Belogradchik Wins the 'Trahcian Spirit of Bulgaria' Contest

News.bg, May 07, 2008

Belogradchik Municipality is winner in the ‘Thracian Spirit of Bulgaria' contest.
That was officially announced by the SAT chairman Anelia Krushkova. The best project is chosen between 22 competitors municipalities.

Despite the intensive participation, the sociologist Antonii Galabov commented that, the projects haven't been prepared professionally and the contest's idea wasn't got right.

Belogradchik is unifier of the main symbols of the Thracs and this was the significant element for the prize position of the project ‘Folklore vestiges from Timok to Iskar Rivers- down the Thracians' steps', according to the mayor Emil Tzankov.

‘The natural combination of main symbols of the Thracians - stone, fire and water is observed in Belogradchik.

They all combine in one the hypothesis of the Belogradchik rocks' origin because they were considered to have volcanic origin, and water chiseled the whimsical forms of the rocks', Mayor Tzankov explained.

Belogradchik will present the Thracian spirit of the country with parade in the central part of the city, presentation of the legend of Thracian goddess Bendida and sport competitions.

The Bulgarian project will compete with all other European countries, as the best presentation will be awarded in France on September 18 and 19.

The Belogradchik Rocks are a group of bizarre sandstone and limestone rock formations, reaching up to 200 m in height. They form a strip, which is 30 km long and up to 3 km wide, and are located north of the western slopes of Stara Planina, near the town of Belogradchik in Bulgaria. The formations are a product of erosion.