Vidin Things to Do

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Testimony of the past glory of the city, of an era of fruitful trade & a poli-ethnic society,
the abandoned synagogue lies today hidden among vegetation and behind communist era blocks of flats. But it makes a romantic sight, wandering around and inside it, for this is all that remains of this once vibrant community, one of the most important Jewish centers on the Danube during the Ottoman period.

Considering its size, I wonder how large used to be the Jewish community in Vidin ? Why did they leave after WW II? How many still live in Vidin? What will the future bring to this old building, will it ever be restored ?

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The mosque finds herself in a much better state as compared with the nearby synagogue…...i thought this was because the Muslim community of Vidin is still alive....but apparently this is not the case., for there are hardly any muslims left in Vidin today.

Pazvantoglu mosque is considered a national heritage site, probably because of its unique minaret - a heart, instead of a crescent moon, on the top ! Most unsual symbolism promoted by the rebelling feudal Osman Pazvantoglu, the sponsor of the edifice.

This most interesting piece of information is thanks to VTer Venelin !

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Whist Vidin is well-endowed with both ancient and recent mouments to its long and interesting history the Fortress of Baba Vida is without doubt the most impressive. This is Bulgaria's best preserved Medieval Castle and has been sympathetically restored to pretty much its former glory. The moated castle sits imposingly on the bend of the river, its towers and ramparts commanding the river, the town and the surrounding valley and its history goes back to Roman times.

Legend has it that the Bulgarian origins of the castle began when a powerful local Boyar died leaving three daughters, Vida, Gumza and Kula who then divided his lands between them. Gamza and Kula married men who subsequently squandered their birthrights but the wise Vida never married but instead became the mother of her people and had the castle built, using the original Roman foundations, for their protection. Hence the castle is named 'Baba Vida" meaning "Old Mother Vida".

Whether the legend is true or not the name has obviously stuck and the fortress has played an important role throughout the area's past including withstanding an 8-month seige by the Byzantine Army around 1000 AD. The present day castle has evolved over the centuries including major modifications during the brief period of Austrian rule and by the Ottomans more laterly. It now houses a dedicated museum containing some interesting local relics.

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Typically soviet piece of civic architecture depicting an oversized woman on top of a tall column. The monument is now covered in graffiti and red paint.

Raised to pretext a celebration of the WWII resistance against Nazis, it was soon associated another significance – soviets are here.
It reminded me of similar monuments, all depicting glorious women which dominate the city-lines in Yerevan, Tbilisi, and even as far as Bukhara, Uzbekistan – same recipe used to shape the collective imaginary and boast soviet dominance over space and time.

One of the few public acknowledgements of the postwar political repression in communist Bulgaria. The memorial looks like a rather modern church and is locked.

Looking at it, I couldn’t refrain an evil thought – communism victims seem…quite insignificant and small, even obscure...when compared with the benefits of communism indicated through the grandeur of the Mother Bulgaria.

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I did not visit the Thracian and Roman artefacts, jewellery & statues inside, but I wandered around the beautifully restored downtown villa which hosts the museum – the pagoda shaped wooden building used to be a police station (aka konak) during the Turkish rule in the 19th century.

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The city’s main cathedral, recently restored with the help of the Beautiful Bulgaria project.
Interesting frescoes and icons inside, as well as the usual oversupply of comically unfriendly octogenarian church cleaners.

I chose to observe the no photos inside, though number of locals did not notice the no mobiles one.

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The ruins of the 3rd century Roman fortress of Bononia have been reconstructed by the Bulgars in the 10-14th century, then by the Turks in the 17th century, who used it to stockpile weapons

The fortress was spared destruction during the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, so it is considered the best preserved medieval stone fortress in Bulgaria.

Wander around and through the fortress courtyards and bastions, make a cliché picture to the waxwork prisoner sitting in the dungeon, walk the remaining outer walls on the Danube shores.

Entrance - 2 leva