Dupnitsa is a town in western Bulgaria. It is located in Kyustendil Province, at the foot of Rila, about 65 km south of Sofia. The town has existed since Antiquity. The names Tobinitsa, Doupla and Dubnitsa are mentioned throughout history, the last one surviving until the Liberation of Bulgaria, when the official name was changed to Dupnitsa. In 1948 the town was renamed to Stanke Dimitrov; for a short period in 1949 was called Marek, but the name was once again changed to Stanke Dimitrov in 1950. After the democratic changes, the old name Dupnitsa was restored.
Geographically Dupnitsa is located at an altitude of 500 m in a valley, surrounded by hills. Its location, as seen from above, resembles a hole ("дупка"/"dupka" in Bulgarian), hence the name - Dupnitsa. There are five rivers flowing in the vicinity.
On October 15, 1902, 600 women and children fled the vicinity of Dupnitsa from the attacking Turkish troops.
On a hill overlooking the town there is a giant cross, commemorating the Bulgarians who perished in the Balkan wars and World War I. Also on the same hill there lay the ruins of a medieval fortess.
Dupnitsa is also referred to as "The Green and Shady Town", because of its location which makes it quite shady in summer and due to the abundance of trees in the town. One of the interesting things about Dupnitsa is that it's often called "The Little Italy of Bulgaria". This nickname comes from the fact that many inhabitants have gone over the years to work and live in Italy and every summer they return to their hometown. Another reason for this name is that Dupnitsa is the town with the most used-car lots in the country and they are mainly shipped in from Italy.
Nowadays Dupnitsa is a fast developing town combining new buildings with modern architecture with all the historical monuments it boasts. Because of its beautiful location at the foot of the Rila mountain the town is marvelous holiday destination. One of the main branches of industry is the pharmaceutical company Actavis (formerly HeFeKa, in Bulgarian ХФК), which gives employment to about 30-40 % of the citizens. Small business is developing rapidly due to the city's economic growth.
Dupnitsa is also famous for its cultural festivals. From 1st of May to the 2nd of June many festivals are held in the town due to the richness of the Bulgarian holiday calendar. The nightlife here is very well developed. There are a lot of local pubs and clubs where the young people meet and have fun. A few other popular places for socializing are the recently refurbished City Park and the Town Garden (in Bulgarian: Градска градина/Gradska gradina). |
