Kostenets (village)

Kostenets (Bulgarian: Костенец) is a village in the Sofia Province southwestern Bulgaria, located in the Kostenets Municipality (which also has a separate town of Kostenets). As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 4,201. It ranks 14th by population of all Bulgarian villages.

For other uses, see Kostenets (disambiguation).
Kostenets

Костенец
Village
Kostenets and the Rila mountain
Kostenets
Location of Kostenets within Bulgaria
Coordinates: 42°16′N 23°49′E
CountryBulgaria
ProvinceSofia
MunicipalityKostenets
Government
 • MayorGeorgi Anchin (NDSV)
Area
 • Total109,381 km2 (42,232 sq mi)
Elevation
689 m (2,260 ft)
Population
 (2015)[1]
 • Total3,617
 • Density0.033/km2 (0.086/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal Code
2042
Area code(s)07144

Geography

Kostenets is located at the foot of the Rila mountain, 63 kilometers southeast of Sofia, about 6 kilometers south of the town of Kostenets and 35 kilometers east of Borovets. Its altitude ranges from 650 meters in the northern part to 725 meters in the southern part.

History

It is assumed that the area was originally settled by the Thracian tribe Bessi around 2nd century BC. The settlement was the first one in today's Kostenets municipality. During an archaeological study of the "Gorna cherkva" area were found remains of an old fortress and the footprints of an old Christian basilica from the 5th century as well as ancient pottery, Roman, Byzantine and medieval Bulgarian coins.

Cultural and natural landmarks
  • Kostenets waterfall, located about 3 km south of the village and described by Ivan Vazov.
  • The nearby historic mountain pass Gate of Trajan.
  • Entrance road to Kostenets
  • The Archangel Michael Church (Built 1857) in Kostenets village
  • The interior of Archangel Michael church in Kostenets village
  • 19th century Orthodox Frescoes from Archangel Michael Church in Kostenets
  • Monument to the fallen antifascists (1923-1945) in Kostenets village
  • Culture club (Chitalishte) "Probuda" (evocation) in Kostenets, founded 1881

References
  1. (in Bulgarian) Population Chart as of 15 March 2009 from Directorate General: Civil Registration and Administrative Services
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