RAZLOG

• Razlog (Bulgarian: Разлог) is a town and ski resort in Razlog Municipality, Blagoevgrad Province in southwestern Bulgaria. It is situated in the Razlog Valley and was first mentioned during the reign of Byzantine emperor Basil II.

During his 1894–1896 trip in During his 1894–1896 trip in the region of Macedonia, the region of Macedonia, Bulgarian geographer Vasil Bulgarian geographer Vasil Kanchov visited Razlog (then Kanchov visited Razlog (then known as Мехомия, known as Мехомия, MehomiaMehomia) ) and reported that it numbered and reported that it numbered 820 households, of which 500 820 households, of which 500 of Eastern Orthodox of Eastern Orthodox Bulgarians, 300 of Muslim Bulgarians, 300 of Muslim Bulgarians, 16 of Protestant Bulgarians, 16 of Protestant Bulgarians and 5 of Eastern Bulgarians and 5 of Eastern Orthodox Aromanians, for a Orthodox Aromanians, for a total population of around total population of around 4,620. 4,620.

According to the same author's 1900 study on According to the same author's 1900 study on the population of Macedonia, Razlog was the population of Macedonia, Razlog was populated by 4,970 people, of which 3,200 populated by 4,970 people, of which 3,200 Christian Bulgarians, 1,460 Muslim Bulgarians, 80 Christian Bulgarians, 1,460 Muslim Bulgarians, 80 Turks, 200 Roma and 30 Aromanians.Turks, 200 Roma and 30 Aromanians.

The town's population The town's population actively participated in the actively participated in the Kresna-Razlog and Ilinden-Kresna-Razlog and Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising, Preobrazhenie Uprising, Razlog, which was part of Razlog, which was part of Serez sanjak in Selanik vilayet Serez sanjak in Selanik vilayet as "Razlık", itself being as "Razlık", itself being liberated from Ottoman rule in liberated from Ottoman rule in 1912. Razlog has developed 1912. Razlog has developed as a centre of winter tourism in as a centre of winter tourism in the 1990s and 2000s owing to the 1990s and 2000s owing to its favourable position in the its favourable position in the vicinity of the Pirin, Rila and vicinity of the Pirin, Rila and Rhodope mountains.Rhodope mountains.

Two Thracian tribes – ‘dii’ and ‘satri’ - were the first to settle in the area of present-day Razlog. In 847, Razlog was included in the territory of Bulgaria during the rule of Khan Pressian. Thereafter, the town shared the fate of other Bulgarian lands with the major exception being its non-inclusion in the liberated territories following the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878.

Razlog was eventually liberated following desperate uprisings by its citizens and the population of neighbouring areas - namely the Kresna-Razlog (1878) and the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie (1903) uprisings of the Pirin region.

The town of Razlog is mostly famous for its houses of the so-called Razlog-Chepino architectural style that spread during the Bulgarian Renaissance period. Nowadays, there are 41 such houses in good condition in Razlog, and some of these have been transformed into museums of history and ethnography. In the vicinity of Razlog, one can take hiking tours to natural sights and archeological remains.

For instance, up in the slopes of Pirin, one can visit the Iztoka and Krushe protected areas with mineral water springs and medieval remains, the Mechata Dupka and Propadnaloto caves. In the slopes of Rila, interesting sights are the Stolovatets area for its remains of a Thracian sanctuary and the Katarino area with its mineral water.

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