Vidin, Bulgaria

 

Vidin's Mosque

Vidin had 90,000 people in 1989, but only 40,000 today. With over ten factories closed in this region the unemployment rate reached 60%. Under communism, these factories sold goods to Russia, but they quickly went bankrupt because of the low quality of their goods. Vidin is primarily known as the producer of rose water today. Bought by former politicians for pennies other dollar and sold for their machinery. Bulgaria was ruled by the Ottomans from the 15^th century until 1877, a result of the First Balkan War. We visited a 15^th century mosque with a heart, rather than a moon on top of its dome. when we were here in 2013, the Iman opened the mosque to us. Down the street was a renovated Jewish Synagogue, it was a ruin last time. The Jews came in the 14^th and 15^th centuries from Bratislava (Ashkenazi) and Spain (Sephardic).  During WW II, about 8500 were sent to the concentration camps but about 50,000 were saved by the Orthodox Christians.

Bab Vida Fortress

Bada Vida Fortress has existed here since Roman times. This fortress has survived because the Ottomans converted it into a prison. We explored the fortress, discovering a chapel, and rooms displaying clothes of nobility, and suits of armor. From the fortress, we could see the bridge built in 2022 with EU cohesion funds, only the 2^nd to connect Romania and Bulgaria.

Fortress Chapel

In the afternoon, we had a concert by the Vidin Sinfonietta, the Grand Circle Foundation helps to support them. We had a mix of popular classics, a Romanian Rhapsody by Bartok and compositions by two Bulgarian composers.