Bulgaria Inside

Toutrakan's fishermen neighborhood is a unique place. It happens to be the only fishermen's village in the country, situated near the Danube River. The neighborhood is situated in the northeastern part of Toutrakan, along the riverbank .

The neighborhood has been named an architecture preserve. It has 48 houses, each one being a monument of culture. In the beginning of the 90s of the 20th century. A project of the national monuments of culture institute was used for the restoration of two houses. A third one is to undergo the same.

Some of the houses were constructed 150 to 200 years ago, which makes them valuable archaeological landmarks. The neighborhood itself appeared in the 19th century and has been set up in the typical revival period style.

In the past, Toutrakan residents made their living and developed two crafts connected to the proximity of the Danube River. Locals were involved in fishing and sailing. Boats made in the region were used throughout the Bulgarian part of the Danube. In the beginning of the 20th century, Toutrakan had seven boat workshops.

Toutrakan was part of Romania from 1913 to 1916 and from 1919 to 1940. These periods affected local traditions, yet fishery and sailing remained untouched.

Houses in Ribarska Mahala (fishermen’s neighborhood) were constructed in two main ways. Some have stone foundations and cellers that of depth 1.5 to two meters. This type of buildings usually has two to three rooms. The second type of houses in the neighborhoods features the typical wood joists. Fishermen houses lack a yard, since these people never dealt with agriculture. Each house features an icon of St. Nikola, the protector of fishermen.

The Toutrakan ethnographic museum also describes the life and crafts of locals.

Ribarska Mahala has a hotel and a restaurant. Nearby you can see the only preserved boat workshop, which has turned into a modern factory today.