Melnik is a small town in South Bulgaria at 180 km distance from Sofia and it’s the smallest town in the country. The exact date of the foundation of the town is not yet known, but it is proved that it was established by the Thracian tribe Medi, to which the famous gladiator-rebel Spartacus belonged. Centuries later the Slavs changed the name to Melnik (originates from the old Slavic word “mel”- meaning white clay, crayon referring to the rocks, which surrounds the town).
The town has rich medieval history, because of its location between the Byzantium and Bulgarian empires. The multiple battles and the different outcome of them, led to multiple changes of the town’s sovereignty. In 13th century several aristocratic families from Byzantium Empire moved to Melik and that changed the town’s population and architecture structure. Since its foundation the town is famous with its wine-producing and later with its tobacco-producing. These two fields led to its development and in 17-18th century the town reached its highest point with a population of over 10 000 people, most of which Greeks. Later the battles for the liberation and other factors led to decline of the population, but the biggest hit on it was the Balkan war, after which the Greeks, which were the biggest part of Melnik’s population, moved to Greece. The town stayed away from the new road on Struma River’s valley. That killed the local branches and the trade along with any chance of gaining its old success.
Nowadays the population of the town is around 240 people. Despite the small number the local people haven’t gave up on their main fields and they continue to practice them even now. The quality of their production made them world wide famous. Interesting fact is that Winston Churchill itself has been ordering 500 l. from Melnik’s wine per year. The climate in the area is favorable for growing any sort of grape. The most famous one is “Wide Melnik vine”, which grows only in Melnik in whole world.
The town is with entirely Renaissance architecture. When you enter in its territories you’ll start to wonder if you really used a normal transportation or you used a time machine, which brought you in the past. The picturesque houses are hiding between them tied streets with stone roads, on which are traveling pulled by horses carts filled with wine barrels. Everything looks like you are back in the Renaissance times, but when you try the service you’ll understand that the modern European standards had reached the town of Melnik. Many of the famous in the past houses are turned into museums. That’s the case with the Pashov house, in which the City’s historical museum is situated nowadays. The same goes for the Kordopul’s house, which is now a private museum with wine-cellar.
Besides the wine, Melnik is also famous with the impressive natural sand pyramids in various forms, resembling giant mushrooms, ancient towers and obelisks, spread in an area of 17 km² near Melnik, Kurlanovo and Rozhen. Close to Melnik is located the biggest monastery in the Pirin mountain’s region – Rozhen monastery. The monastery offers an exceptional view of the peaks of Pirin and Belasica mountains and the pyramids.
Looking above all that, you’ll be hardly surprised by the fact that the number of tourists often exceeds the population of the town. The unique glamour which the natural and architectural beauty gives to the town, makes it attractive destination for Bulgarians and foreigners.
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