Dolen, Blagoevgrad Province
|
Dolen Долен |
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|---|---|
| Village | |
 Dolen
|
|
| Coordinates: 41°37′N 23°56′E / 41.617°N 23.933°ECoordinates: 41°37′N 23°56′E / 41.617°N 23.933°E | |
| Country |
 Bulgaria
|
| Province (Oblast) | Blagoevgrad |
| Municipality (Obshtina) | Satovcha |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Valentina Mitsikuleva (CEDB) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 29.294 km2 (11.310 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 852 m (2,795 ft) |
| Population (2010-12-15) | |
| • Total | 410 |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Postal Code | 2968 |
| Area code(s) | 07549 |
| License plate | E |
Dolen (Bulgarian: Долен) is a village in southwestern Bulgaria, located in the Satovcha Municipality of the Blagoevgrad Province.
The village of Dolen is located in the Western Rhodope Mountains. It belongs to the Chech region.
Prior to Dolen's existence, the area was strewed with Thracians hamlets, the remains of which can still be seen around the village. The hills surrounding the village are scattered with Thracian necropolises. Preserved are also the Thracian vineyards which were used until the Bulgarian National Revival.
Dolen is located on a Roman-Thracian road which used to connect Drama with Trimoncium, the Roman name of today's city of Plovdiv. Proof for the existence of this historic route are remains from the road itself at the eastern part of the village as well as the Roman bridge in the district of Banyan.
During the 1st century AD, the Romans moved the road-bed for military purposes, and built a new bridge close to the village of Kribul, thus assuring the passing of their troops along sunlit roads. As a result, Dolen remained isolated from the main stream of troops and convoys.
During the Ottoman rule, Dolen, Satovcha and Kovachevitsa remained the only villages with Christian population in the region.
After the ascension of sultan Selim II all the 12 chapels in Dolen were burned, the land was declared property of the sultan, and a mosque was built. The bey resided in a luxurious house located on the Northern side of the river, which has been preserved up until this date.
During that time, the region was teeming with livestock, and the land around the village was once used for vineyards. However, an unknown disease destroyed completely this rare sort of grapes which used to thrive 900 m. above the sea-level.
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Wikipedia