Today we are in monochrome, because there are no colors in these lands for a long time. This is another Bulgarian church that reminds of a past life.
Here, years ago, it was teeming with life. There were two villages that were submerged due to the construction of a dam. I recently showed you one such place near Montana.
Today, again with Magdalena and local guide Kiril we are exploring the Zhrebchevo dam.
This architectural masterpiece was built way back in 1891.
In 1965, by state decree, the village was submerged and only the church remained. Soon the building was completely reinforced to withstand when the dam flooded it. You see pictures from two of our trips, when it is on land and in water.
Last time it was raining heavily. Magdalena simply got out of the car and began to dance as if performing a ritual similar to that of the first church. This place is one of the most visited abandoned Bulgarian territories. Tourists from all over come here every day to take pictures with this cultural monument. Just thinking that there were houses around the church that are now under the dam gives me goosebumps.
The villagers were evicted to the big city - Montana. Today there is a neighborhood there named Zapalnia. That was the name of the village. I am very angry because the state is absent here as well. There is not one plaque to tell the story. While filming during these two days I explained to more than 10 people what happened here.
I'm thinking why the hell did the communists have to submerge villages to build dams?! See what lands are here. A few kilometers to the west would have saved the memorial built by the villagers over the years. And to have a dam again...
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ?