Zlataritsa is a town in north central Bulgaria, located in Veliko Tarnovo province. It is the administrative capital of Zlataritsa municipality. The name comes from gold dust found in the Zlatarishka River flowing through the center of town.
The population of Zlataritsa is about 2500 people.
Remains of human occupation have been found near Zlataritsa dating back to the neolithic period. Three mounds have been excavated and dated toas far back as 4000 BCE.
The current town is known from at least the Second Bulgarian Empire, during which it may have served as a summer residence for aristocrats from Veliko Tarnovo, when it was the medieval capital of Bulgaria. Remains of a 13th or 14th century medieval church have been found in the village of Gorsko Novo Selo, about 6 kilometers (4 miles) northeast of Zlataritsa.
Zlataritsa Historical Timeline
1791 Firman of Sultan Selim lists Zlataritsa with 440 houses.
1978 Zlataritsa becomes administrative seat of eponymous Zlataritsa municipality.
Zlataritsa is located 25 kilometers east of Veliko Tarnovo in the foothills of the Balkan Mountains. It lies just north of the late Roman road to Constantinople.
Its name refers to gold dust found in the river that flows through the center of town.
The Economy of Zlataritsa
Zlataritsa has a mixed economy made up interests in agriculture, forestry, industry and trade and services.
Agriculture and Forestry
Agriculture and forestry are the major economic sectors in Zlataritsa, with over 90% of the available land mass evenly split between these two sectors.
About 45% of the land mass of the municipality is under cultivation, mostly in small family holdings of less than 25 acres. Agricultural activities include farming of grain and vegetable crops, animal husbandry, vineyards and beekeeping. Favorable conditions for beekeeping and strong demand for honey present a strong opportunity to increase its share of activity in the future.
Forest covers a comparable 45% of the land mass, of which 75% is owned by the state and 11% by the municipality. These holdings represent a strategic reserve for the development of the municipal economy in areas such as tourism, hunting and fishing, logging and collection of herbs, berries and mushrooms. There are over 1500 botanical species found in the region, many of them useful for medicinal purposes, for eating and for tea. Collection of plants and herbs provides subsistence living for a large segment of the local Roma community.
Industry
There are three industrial concerns present in the municipality, Stolecom PLC Zlataritsa, Fundrama and CO Zlataritsa and Metal Invest EOOD Veliko Tarnovo, working in the areas of metal casting, metal processing, and sorting and packaging of waste and scrap of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. According to government reporting, these appear to be working at no more than one third of capacity.
Trade and Services
The majority of local business concerns can be found in the trade and services sectors, operating business services, trading of goods, and eating and drinking establishments.
Notable Zlataritsa Sights and Events
St. Nicholas Church Consecrated 1856. Declared a Bulgarian cultural monument.
Zlataritsa Ethnographic Exhibit.
Zlataritsa History Museum
Famous People of Zlataritsa
Nikola Zlatarski (1823-1875) Bulgarian teacher, a public figure of the Bulgarian national revival period. He actively fought for an independent Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
Georgi Zlatarski (1854 – 1909) Prominent Professor of Geology at Sofia University. Considered the father of Bulgarian Geology. Son of Nikola Zlatarski and brother of Vasil Zlatarski.
Vasil Zlatarski (1866 – 1936) Prominent Bulgarian Historian and Medievalist, a Pofessor and Rector of Sofia University. His three volume History of the Bulgarian State during the Middle Ages is still considered a standard work in the field. Son of Nikola Zlatarski and brother of Georgi Zlatarski.
Ivan Meshekov (22 August 1891 – 7 January 1970) Bulgarian literary critic and artist. The National Award for Literary Criticism is named in his honor.
Ivan Radoslavov (12 January 1881 – 5 October 1969) Bulgarian literary critic and editor of Hyperion, a leading Bulgarian literary magazine. The National Award for Literary Criticism is named in his honor.
Dimitar Stoyankov (12 August 1914 – 1999) called Bai Mityo. A well known Bulgarian healer. Awarded the title National Healer and given an office in the Zlataritsa municipal clinic.
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