Figures of Plovdiv

Figures of Plovdiv

Hristo G. Danov (1828 -1911)

Hristo G. Danov (1828 -1911)

1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM

Teacher, man of letters, founder of the organised publishing in Bulgaria; member of the BG Literary Society (todays Bulgarian Academy of Sciences). In the period 1854-56, while a teacher at the Plovdiv parish (central) class school St.st.Cyril and Methodius, he published his first book Staroplaninche (i.e. coming from the Stara Planina mountain). Calendar of 1856 leap year.

In 1857, Hristo G. Danov founded in Plovdiv (together with the teacher Y.Truvchev and the book-binder N.Boyadzhijski, amd later in cooperation with Yoakim Gruev) United Bookbindery, which later grows into a bookshop and a publishing house. From 1862, it worked under the name of Hristo G. Danov and Co. Publishing House, with branches in the towns of rousse and Veles (1867), Sofia and Lom (1880). It mainly released textbooks and school materials, as well as the first wall maps. It also had some publishing of single works by Old Greek, Russian and West European classical writers - Euripid, Tourgenev, Mopassan, Joules Vernes.

In that period, Hristo G. danov published his own magazine called Letostruy, or Home Calendar (1869-76). Together with the trader Y.Kovachev, he established a Bulgarian printhouse in Vienna in 1874, which was later moved to Plovdiv in 1878, when on the initiative of the then Vice Governor of the city, Todor Bourmov, and with the financial support of the Provisional Russian Management, Danov started publishing the first common-Bulgarian newspaper Maritsa (1878-85). 

Hristo G. Danov was an active public figure. He was Mayor of Plovdiv (1896 - 1899), and one of his essencial initiatives was the forestation of the city hills of Bounardzhika and Sahat Tepe. He was buries in the yard of the St. Holy Mother Cahtedral Church in Suborna Street in the Old Town.

The Danov House Museum in the Old Town is located very close to that church. The house was built in the middle of the 19th century. Its stone foundations were built on solid rock, and it allows a unique view to the town. The Russian Knjaz Alexey Nickolaevich Tseretelev lived in this house for some time. His name was closely connected with some of the most dramatic moments of Bulgarian history - the April Uprising in 1876, the Russian-Turkish War in 1877-1878, and the organisation of the newly-liberated Bulgarian State. Today this beautiful house hosts a special exposition, dedicated to Bulgarian Book Publishing.

Tsanko Lavrenov  (1896-1978)
Tsanko Lavrenov (1896-1978)
1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
Tsanko Lavrenov (1896-1978) - an original Bulgarian artist, who drew experience from the national traditions of old Bulgarian art and from folklore. A highly creative artist, he poeticised...
Ruslan Raichev (05.05.1919-08.01.2006)
Maestro Raychev worked with Europe's key symphony orchestras including La Scala in Milan, Paris' National Opera and Lond...
Ivan St. Geshov (Plovdiv, 20.02.1849 - 11.03.1924)
Political figure, diplomat, cousin of the eminent public figure, Ivan...
Kiril Naydenov (1945 - 2004)
Kiril Naydenov (1945 - 2004)
1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
Kiril Naidenov was born on 23.05.1945 in the village of Slaviani.
Yoakim Gruev (9.09.1828 - 01.08.1912)
Born in Koprivshtitsa, he studied in Plovdiv Greek School. Later he taught in the Class School of his native town of Koprivshtitsa, succeeding his teacher, Nayden Gerov on that position (1848-56)...
Dimiter Matevski (1835 - 1882)
Dimiter Matevski (1835 - 1882)
1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
He participated in the national liberation movement. Persecuted by the Turks, he moved into Plovdiv. About the year 1868, he became teacher at the St.Trinity school. He was an active participant in...
Hristo Stoichkov (born 1966)
Hristo Stoichkov (born 1966)
1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
The Bulgarian football star Hristo Stoichkov officially finished his football-playing career on December 15th, and from January 1st 2004 becomes the Barcelona coach. He will be training the team pl...
Stefka Kostadinova (born 25.03.1965)
Stefka Kostadinova is a famous BG athlete. She was born on March 25th, 1965 in Plovdiv. She has gradiated from the Plovdiv School of Sports, initially starting a career of gymnastics and swimm...
Konstantin Stoilov (1853-1901)
Konstantin Stoilov (1853-1901)
1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
Dr. Stoilov was born on September 23rd, 1853, in Plovdiv, in the well-to-do patriotic family of Stoil Zakharliata. His mother comes fro the emi...
Gavril Krustevich (1817 - 1898)
Gavril Krustevich (1817 - 1898)
1/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
Gavril Krustevich (real name: Gandyu Krustev Baev) - born in the town of Kotel in 1817. Public figure and statesman; man of letters; Honorary member of Bulgarian Literary Society (later the Bulgari...