The town of Belitsa

Belitsa is situated in the southwest part of Bulgaria, 76 km from Blagoevgrad. The first written proofs about its existence in the past were form the XVI A.D. Most of the people of Belitsa were forced to become Muslims in the end of the XVII century. During the Revival the main occupation of the population was agriculture, stock- breeding and lumbering. The Belitsa people participated in the Ilindensko-Preobrazhensko uprising, disagreeing to the Berlin Peace Treaty, according to which the Macedonian territories belong to the Ottoman Empire. After its suppression, Belitsa was burnt down as more than 475 houses were destroyed and 120 people killed. Nevertheless the liberation of the town came in 1920 after the help of more than 260 local rebels. One of the symbols of Belitsa is the church, built in 1835, which burnt down during the mutiny. After the liberation of the town the church was restored on a new, more distinguished place. In 2000, 12 km away from Belitsa, the first Park for dancing bears on the Balkans and in East Europe was opened. The territory of the park is covered with natural forests, meadows, lakes and caves for suitable for the hibernation of the bears.

Location