in the northwestern region of Pazardzhik Province, the village of Poibrene lies gracefully on the left bank of the Topolnitsa River. Encompassing a vast expanse of 115,000 decares, Poibrene’s terrain is uniquely split between the Sushinska and Ihtimanska Middle forests, divided by the striking Poibrene gorge. The village is surrounded by other settlements, with the village of Oborishte 8 km to the east, Belitsa 13 km to the west, and Petrich 14 km north, while the municipal center of Panagyurishte is a mere 18 km away.
Etymology and Historical Foundations
The name “Poibrene” is derived from “Poibrie” meaning “a place by the river” (Ibar), which was the ancient name for the Maritsa River. Scholars like Irechek suggest that the founders of Poibrene initially lived near the Maritsa. The current Ibar River, merging with the Maritsa near the village of Raduil, is thought to preserve the ancient name of the Maritsa, leading some historians to propose that the ancient Hebrus is actually today’s Ibar and not the river originating from the Marichini Lakes. According to a legend from Raduil, the settlers who founded Poibrene migrated from an abandoned village along the Ibar.
Modern Transformations and Cultural Heritage
In 1948, the construction of the Topolnitsa Dam began, which is located adjacent to the village. Unfortunately, parts of the neighborhoods close to the river were submerged and had to be relocated. In 1972, a mineral water source was discovered near the village at a depth of 610 meters with a temperature of 42°C, leading to the construction of a mineral bath in 1979.
There is evidence of human activity around Poibrene dating back to ancient times. Notably, a female dolmen with burial gifts was uncovered here. To protect the passage through the Poibrene Gorge from medieval enemy invasions, the fortifications of “Asenovo kale” and “Shishmanovo kale” were constructed, which are still referred to as “Gradishta” by the locals.
Socio-Historical Dynamics During the Ottoman Era
It is believed that Poibrene was established during the Ottoman rule by residents from nearby villages and migrants. Although an Ottoman register from 1576 does not mention Poibrene, it lists neighboring villages: Belitsa, Mechkare (Oborishte), Petrich, and Panagyurishte. The first official record of Poibrene appears in an Ottoman document dated 1635, indicating a predominantly Bulgarian population. Historians believe that the founders of Poibrene initially lived near the Maritsa River and included settlers from regions like Western Macedonia – Debar, Struga, Prilep, and Kostur – as well as from the Pirot region. Around the village, 18 neighborhoods emerged, such as Alachovets, Balchovtsi, Kayraka, and others. During the Ottoman rule, the village had a ‘voynuk’ status, exempting it from taxes in exchange for guarding the pass.
The Struggle for Freedom and Educational Progress
During the great movement of Balkan Christians in the years of the war between the Ottoman Empire and the so-called Holy League (1689), orders were issued to arrest several voynuks from the villages of Panagyurishte, Mechkare, and Poibrene who were harboring outlaws like Balcho. Vasil Levski established a revolutionary committee in the village, and local guerillas played a pivotal role in the April Uprising. Throughout the wars following liberation, Poibrene sacrificed 176 lives with 18 more unaccounted for. In 1934, the village population peaked at 4,499.
In 1942, a primary school was established, where Georgi Bakardzhiev, a noted patriot and educator, taught for many years, continuing the village’s rich tradition of resilience and cultural preservation.
