Merichleri is one of the towns in our country with the strangest name. There are several hypotheses about what or who the city, which is located in the Dimitrovgrad municipality, was named after.
According to GRAO data from the end of 2023, its population is just under 1,700 people. The place has been inhabited since ancient times. Remains of a Thracian settlement, which later became Roman, were discovered. Coins from the period of Philip and Alexander the Great have been found. As part of the Roman Empire, the settlement is thought to have played a key role as part of a city called Pizar Pizos. This Roman city was founded by the emperor Septimius Sevarus and still has remnants of it – such as a Roman bridge decorated with lion heads. Officially, the settlement is considered to have existed since 1373
What does the name Merichleri mean
A legend tells about the English princess Mary, who was cured with the mineral water of the settlement and left her name as a thank you. This seems like the least likely hypothesis because no one can say for sure which British aristocrat she was, if any. The second hypothesis is related to the abundance of pastures in the region. The pastures are also called “meri” (mera), which in literal translation would mean the settlement with many pastures.
Some associate the name with the river Maritsa, which runs nearby. The Turkish name of the river is “Merich”. Some researchers connect the two names – that of the river and that of the settlement. This explanation is related to the following translation from Turkish:. “mer” translates as “bitter”, “ich” means “drink” and “leri” is the past participle. These words are associated with mineral springs around the village, also known for the fact that the water in them has a bitter taste. So it is assumed that the name of the settlement translates as “bitter water”.
Merichleri - a paradise for sheep breeders
Merichleri was one of the largest Bulgarian villages at the end of the 19th century, known for its favorable conditions for animal husbandry. The region attracted many shepherds due to the presence of mineral springs, the salts of which were believed to increase milk production from sheep. Combined with the temperate climate and natural protection from the winds, this village proved to be a wonderful place to live. After the Liberation, the data show that the number of inhabitants was over 1,500. It is particularly interesting that because of the animal husbandry, the village was completely Bulgarian, even within the Ottoman Empire, writes Actualno.com
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