Dobric History, Bulgaria

Dobric is a town situated in the northeastern part of Bulgaria and serves as the governmental capital of the province of Dobric. It is the eighth most populous town in the country due to the fact that it is the capital of the South Dobruja region. Add to this, tourists flock to town because it is near some of the best Bulgarian resorts. The population of Dobric is a mix of Bulgarians, Turks, and Romans. This trend is rooted and can be explained by Dobric History.

Dobric History – Early Settlement

Dobric was first inhabited during the early AD centuries. Traces of life, dating back to as early as the 3rd century AD, was found in the area. Based on findings, the Romans settled in town between the 200 and 300 AD. By the 8th century, an antique Bulgarian community lived in town.

Dobric History – Establishment of a Modern Town

In the 15th century, a modern town, which is a big market community, developed in the area. At that time, the town was known under the name Kourkouskelya, meaning dry port. In 1651, based on the accounts of a Turkish traveler, the town consisted of 2,000 residences, which were divided into 7 sections. It was recognized as a fast trading and craft-making center. Aside from the permanent houses, Kourkouskelya also had a marketplace with 100 stalls and 3 inns.

Between the later years of the 1700s and the early years of the 1800s, numerous Bulgarians from Kotel Odrin and Turgovishte migrated in town. It also became the center of the Russian-Turkish Wars and during the course of the battles, the town was able to be freed three times on three different occasions. In 1843, St. Georgi, the first Bulgarian church in town, was constructed. In the following years, a monastery school, a hospital, and a first rate school opened.

Dobric History – Bulgarian Liberation

During the last years of the Russian-Turkish War from 1877 to 1878, the town volunteered many of its guides and translators to aid the Russian army. After the War of Liberation in 1878, Bulgaria, including Kourkouskelya, was freed from the rule of the Ottoman Empire. The town was liberated without any dent caused by the war.

In 1882, many of the residents insisted to change the name of the town to Dobric, derived from the Bulgarian leader Dobrotitsa. In 1911, a railway was opened connecting Dobric to Razdelna and Kardam. In 1916, it was extended to Medgidia, a town in Romania. These developments paved the way for the town’s growth.

Romania occupied Dobric and stayed in town until 1916. It became a part of the Romanian territory until 1940 when the Krayova Agreement was signed transferring the town to the Bulgarian territory.

Today, Dobric is the hub of the biggest grain-belt, the Bulgarian granary, in the country. It preserves its culture and history and is one of the visited tourist destinations in Bulgaria like Sofia.

Aside from Dobric History, there are yet other facts worth exploring about Europe. Bucharest History is as interesting as the information found in this Bulgarian city.