Kozloduy
Brief history
For centuries, Thracians, Slavs and Bulgarians lived along this coast of the Danube River, creating their own way of life and culture. A Thracian settlement existed here in the first millennium BC, and discovered tombstones from that time testify to it. Later the great Roman Danube road ran across these lands. This is evidenced by the remains of the Roman castles Magura piatra (or Reganum), Camistrum and Augusta. In this region, there are three historic trenches, which were later called Lomski, Ostrovski and Kozlodujski, where a military garrison of Bulgarian ruler Khan Asparukh was placed. The first known written record of the existence of a village with a similar name in Nikopol's sanjak is given in a "Ijmal" register of the 15th century.
In the 18th century, the settlement was named as Kotozluk and Kozludere (a low coomb) and later Kozloduy (an angle of ice blocks).
Hristo Botev's detachment landed at Kozloduy on the Radetski steamer on 17 May 1876. The 8th cavalry regiment under Commander Alexandru Perets liberated Kozloduy from the Ottomans on 23 November 1877. This cavalry was part of the Romanian Forces under the command of the Russian Imperial Army. The construction of the first Nuclear Electric Power Station in Bulgaria, located in Kozloduy, started on 6 April 1970.
On 29 August 1969, by Decree №828, published in the State Gazette №68, Kozloduy is officially declared a city.
Kozloduy Municipality is located in the eastern part of Northwest Bulgaria, on the Danube River, at 25 meters above sea level, in an area of 285 sq. km. It is 7 km away from the Ogosta River. Kozloduy Municipality includes the town of Kozloduy and four villages - Harlets, Glozhene, Butan and Kriva Bara with a total population of about 20,000 people. At a distance of 81 km from the town of Kozloduy is the district centre of Vratsa, and 200 km away is the Bulgarian capital Sofia.
The region has traditions in the fields of power generation and agriculture. It has well-built infrastructure and communications system, highly qualified workforce. Rich historical past, favourable geographic location, clean environment and dynamic present, local government with an innovative approach to the policy of economic development of the municipality - this is Kozloduy municipality, developing according to European criteria.
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City Hall
Address: Str. “Hristo Botev” 13, City of Kozloduy 3320
Plant growing in the municipality is concentrated in a cooperative farm and several larger companies lease agricultural land. In addition, private farmers handle about 60,000 decares of agricultural land. Agriculture has the potential to achieve greater growth. Undoubtedly, this sector of the local economy is emerging as an attractive prospect for the region to be developed in the future.
Livestock farming is concentrated in the private sector, and production is primarily intended for self-sufficiency of the population.
Kozloduy Municipality has an altitude of 25 meters. Land resources are a factor of particular importance for the development of agriculture. The whole territory of the municipality is occupied by black earth soils that are rich in nutrients. The arable land is suitable for growing grain and vegetable crops, sugar beet and others.
About 98% of the active business units are small and medium-sized enterprises. Most of them are micro-companies with up to 10 employees, which make up nearly 90% of the local market, and who are working in the trade and services sector, transport and public services, bread and bakery and confectionery, hotel and restaurant services owned mainly by local residents. There are also medium and large companies with more than 50 employees in the municipality, operating in the energy and construction sectors.
TOURISM
- The natural features, geographical location and historical sites offer good opportunities for recreational tourism. In Kozloduy municipality there are historical landmarks related to the life of Hristo Botev and the liberation movement:
- Monument of Hristo Botev.
- “The Botev Park” Historical Site, spanning 160 decares, is turned into Kozloduy Protected Zone with an area of 10 ha and is the only protected site in the municipality.
- The 13 km long Botev way from Kozloduy to Butan, used anually by hundreds of participants in the Kozloduy-Okolchitsa National Tourist March.
- “Kozloduy- the new station of Bulgaria” museum.
- The early Byzantine town of Augusta, populated from the 4th to the 6th centuries, near the village of Harlets, is declared an archaeological reserve with an area of 80 decares.
- The Horse-and-sport base in the village of Butan - one of the five best complexes of this kind in Bulgaria.
- Near the municipality is the Vratsa Balkan Mountain, which offers opportunities for organized tourism and winter sports.
Radetski Steamship National Museum
The restored Radetski steamship is engaged in popularizing and fund-raising activities related to the life and work of Hristo Botev, the road of the Botev četa (company) and the national liberation movement. It also offers opportunities for water attractions and voyages.
Culture and traditions
Leisure time is an important part of the life of the municipality's population. With its cultural events and annual holidays, Kozloduy offers people of all ages and interests a variety of opportunities for spending their free time and enriching their spiritual culture. Kozloduy Municipality's biggest event is the "Crafts and Arts Festival", which takes place in September.
Plamen Petrov
