Krasen is a village in North-east Bulgaria, part of General Toshevo municipality, Dobrich region. It is located 44 km to the town of Dobrich, 94 km to the city of Varna and 19 km to the municipal center of General Toshevo.

general information

The relief is flat-hilly - vast fertile fields are alternating with low, green hills. The climate is temperate-continental and is characterised with hot summer, warm autumn, cold winter with plenty of snowfalls and a sunny, yet chilly spring. The population numbers to approximately 300 people. Altitude - 150 m.

history

The settlement has a rich history. Many antique artefacts had been revealed near the village - an evidence that the area was inhabited since Thrace-Roman age.
The former name of the village used to be Karalii. The name derives from the story of a rich Turkish farmer named Kara /meaning "black" in Turkish/ Ali whose farm was located in the area. As time passed the name has transformed into Karalii.
The village flourished in the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. The famous Bulgarian writer Yordan Yovkov came to work as a teacher in the village in 1907. This is where he found most of the prototypes of his characters.

infrastructure

Krasen is one of the most well-developed villages in Dobrudja region. In the village there is a community center, a secondary school, a post-office, a mayor's office, a doctor-s office, a shop of the local production co-operation. There are also several food shops, cafe, restaurant, pub and a petrol station. It is one of the few villages where the local bakery shop is preserved and the locals may enjoy the delicious hand-made bread.
The church is one of the oldest in Dobrudja. It was built in 1866 and has recently been fully renovated and its yard was landscaped.
The village is supplied with water and electricity on a regular basis. The roads are in a very good condition. Regular bus transportation is available to the town of General Toshevo and the nearby villages. Coverage of all mobile operators is available. Many Russian and English citizens have purchased properties in the village.
The fertile land on the territory of the village is cultivated by an agricultural co-operation and private agricultural proprietors. The local people are traditionally occupied in agriculture, as the main crops include wheat, sun-flower and rape-seed. Well  developed are the the vegetable-making and the fruit-growing, as well. The vast sun-flower fields provide excellent condition for bee-keeping and the production of quality honey.

development prospects

The rich history of Krasen along with its well developed infrastructure and the museum of Yordan Yovkov are all wonderful features for the development of cultural tourism.
Even though the village is far from the sea-coast it attracts with its tranquillity and preserved atmosphere of a typical Dobrudja village where the wind gently swings the heavy wheat-ears, the bees are buzzing, the roosters wake up the hard-working people and the clear, fresh air gives harmony and the sense of unity with the beautiful nature around.

landmarks

• One of the most valuable archaeological findings is a religious Thracian monument made of ivory. It represents a 11 cm long human hand, holding a nutshell in which a miniature of  the Thracian Horseman is built-in aiming his spear at a bear. It is supposed that this masterpiece of the Antiquity Art is dedicated to the cult to the Thracian Horseman.

• Another intriguing historical monument revealed near the village of Krasen is a stone column dated back to the 6th century which has been re-used. Runic inscriptions were found on its three sides. The column was found during the Romanian occupation and was then taken to the Bucharest Museum where it is still kept today.

• The so called Filipova Krachma /Philip's Pub/ was built in 1901 by a man called Philip Sivkov one of Yovkov's characters. In 1907 Yovkov arrived to the village and settled in the pub's inn. Several of the stories told by Yordan Yovkov took place in this pub. The old building is well preserved and one could still feel the atmosphere of the early 20th century and see the balcony on the second floor where writer Yordan Yovkov used to sit, watch the everyday life of the locals and create his masterpieces.

• The building in which Yordan Yovkov worked as a teacher is well-preserved, as well. Today it is a museum  dedicated to the life of the great story-teller and humanist Yordan Yovkov. The exposition presents pictures of Yovkov, his parents, different editions of his works. One of the valuable exhibits is a student's book, signed by Yordan Yovkov.

Source: http://www.dobrichmedia.com, www.wikipedia.org
Pictures: Mirela and internet