By the Iskar River, primarily along its left bank at the exit from the Iskar Gorge of the Balkan Mountains, the city of Mezdra offers a picturesque gateway to the Fore-Balkan and the Danubian Plain.
The Founding of Modern Mezdra
The contemporary settlement of Mezdra traces its origins to the construction of the Sofia-Gorna Oryahovitsa railway at the close of the 19th century. The builders, mostly migrants from the nearby villages of Moravitsa, Bodenets, and Dermanitsa, laid the foundations of this burgeoning community. Around the newly formed Mezdra station, people began to settle. The establishment of the Mezdra-Vidin line further elevated Mezdra’s status, making it the second most important station in Northern Bulgaria after Gorna Oryahovitsa.
A Melting Pot of Cultures
Nearly half of Mezdra’s population comprises settlers from the town of Kichevo and its surroundings, now located in Western Macedonia. Before September 9, 1944, there existed a cultural and educational society named after the famed Kichevo revolutionary, Yordan Piperkata.
The Rise of Education
In the dawn of the 20th century, specifically in 1900/1901, Mezdra witnessed the opening of its first school. The heirs of Todor Balabanov generously donated a significant amount for the construction of the school’s building. By 1929, the school building was completed. From 1923 to 1940, the school was led by its first director, Nikola Alipiev, marking a significant chapter in Mezdra’s educational history.
This blend of historical milestones, cultural influx, and educational advancements paints a vivid picture of Mezdra’s evolution over the years, reflecting both complexity and a dynamic rhythm in its narrative.
