Barakovo between River Valley, Industrial Heritage and Church Ruins
Barakovo combines landscapes, industrial history and religious traces.
Within the municipality of Kocherinovo, the Rilska flows through Barakovo.
The Balabanov Factory represents paper and cardboard production, a museum and the history of the industrial complex. The history of the village also includes the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God, the preserved church remains in “Tsarkveto” and a Roman marketplace with Late Antique coins. For further destinations, you can also access Stob, Kocherinovo, the Rilska, the Stob Pyramids, the Rila Valley, the Rila Monastery, the Balabanov Factory and Tsarkveto.
What kind of landscape can be experienced around Barakovo?
In the area around Barakovo, the Stob Pyramids can be explored via a developed eco-trail and a maintained cart track. The transition between the developed eco-trail and the maintained cart track describes two different sections of the route. For travel planning, the excursion can be divided into a route section and a viewpoint experience. From the pyramids, there are views of the Rila Valley, the river, the access routes to the Rila Monastery and snow-covered mountain peaks.
What does the Balabanov Factory tell us about Barakovo?
The industrial complex of the Balabanov Factory began with a sawmill built near Barakovo in 1902–1903. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Balabanov Factory was considered the largest paper and cardboard factory on the Balkan Peninsula. The complex combines the early sawmill operation with the later-dated areas for cardboard and paper.
The paper factory of the Balabanov Factory produced various types of paper and cardboard based on German models.
The newly established museum at the Balabanov Factory is an example of significant cultural heritage. The museum documents paper production with machine models, various tools and objects, as well as one of Ivan Balabanov’s carriages.
The museum also includes an authentically reconstructed train composition. It represents trains from the early period of the narrow-gauge railway line from Kocherinovo to Kirilova Polyana. The train composition adds the former narrow-gauge railway line to the history of the factory.
What religious and archaeological traces are there?
The Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Barakovo is over one hundred years old. Until 1913, it served as an Ottoman customs post and was subsequently converted into a church. It is located directly next to the bridge over the Rilska. Its position directly by the bridge spatially connects the church with the course of the Rilska.
The remains of a church have been preserved in the “Tsarkveto” area near Barakovo. Local tradition connects the church ruins in “Tsarkveto” with the veneration of Saint Theodore.
Excavations in the Barakovo area uncovered a Roman marketplace with more than 3,100 Late Antique coins. For those interested in culture, the local history includes not only the church but also ruins, tradition and coins.
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When was the paper factory of the Balabanov Factory opened?
The paper factory of the Balabanov Factory opened on May 6, 1937.
When did the cardboard factory of the Balabanov complex begin operations?
The cardboard factory of the Balabanov complex began operations on January 1, 1929.
To the higher-level travel overview: Kocherinovo.
