Emil Ivanov, Mayor of Svoge Municipality

“The past 2004 was a rather hard year for our municipality. We had quite a number of problems to solve in the social sphere.

It’s my second term of office as Mayor of Svoge Municipality, during which I intend to finalise many of the projects we have started. For example, we are making good progress with the building of 9 hydroelectric plants along the Iskar river. This is a large-scale project for which realisation we are going to attract foreign investment.

In 2004 we worked on many projects related to the municipality infrastructure and most of all we tried to attract investors to the region.

Thanks to our good cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Environment and Waters, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Education, and last but not least the municipality management, large part of our priorities were materialised.

We are parting with 2004 with one really great recognition given to us by the National Convent of Experts: ’Formal status of a town with high prestige and a contribution to the good name of Bulgaria is given to the town of Svoge with Mr. Emil Ivanov as mayor. The Bulgarian public highly appreciates the town’s accomplishments for building the image of the country, imposing the advantages of cultural values, presenting highly impactful historic dignity, guaranteeing high level of education and business attractiveness.

That is why, may we have more health, good luck and money in the new 2005.”

Svoge Municipality covers an area of 866 sq. km. in Western Bulgaria. It is situated along the valley of the Iskar river, 40 km north of the capital Sofia, bordering with the municipalities of Greater Sofia, Kostinbrod, Godech, Botevgrad, Varshets, Vratsa and Mezdra.

The Thracians were the earliest known to history inhabitants of this region. Several forts are dated to that period located in the area around the village of Zessele, whose Thracian name was Meteriza. Three necropolises are also found. The objects discovered in the Iskar Gorge, dated 4th–1st century BC, show that the region was at that time in trade relations with the Mediterranean world. During the Roman age, a settlement existed in the valley built with the purpose of maintaining the Roman road connecting Serdika with the Northern Roman provinces. At the foot of Mount Grohoten (town of Svoge), coins were found belonging to the late Roman and early Byzantine period of 4th–6th century AD.

After the Liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman occupation, the Svoge region was comparatively economically underdeveloped. Main occupations of the population were primitive agriculture, stock breeding and cutting down timber. The Sofia-Roman railway was constructed at the end of 19th century, following which Svoge became a railway station and a compact settlement made up of several previously sparsely located settlements. Until 1990 the village of Iskrets was the administrative center of the region, but was gradually replaced by Svoge owing to its better economic and strategic position.

Over time new workshops, quarries, lime-pits opened. Antracit coal began to be mined.In 1921 a new candy and chocolate factory was found employing 200 workers. Petty hand crafts were flourishing. Large proportion of the population was employed in the railways. Many schools and cultural community centers opened also. Quite naturally, Svoge turned into the local administrative, economic and cultural center, what it continues to be today.

The picturesque Iskar Gorge is the most prominent feature in the regional landscape. Another nature site of interest is Mount Grohoten, 1045 m.

The region is a traditional location for hiking, rock climbing, hunting, extreme sports and cave tourism. Some well-known mountain huts are located there - Trastenaya, Proboynitsa, Skaklya and Tursava lodge. “The Vazov trail” is also located here, named after the Patriarch of Bulgarian literature, who wrote some of his work here. Temnata Dupka cave, near Lakatnik, and Elata cave, near Bov, are among the caves most visited by rock climbers.

The municipality boasts over 80 cultural, historic and archeological places, monuments, monasteries, etc., most visited of which is the Sedemte Prestola monastery. This monastery was built during the period 1030–1040 AD by the princes Damyan and George, who were brothers, and accommodates the miracle-working icon “Birth of the Mother of God”, brought there from Mount Athos (Sveta Gora). The monastery is situated in one of the most beautiful spots in the valley of the Gabrovitsa river under Mount Izmerets. In the past it was mainly visited by worshippers, but today it is a lovely place to visit in summer and winter alike.

Projects completed in Svoge municipality

Reconstruction of St. Ivan Rilski primary school in the village of Iskrets. Programme Economic and Cultural Assistance, granted to Bulgaria by the government of Japan. Project value: 40 884 US dollars

Day centre for children with disabilities - Gradishte cultural community centre. Financed by the Foundation for Local Government Reform (FLGR) and Charles Stewart Mot Foundation. The project aims to provide services to disabled children living on the territory of the municipality. Project value: 40 000 BGN

People with disabilities and the social environment. The project aims to improve the cultural and social lives of people with disabilities by adjusting two facilities to their needs, thus making movement for them possible and also participation in all spheres of public life. Financed by FLGR. Project value: 3 690 BGN

Strategy and future projects:

The project for building 9 small hydroelectric plants along the Iskar river and 7 micro-plants on its tributaries is of crucial importance for the future development of the municipality. It is considered to add value of national importance as well.

Its social and economic impact will be the securing of foreign investment amounting to 40 mil US dollars. The construction and subsequent operation of the hydroelectric plants will create new jobs sufficient to overcome unemployment in the municipality. All this is expected to create opportunities for development of various local businesses, boost consumption and trade, reduce claims of Svoge municipality towards the Republican budget owing to an increase in own proceeds from holdings in the hydroelectric plants and tax revenues. The ecological impact of the project will be such that the purity of the Iskar river will be recovered since impurities are going to settle down before Svoge and not naturally – 40 km downstream. Oxygen content in the river water will increase, thus making it possible for the river flora and fauna to recover and become more diverse .

Suitable conditions will be provided for water sports and the building of modern hotels with better service so that foreign tourists can be attracted.