Ottoman Architectural Heritage in Bulgaria
Please use MS Internet Explorer 8 or rather use a decent free web browser like Firefox or Chrome
After I did some thinking for a year or so, I finally decided to run the OAHB Project simply because I really believe something of this kind is badly needed and it must begin at some point. There are several reference works, which can provide us with a general idea of what has remained from the numerous public buildings constructed by the Ottomans all over the Balkans, but these publications do not exhaust the topic and are not even close to offer a complete list of all standing Ottoman monuments in the Balkans. In case one decides to visit a place in the Balkans he/she quite often faces the lack of information for any Ottoman buildings there or whenever it exists it is presented in publications that often are not easily accessible.
Living in the era of internet and digital photography today’s overwhelming flow of information certainly broadens our perspectives and makes everything look easier. However, the need of place providing more reliable and concise information on what has remained from the Ottoman architectural legacy even in a smaller territory like today’s Bulgaria seems to me apparent.
Central part of Plovdiv in 1900s - courtesy of Mr. Vladimir Baltchev
OAHB Project aims to provide a nearly complete list of all standing Ottoman monuments in Bulgaria. Each monument will be introduced by short notes providing the basic details and whenever possible accompanied by historical and modern photographs. Obviously this is a long term project and a difficult task for a single person. While expending the project’s database I will gladly receive contributions by other people who share my views along with their comments and criticism.
