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Centralsouth Bulgaria > Chepelare > History
History of Chepelare
The valley has been populated since ancient times, which was proved by the urns with burnt bones, heads of arrow and spear, different ornaments and other objects, considered to be of Thracian origin and found in the locality of Batalski Kamak. Some Bulgarian Christian tombs dating back to 12th-14th century were found on the neighbouring land of the town, yet there is no absolute proof as to the existence of an ancient and medieval settlement on the territory of the present town. An ancient Roman road from Plovdiv to the Aegean region passed through the Chepelarska river valley.
The first inhabitant of this place was Belyo-Kehaya, who built his house in 1705. Inhabitants from the neighbouring villages followed his example. In 1726 the newcomers bought the land and became owners of the valley and the surrounding hills. So the settlement of Chepelare was founded. Its name comes from the Gyumyurdzhi village of Chepeli, which translates into Bulgaria as stormy, cold. The basic occupation of the inhabitants was animal breeding and some craftsmanship, while some of the men, living there used to travel in the Aegean region working as fishermen or bricklaying masters. The kurdzhalii (Turkish brigands) often invaded the settlement, but they faced organised and severe defence.
In 1836 the Chepelare inhabitants built St. Atanas Church and 3 stone turrets within 40 days, supported by a troop of soldiers, sent by the Sultan to guard against the Bulgarian-Mohammedans (pomaks), who opposed the construction. Later on a school was built up, while in 1867 a second temple - “Holy Virgin” - was inaugurated.
The Caucasus Cossacks brigade of General Cherevin liberated Chepelare on the 18th of January 1878. The same year Captain Petko Voivoda with his detachment settled there to defend the Bulgarian Christian population against the rebels of Sinclair.
The Berlin Treaty made Chepelare a borderline village and it frequently gave shelter to the members of the detachment of Peyo Shishmanov Voivoda, who fought for the liberation of the enslaved parts of out Motherland. After the Union of Eastern Roumelia with the Bulgarian Principality in 1885 the south border with Turkey was closed and the path of thousands of sheep herds to their winter pastures were barred. Then the Cheperale people butchered a large number of sheep and started cutting the surrounding woods in order to provide pastures for the reduced number of sheep herds. Within the period 1879-1886 about 30 000 decares of wonderful coniferous forests surrounding Chepelare were cleared. This brought in the new occupation for the town wood-cutting and wood-processing. The timber was transported along the river to Stanimaka (Assenovgrad). In 1922 one of the first water power stations in the country was constructed in the region. Gradually, with the beginning of the 20th century and especially during the 30-ies and the 40-ies, Chepelare was turned into a resort site.
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