Svishtov ( bg, Свищов )
is a town in northern
Bulgaria
Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedon ...
, located in
Veliko Tarnovo Province
Veliko Tarnovo ( bg, Област Велико Търново, Oblast Veliko Tǎrnovo) is a province in the middle of the northern part of Bulgaria. Its capital city, Veliko Tarnovo, is of historical significance as it is known as the capital of ...
on the right bank of the
Danube river
The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , pa ...
opposite the
Romania
Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...
n town of
Zimnicea
Zimnicea () is a town in Teleorman County, Romania (in the historic region of Muntenia), a port on the Danube opposite the Bulgarian city of Svishtov.
Geography
Zimnicea is situated on the left bank of the Danube river. It is the southernmost pl ...
. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous
Svishtov Municipality. The town is the second-largest in the province after the city of
Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo ( bg, Велико Търново, Veliko Tărnovo, ; "Great Tarnovo") is a town in north central Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Veliko Tarnovo Province.
Often referred as the "''City of the Tsars''", Veliko Tarnovo ...
and before
Gorna Oryahovitsa
Gorna Oryahovitsa ( bg, Горна Оряховица ) is a town in northern Bulgaria, situated in Veliko Tarnovo Province, from Veliko Tarnovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Gorna Oryahovitsa Municipality. According to t ...
.
Name
The origins of the name Svishtov can be found in its old Bulgarian variation Sveshtniy (Свѣщний), deriving from the word ''svesht'' or ''svyasht'' (свѣщ), meaning "candle". This was due to the existence of a lighthouse in the city. The previous name Sistova was first mentioned in
the peace treaty that ended the
Austro-Turkish War in 1791, when Bulgaria was still under Ottoman rule. This name was chosen instead of the Turkish word ''Zigit''. During the
Ottoman rule of Bulgaria
The history of Ottoman Bulgaria spans nearly 500 years, from the conquest by the Ottoman Empire of the smaller kingdoms emerging from the disintegrating Second Bulgarian Empire in the late 14th century, to the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878. A ...
the town was also known as Ziștovi and in Romanian as Șiștova.
Geography
Svishtov is situated in northern central
Bulgaria
Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedon ...
on the right bank of the
Danube
The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , pa ...
river in its southernmost point, across from
Zimnicea
Zimnicea () is a town in Teleorman County, Romania (in the historic region of Muntenia), a port on the Danube opposite the Bulgarian city of Svishtov.
Geography
Zimnicea is situated on the left bank of the Danube river. It is the southernmost pl ...
, Romania. The town lies north-east of the capital
Sofia
Sofia ( ; bg, София, Sofiya, ) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain in the western parts of the country. The city is built west of the Iskar river, and ha ...
, and west of the major
Black Sea
The Black Sea is a marginal mediterranean sea of the Atlantic Ocean lying between Europe and Asia, east of the Balkans, south of the East European Plain, west of the Caucasus, and north of Anatolia. It is bounded by Bulgaria, Georgia, Roma ...
port of
Varna
Varna may refer to:
Places Europe
*Varna, Bulgaria, a city in Bulgaria
**Varna Province
**Varna Municipality
** Gulf of Varna
**Lake Varna
**Varna Necropolis
*Vahrn, or Varna, a municipality in Italy
*Varniai, a city in Lithuania
* Varna (Šaba ...
. Other important cities in the region are
Pleven
Pleven ( bg, Плèвен ) is the seventh most populous city in Bulgaria. Located in the northern part of the country, it is the administrative centre of Pleven Province, as well as of the subordinate Pleven municipality. It is the biggest ...
away, and
Ruse
Ruse may refer to:
Places
*Ruse, Bulgaria, a major city of Bulgaria
**Ruse Municipality
** Ruse Province
** 19th MMC – Ruse, a constituency
*Ruše, a town and municipality in north-eastern Slovenia
* Ruše, Žalec, a small settlement in east-ce ...
away.
The port of Svishtov is the southernmost harbour on the Danube. It is served around the clock by the Svishtov-Zimnich ferry — a regular operation
Ro-ro ferryboat across the Danube between Svishtov and
Zimnicea
Zimnicea () is a town in Teleorman County, Romania (in the historic region of Muntenia), a port on the Danube opposite the Bulgarian city of Svishtov.
Geography
Zimnicea is situated on the left bank of the Danube river. It is the southernmost pl ...
. The ferry shortens the road path to and from Turkey to Central and Western Europe by when compared to the traditional route over the
Danube Bridge
The Danube Bridge (also known as the Friendship Bridge; bg, Мост на дружбата, ''Most na druzhbata'' or, more commonly, Дунав Mост, ''Dunav most''; ro, Podul Prieteniei or ''Podul de la Giurgiu'') is a steel truss bridge ...
at Ruse-Giurgiu and allows a time gain of nearly four hours thus avoiding the traffic in and around the city of
Bucharest
Bucharest ( , ; ro, București ) is the capital and largest city of Romania, as well as its cultural, industrial, and financial centre. It is located in the southeast of the country, on the banks of the Dâmbovița River, less than north of ...
.
History
Svishtov is identified with the
Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...
colony
Novae
A nova (plural novae or novas) is a transient astronomical event that causes the sudden appearance of a bright, apparently "new" star (hence the name "nova", which is Latin for "new") that slowly fades over weeks or months. Causes of the dramat ...
mentioned by
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy (; grc-gre, Πτολεμαῖος, ; la, Claudius Ptolemaeus; AD) was a mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, and music theorist, who wrote about a dozen scientific treatises, three of which were of importanc ...
. The emperor Vespasian sent the
legion I Italica there 70 AD and Novae served as the legion's base for centuries.
Novae served as a base of operations for Roman campaigns against Barbarian tribes including
Trajan's Dacian Wars
The Dacian Wars (101–102, 105–106) were two military campaigns fought between the Roman Empire and Dacia during Emperor Trajan's rule. The conflicts were triggered by the constant Dacian threat on the Danubian province of Moesia and also by ...
, and the last time during
Maurice's Balkan campaigns
Maurice's Balkan campaigns were a series of military expeditions conducted by Roman Emperor Maurice (reigned 582–602) in an attempt to defend the Balkan provinces of the Roman Empire from the Avars and the South Slavs. Maurice was the only Eas ...
. The legion was also responsible for bridge construction over the Danube.
The colony of Novae was the residence of St.
Lupus of Novae.
For a short time the place was the main city for the Ostrogoths of
Theodoric the Great
Theodoric (or Theoderic) the Great (454 – 30 August 526), also called Theodoric the Amal ( got, , *Þiudareiks; Greek: , romanized: ; Latin: ), was king of the Ostrogoths (471–526), and ruler of the independent Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy b ...
. Theodoric occupied
Singidunum
Singidunum ( sr, Сингидунум/''Singidunum'') was an ancient city which later evolved into modern Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. The name is of Celts, Celtic origin, going back to the time when Celtic tribe Scordisci settled the area in ...
in 471 and, after plundering Macedonia and Greece, settled in Novae (the modern Svishtov), on the lower Danube, in 483, where he remained till he transferred the sphere of his activities to Italy ten years later.
It was destroyed some time after 613, as shown by coin founds minted up to this date.
The Treaty of Sistova ended the last Austro-Turkish war (1787–91). Brokered by Great Britain, Prussia and the Netherlands,
it was signed in Sistova (modern Svishtov) in present-day Bulgaria on 4 August 1791.
The treaty was written in French and Turkish.
During one of the Russo-Turkish Wars in 19th century, Svishtov has been burnt down to the ground during the retreat of the Russian Army. The city fortress has been destroyed and the population has been forced to leave the city and move across the river Danube. It was done by the order of General Nikolay Kamenskij and executed by General Guillaume Emmanuel Guignard de Saint-Priest. The event has taken place on September 27, 1810 (Sept 14, according to Julian Calendar). Account in regards of that event has been given by Dr. Dimitar Pavlovich in his book "The life of Dimitar Hadzhivasilev", published in 1906 and in the biography book of General Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov. A year later the restoration of the city has started with the efforts by few returned natives from Svishtov. The funding of the first street projects has been secured by donated profit, made from vineyard production. In few years the city was completely rebuilt and back to life as one of the main ports on Danube river. In 1829 half of the city was burned again during the next war between Russia and Ottoman Empire, by the order of General Dibich. Soon everything was restored. Svishtov became the home education and newly founded schools, sponsored by generous donors, citizens of Svishtov who built the first vocational school of trade and the University of Svishtov, Academy of Economics, first secular education school, etc.
Svishtov is known as the first town to be liberated during the
Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78, since the largest part of the
Imperial Russian Army
The Imperial Russian Army (russian: Ру́сская импера́торская а́рмия, tr. ) was the armed land force of the Russian Empire, active from around 1721 to the Russian Revolution of 1917. In the early 1850s, the Russian Ar ...
forced the Danube nearby. In January 1878 a correspondent of ''The Times'' of London noted that, because of the war, "Sistova does not present its former animated appearance, although there is much more movement here than I expected, . . . with roast turkeys, chickens, and all other delicacies of the season on the
bill of fare" of the "numerous restaurants in the town."
On 4 March 1977, Svishtov suffered major structural damage in the
Vrancea earthquake, including the collapse of three apartment blocks in which over 100 people were killed.
Svishtov Cove in
Livingston Island
Livingston Island (Russian name ''Smolensk'', ) is an Antarctic island in the Southern Ocean, part of the South Shetlands Archipelago, a group of Antarctic islands north of the Antarctic Peninsula. It was the first land discovered south of 60 ...
in the
South Shetland Islands
The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands with a total area of . They lie about north of the Antarctic Peninsula, and between southwest of the nearest point of the South Orkney Islands. By the Antarctic Treaty of 195 ...
,
Antarctica
Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean, it contains the geographic South Pole. Antarctica is the fifth-largest contine ...
is named for the town of Svishtov.
Climate
Svishtov has a
humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...
with considerable continental influences. The summer lasts five months, from May to September. Winters start in early December and last until March.
Religion
![Ethnographic museum in Svishtov,Bulgaria](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Ethnographic_museum_in_Svishtov%2CBulgaria.jpg)
The main religion in Svishtov is
Eastern Orthodox Christianity
Eastern Orthodoxy, also known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity, is one of the three main branches of Chalcedonian Christianity, alongside Catholicism and Protestantism.
Like the Pentarchy of the first millennium, the mainstream (or "canonical") ...
. There is also a small group of
Roman Catholics
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
that have migrated from the surrounding villages of
Oresh,
Dragomirovo and the town of
Belene
Belene ( bg, Белене ) is a town in Pleven Province, Northern Bulgaria. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Belene Municipality. The town is situated on the right bank of the Danube river, close to the town of Svishtov.
Ge ...
, and small group of Muslims.
Politics
The mayor of Svishtov Municipality is Gencho Bozhinov Genchev.
Education
Higher education
![D](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/D._A._Tsenov_Academy_of_Economics_in_Svishtov%2CBulgaria.jpg)
The D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics was established in 1936 with decree-law signed by Boris III. Since then Svishtov has become an academician town.
Professional education
![State commercial high school,Svishtov,Bulgaria](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/State_commercial_high_school%2CSvishtov%2CBulgaria.jpg)
State commercial high school "Dimitar Hadjivasilev" is the first vocational school in Bulgaria. The first commercial school was established in 1883, with decision of the National Assembly.
Transport
![Port Svishtov,Bulgaria](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Port_Svishtov%2CBulgaria.jpg)
In the area of the town had a port since the 16th century. Port Svishtov was built in 1906.
Economy
The main industries in the town of Svishtov include imports and exports via the harbor, electronics, chemical manufacturing, and wheat production. The town's University of Economics is also a major economic draw. Additionally, there are a large number of European tourists, particularly from Romania, who frequent Svishtov because of its relatively lower prices.
Landmarks and Interesting places
One of the most beautiful places around the town of Svishtov is the unique river valley ( away from the town) which hosts the monastery of Svishtov; the region called Pametnitsite / ''Паметниците'' (The Monuments) on the banks of the
Danube
The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , pa ...
and the park around the old fortress in the centre the town.
![Community center in Svishtov,Bulgaria](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Community_center_in_Svishtov%2CBulgaria.jpg)
The House-museum of the Bulgarian novelist
Aleko Konstantinov
Aleko Konstantinov ( bg, Алеко Константинов) (1 January 1863 – 11 May 1897) ( NS: 13 January 1863 – 23 May 1897) was a Bulgarian writer, best known for his character Bay Ganyo, one of the most popular characters in Bulgarian ...
is one of the top
100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria.
Another place of interest in town is the region called Мanastira / ''Манастира'' (The monastery) south-east of the town.
The name of this place comes from the monastery, that is there. Its name is "Shroud of the Holy Mother" (also known as "Virgin Mary’s Winding Sheet").
It has a church named "The Assumption of Virgin Mary" and 2 residential buildings.
Mineral water springs
"Toplata Voda" was originally drilled for petrol in the 1980s, but instead of petrol they found one of the famous sources of thermal water springs in North Bulgaria. The same source is feeding the balneo centers such as Pulski Trumbesh, Ovcha Mogila, well known from many years. The place is next to
Persina, also see Persina's official website.
The spring has a small pool and the water comes from it at 48 degrees Celsius. In the pool it is 44–45 degrees.
The place is 5 kilometers west from the city.
International relations
Literature
# Stoyan Arshinkov - "Dear Motherland", Tsvetan Radoslavov Hadjidenkov, Sofia, BAS, 1985
# V. Atseva, "Archive of Nikolai Pavlovich", 1852 - 1894, ed. BAS, 1980
# Angel Balashev - Svishtov 60 and more years ago - Sofia 2007, Multiprint EOOD
# Lachezar Georgiev - Twice hung on the gallows (Botev's Chetnik Sava Penev) - Sofia, 1992
# Ivan Gunev - Emanuil Vaskidovich and his Slavic-Bulgarian secular school - ed. Patriotic Front, Sofia, 1987
# Dr. Racho Kazanski - Sprouts for the new revival - under the ashes of spiritual ruin - Sofia
# Georgi Karpachev - The House Museum, the Grand Duke, Vladimir Alexandrovich in the village of Gorna Studena - Sofia P. Glushkov printing house, 1907
# Margarita Kovacheva - Dragan Tsankov - public figure, politician, diplomat, 1878 - Sofia, Science and Art, 1982
# Yordan Nikolov - The first Bulgarian choir (local memories) - Svishtov, AD Panichkov, 1925
# Julia Nikolova, Tsv. Again - Vasil Manchev, memories
# Julia Nikolova - "Eat with dignity" - Svishtov in the XIX century and the first decade of the XX century - personalities, events, facts - ed. Ivray, 2006
# Nikolai D. Pavlovich - Nikolai Pavlovich 1835 - 1894 - Sofia, Science and Art, 1955
# Parvoleta Prokopova, Yanko Apostolov - Svishtov, Sofia Press 1977
# Vasil Radkov - Nests of Conspiracy Sparks of Curiosity - Fifth Donevski, ed. Abagar V. Tarnovo, 2006
# Radko Radkov - Svishtov - cultural and historical landmarks, ed. Abagar, V. Tarnovo, 2007
# Dr. N. Sakarov - Commercial and economic importance of Svishtov - ed. Svishtov Friendship in Sofia, 1928
# Dr. Maria Tosheva - History of Health Care in Svishtov - Svishtov Academic Publishing House "Tsenov", 2004
# Doncho Tuzharov - Hearth of Science and Patriotism (50 years of VFSI "DA Tsenov", Svishtov) - Sofia, 1986
# Georgi Hristov - "Svishtov in the past (86 - 1877)", ed. Svishtov, PA Slavkvov 1936
# Hristo Tsekov - Dimitar Tsenovich - Sofia Bulgarika, 1997
# Hristo Tsekov - The Confession of Botev's Chetnik Ivanitsa Danchev - Sofia Bulgarika, 1998
# A series of "diaries and memories of Bulgarian history", ed. team - Peter Neykov (diplomat), memoirs, ed. Patriotic Front, Sofia 1990
# Svishtov in the Renaissance - 1934 Phototype edition - 1994/6
# Greetings from Svishtov, ed. Svishtov Municipality, 2007
# Svishtov - pages from his Revival past and the Liberation of Bulgaria (125 years since the declaration of the Russo-Turkish War) - Svishtov, 2002
# Dimitar Vassilev State Trade High School, Svishtov - Jubilee Collection 1884 - 1934, Svishtov, P.A. Slavkov, 1935
# Archpriest Stefan Ganchev, contribution to its history - Svishtov, PA Slavkov, 1929. Phototype edition, republished by the Aleko Konstantinov Foundation, Svishtov, 1996.
# Jubilee collection "100 years of the State Trade High School" D. Vassilev ”- 1884 - 1984, Svishtov, 1984
# Jubilee collection of the Svishtov Chitalishte 1856 - 1931
# Jubilee collection of the first Bulgarian community center - "Elenka and Kiril D. Avramovi in Svishtov, 1856 - 1956
Twin towns – Sister cities
Svishtov is
twinned with:
References
External links
*
Guide to municipality Svishtov - cities and villages*
{{Authority control
Populated places on the Danube
Populated places in Veliko Tarnovo Province
Bulgaria–Romania border crossings
Port cities and towns in Bulgaria