Samokov

Samokov () is a toun in Sofia Province in the soothwast o Bulgarie. It is situatit in a kettle atween the muntains Rila an Vitosha, 55 kilometres frae the caipital Sofia. Due tae the suitable winter sports conditions, Samokov, thegither wi the nearbi resort Borovets, is a major tourist centre.

In the past, Samokov wis a centre o handicrafts an airt, wi notable figurs like Zahari Zograf, Hristo Dimitrov an Nikola Obrazopisov. The toun's name is a compoond wird o "samo" an "kov", respectively meanin "self" an the ruit o the verb "forge, hammer", an comes frae the samokov, a mechanical forge pouered bi watter, syne the toun o Samokov wis a major iron producin centre durin the Middle Ages.

History
It is thocht that Samokov wis foondit in the 14t century as a minin settlement wi the assistance o "Saxon" miners. It was first mentioned in 1455 an in Ottoman registers o 1477 as Vlaychov Samokov. In the 16t an 17t centuries, it grew intae the greatest iron extraction centre in the region, wi wastren travellers describin it as 'a fairly lairge ceety'. In 1565-1566, Samokov had to produce and deliver tae Belgrade 20,000 horseshoes an 30,000 nails. Samokov producit anchors an ither materials for the shipyards o the Bulgarie Black Sea Coast an aw, particularly Pomorie. As the loggin industrie wis well developit an aw, in 1573 the fowk o Samokov haed tae deliver 300 beams as far as Mecca..

Sports
Bulgarie's anerlie ski jumpin hill is locatit in Samokov. It's a fairly sma hill, K-40 metres whare you can jump doun tae 45 metres. The hill is vera auld an needs tae be renovatit. A lairge modren sports arena wis opened on 8 Mairch 2008. Basketbaw, volleybaw, boxin, warstlin an judo. It cost 16 million lev. There is a skiin centre in Samokov for Cross Kintra skiin an aw, a sma alpine hill an a snawbuird pairk.

Climate
Samokov haes a humid continental climate - cauld, lang winters, an no too hot simmers. The ceety is locatit at 1029 metres altitude. The average annual temperatur is 7.5 C.

Honour
Samokov Knoll on Livingston Island in the Sooth Shetland Islands, Antarcticae is namit efter Samokov.

Gallery

 References 

Freemit airtins

Samokov.bg Offeecial municipality wabsteid 
Samokov rticle at Picturs o Bulgarie 
Guide tae restaurants in Samokov 
Guide tae ceeties an veelages in Samokov municipality


Category:Populatit places in Sofia Province
Category:100 Tourist Steids o Bulgarie
Category:Ski jumpin in Bulgarie