God’s Bridge - Natural and cultural-historical landmarks in the Vratsa region: Compiled by Kalina Todorova, editors Blaga Atanasova and Boyka Lozanska, cover artist Petar Petrov. Publication of the Regional Library “Hristo Botev” – Vratsa – “Heritage” series.
The collection contains materials from the Eighth Regional Local History Conference “The Past of the Native Land – a Message to the Future”. Organizers – the Regional Inspectorate of Education – Vratsa and the Regional Library “Hristo Botev” – Vratsa.
The reports of the participants are thematically arranged and form three sections of the book. The first part, titled “Steps on God’s Bridge”, includes studies on emblematic natural features (such as the travel notes of journalist Tsvetana Evgenieva on the beauty of the Iskar Gorge, texts by local historians, geographers, and researchers on God’s Bridge, the Skaklya waterfall (based on a presentation by Ivanka Anastasova and the “Native Land” club), the Stambol pear tree in Vratsa (essay by Maya Peeva), the Zlatiya River (by Ivana Zaharieva), and others) as well as lesser-known or forgotten natural sites such as Yankova Dupka Cave in Gabare village (study by Ivaylo Nikodimov), the Bath in Banitsa (by Aneta Dilova), and the Baths and the Chariot near Vratzata (research by Kalina Todorova).
The second part – “The Treasures” – contains essays on archaeological monuments and finds, Thracian treasures, and experimental archaeology of the Regional History Museum – Vratsa, related to the discoveries in Oryahovo; the Rogozen Treasure seen through the eyes of one of its discoverers – a narrative by archaeologist Plamen Ivanov; “New Evidence on the First Agricultural Civilization in Northwestern Bulgaria” by Mila Ganevtsovska – Hristo Botev Secondary School (teacher Georgi Ganevtsovski); “Natural and Cultural-Historical Landmarks in the Research of Dimitar Buchinski” – students of 9th grade, Hristo Botev Secondary School (teacher Maya Antova); studies on Kaleto – Mezdra (Pavlina Ruseva), the Roman Fortress – Roman, churches in Tarnak and Oryahovo, the Dimitraki Hadzhitoshev House Museum (under the guidance of Malina Todorova), the old monument of Hristo Botev and symbols of Old Vratsa (text by Vesela Pelova – State Archives), the Municipal Monument House in Malorad (Yulia Vlaichovska), and others.
The third part – “Heritage” – presents the activities of school expedition clubs and local history associations, work on national and European projects by community centers and school groups, and their initiatives related to studying and preserving the history and traditions of the Vratsa region. It mainly includes settlement studies from different parts of the region: Tipchenitsa and Banitsa villages – the history of the villages in photos, documents, and memories of elderly residents (leader Zoy Yoncheva); “School of the Centuries” in Borovan (club “Preserve the Bulgarian Spirit”); “Church of Sts. Peter and Paul” – Devene village (under the guidance of Tsetsa Vasileva); “Landmarks of Pavolche” by Maria Bozhkovska; “Natural and Cultural-Historical Landmarks of Dobrolevo village” by Galina Mitova; “The Gradište Area – Known and Unknown” presented by Mikhael Plamenov, history club, Hristo Botev Secondary School – Vratsa (teacher Eli Nikolova and consultant Nartsis Torbov), showcasing new archaeological discoveries through the curious eyes of children.
The authors of the collection call it “God’s Bridge”, giving this name (taken from the natural landmark) a wealth of meanings, symbols, and associations – a bridge between man and nature, between ancestors and descendants, a bridge between oblivion and glory, between the transient and the eternal!