Dupnitsa

Dupnitsa Дупница
Dupnitsa
Coat of arms
Dupnitsa Location of Dupnitsa
Coordinates: 42°16′N 23°7′E / 42.267°N 23.117°E / 42.267; 23.117Coordinates: 42°16′N 23°7′E / 42.267°N 23.117°E / 42.267; 23.117
Country	Bulgaria
Province (Oblast)	Kyustendil
Government
– Mayor	Atanas Yanev
Elevation	535 m (1,755 ft)
Population (13.09.2005)
– Total	43,791
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
– Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal Code	2600
Area code(s)	0701

Dupnitsa (Bulgarian: Дупница, (previously Дубница) sometimes transliterated Dupnica) is a town in western Bulgaria. It is located at the foot of Rila, about 65 km south of the capital Sofia. Dupnitsa is the second largest city in Kyustendil Province. In the first half of the 20th century Dupnitsa was bigger than the current administrative centre Kyustendil.

Dupnitsa is also referred to as "The Green and Shady Town", because of its location which makes it quite shady in summer and due to the abundance of trees in the town. One of the interesting things about Dupnitsa is that it's often called "The Little Italy of Bulgaria". This nickname comes from the fact that many inhabitants have gone over the years to work and live in Italy and every summer they return to their hometown. Another reason for this name is that Dupnitsa is the town with the most used-car lots in the country and they are mainly shipped in from Italy.

The town has existed since Antiquity. The names Tobinitsa, Doupla and Dubnitsa are mentioned throughout history, the last one surviving until the Liberation of Bulgaria, when the official name was changed to Dupnitsa. In 1948 the town was renamed to Stanke Dimitrov; for a short period in 1949 was called Marek, but the name was once again changed to Stanke Dimitrov in 1950. After the democratic changes, the old name Dupnitsa was restored.

On October 15, 1902, 600 women and children fled to the vicinity of Dupnitsa from Macedonia from the attacking Turkish troops.^[1]

On a hill overlooking the town there is a giant cross, commemorating the Bulgarians who perished in the Balkan wars and World War I. Also on the same hill there lay the ruins of a medieval fortess.

During the World War II , even though there was no deportation of Bulgarian Jews of the former Bulgarian territories, over 4,000 Jews from parts of Greece and Yugoslavia annexed by Bulgaria were arrested on the 4th of March 1943 and deported to an internment camp in Dupnitza. After ten days in the Dupnitza camp, on 18–19 March they were transferred by train to Lom on the Danube.^[2]

Geographically Dupnitsa is located at an altitude of 500 m in a valley, surrounded by hills. Its location, as seen from above, resembles a hole ("дупка"/"dupka" in Bulgarian), hence the name - Dupnitsa. There are five rivers flowing in the vicinity.

Nowadays Dupnitsa is a fast developing town combining new buildings with modern architecture with all the historical monuments it boasts. Because of its beautiful location at the foot of the Rila mountain the town is marvelous holiday destination. One of the main branches of industry is the pharmaceutical company Actavis (formerly HeFeKa, in Bulgarian ХФК), which gives employment to about 30-40 % of the citizens. Small business is developing rapidly due to the city's economic growth.

Dupnitsa is also famous for its cultural festivals. From 1 May to the 2nd of June many festivals are held in the town due to the richness of the Bulgarian holiday calendar. The nightlife here is very well developed. There are a lot of local pubs and clubs where the young people meet and have fun. A few other popular places for socializing are the recently refurbished City Park and the Town Garden (in Bulgarian: Градска градина/Gradska gradina).

Sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Bulgaria

• Bryansk, Bryansk Oblast, Russia

Honour

Dupnitsa Point on Smith Island, South Shetland Islands is named after Dupnitsa.

Image gallery

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  Clock tower and 20th century buildings in Dupnitsa

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  St. George Orthodox Church in Dupnitsa

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  The gallery in Dupnitsa seen in the night, former mosque, built on the foundations of an Orthodox church

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  Dupnitsa and Rila Mountain as a background

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  The gallery in Dupnitsa seen in winter, former mosque, built on the foundations of an Orthodox church

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  The town hall of Dupnitsa

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  The clock tower in Dupnitsa

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  Dupnitsa's Youth Home in winter

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  Mother of God Monastery near Dupnitsa

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  Memorial to the Jewish soldiers from Dupnitsa

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  St. George Orthodox Church in 1906.

References

1. ^ http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9F05E1DD1E3DEE32A25755C1A9669D946397D6CF
2. ^ http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/nazioccupation/bulgarianjews.html

External links

• Oficial Dupnitsa Municipality
• Dupnitsa article at Pictures of Bulgaria