Treaty of Berlin of 1878 the border between the liberated Principality of Bulgaria and the autonomous Eastern Rumelia followed the summit of the Balkan mountains and went southwards between Pirdop and Dushintsi eventually following the Topolnitsa river at Petrich.

Landmarks

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bulgaria Guide, Petrich . 11 January 2009 .