Kotel, Bulgaria

Kotel (Bulgarian: Котел [ˈkɔtɛɫ], Sarakatsani Greek: Κότελ) is a town in central Bulgaria, part of Sliven Province. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Kotel Municipality. In 2016, the town had a population of 5,329.[1]

Kotel

Котел
Κότελ
Kotel
Kotel, Bulgaria
Coordinates: 42°53′N 26°27′E
CountryBulgaria
Provinces
(Oblast)		Sliven
Government
 • MayorKosta Karanashev
Elevation
643 m (2,110 ft)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total5 329
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal Code
8970
Area code(s)0453
License plateCH

Kotel is known for the numerous personalities of the Bulgarian National Revival who are somehow connected to the town, such as the politicians Alexander Bogoridi and Stefan Bogoridi, the enlighteners Sophronius of Vratsa and Petar Beron, public figure Gavril Krastevich, revolutionary Georgi Rakovski, as well as the World War II prime minister Dobri Bozhilov. It has a well-known music school and a large talented Romani population who can be found playing in restaurants and orchestras all over Bulgaria. Because of its situation in the mountains, Kotel is also a popular health resort for the cure of diseases such as TB. Kotel has been a center for carpet making and there is a museum devoted to the craft.

Geography

The town is located in East Stara planina.

Landmarks
  • Protected area "Zlosten"
  • Protected area "Urushki skali"
  • Protected area "Eagle Caves"

History
Kotel 1932

Kotel was settled during the beginning of the Ottoman occupation of Bulgaria, when people fled from neighboring cities and towns. We get the first information about the town in an Ottoman-Turkish register since 1486. In 1894, much of Kotel was destroyed in a fire.

Honour

Kotel Gap on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after Kotel.

Culture

Education

Kotel Literary School established at the XVI century. Sophronius of Vratsa is a prominent representative of this school.

Culture center "Saglasie-Napredak 1870"

Culture center "Saglasie-Napredak 1870" were created in 1870. Children's dance ensemble,The Bulgarian Choir,Children's vocal group,Theatrical team, Circle: "The People's Memory Tells",Creative unification – "Traditions",A group of old urban songs "Balkan Breeze".

Post card from Kotel

Agriculture

There is a strong sheep farming tradition in the region, which includes the practice of transhumance, migrating the sheep from lowland winter pastures to mountain summer pastures. This was profiled in a BBC Radio 4 documentary.[2]

Notable residents
Sarakatsani children in Kotel

References
  1. Bulgarian National Statistical Institute – towns in 2009 Archived 13 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  2. BBC Radio 4, Tuesday 14 October 2008, World on the Move, Great Animal Migrations

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