Dupnitsa

The town has existed since ancient times. The German traveller Arnold von Harff visited Dupnitsa On a hill overlooking the town there is a giant cross, commemorating the Bulgarians who perished in the Balkan Wars and World War I. On the same hill there lay the ruins of a medieval fortress. During World War II over 4,000 Jews from parts of Greece and Yugoslavia annexed by Bulgaria were arrested on 4 March 1943 and deported, some to an internment camp in Dupnitsa. Many of them were from Komotini and Xanthi. After 11 to 12 days in the Dupnitsa camp, on 18 – 19 March they were transferred by train to Lom on the Danube for extermination at Treblinka. As part of the Bulgarian Commissariat for Jewish Affairs's policy of deporting Jews, Dupnitsa also was between June 1943 and September 1944 the site of a ghetto for 1,624 Jews expelled from Sofia, even though there was ultimately no exterminations of Jews resident within Bulgaria's pre-war borders.{{cite web |title=Bulgaria: International Search Warrant For Galevi Brothers ==Population==

According to the 2021 census, the population of Dupnitsa is 28,333 people. Ethnic linguistic and religious composition {{Pie chart According to the 2011 census data, ethnic identity was distributed as follows: • Bulgarians: 29,099 (92.0%) • Roma: 2,333 (7.4%) • Others: 102 (0.3%) • Indefinable: 106 (0.3%) • Undeclared: 1,879 (5.9%) Total: 33,519 Some Aromanians live in Dupnitsa. An Aromanian cultural organization is present in the town. ==Sport==

match PFC Marek Dupnitsa 2:0 FC Bayern Munich. Marek Dupnitsa is the football club representing the town. Marek was a dominant force in Bulgarian football in the mid-late 1970s, finishing 3rd in the domestic league, and winning the National Cup. The team played with success in Europe, defeating at home powerhouses such as Bayern Munich, Aberdeen and Ferencvaros. The Volleyball club Marek Union - Ivkoni is from the town. Dupnitsa also has strong traditions in chess, kick-boxing, baseball. ==Name==

The names Tobinitsa, Doupla and Dubnitsa are used throughout its history. Dubnitsa survived until the Liberation of Bulgaria, when the official name was changed to Dupnitsa. In 1948 the town was renamed Stanke Dimitrov; in 1949 it was called Marek; the name was once again changed to Stanke Dimitrov in 1950. After the "democratic changes", the name Dupnitsa was restored. Dupnitsa is located at an altitude of 500 m in a valley, surrounded by hills. Its location, as seen from above, resembles a hole (дупка, dupka in Bulgarian), hence the name Dupnitsa. There are five rivers flowing in the vicinity. Dupnitsa is referred to as "The Green and Shady Town", because of its location which makes it quite shady in summer and due to the abundance of trees in the town. Dupnitsa is called "The Little Italy of Bulgaria". This nickname comes from the fact that many inhabitants have gone over the years to work and live in Italy and every summer they return to their home town (see: Bulgarians in Italy). Another nickname of the town is "the town of pharmacy". ==Sister cities==

Dupnitsa Point on Smith Island, South Shetland Islands is named after Dupnitsa. ==Gallery==

File:Cherkva dupnitsa.JPG|St. George Orthodox Church in Dupnitsa File:Mosque in Dupnitsa.jpg|The gallery in Dupnitsa seen in the night, former mosque, built on the foundations of an Orthodox church File:The mosque in Dupnitsa during winter.jpg|The gallery in Dupnitsa seen in winter, former mosque, built on the foundations of an Orthodox church File:Dupnitsa town hall.JPG|The town hall of Dupnitsa File:Dupnitsa winter.jpg|Dupnitsa's Youth Home in winter File:Jewish-Memorials-from-Dupnitsa-Bulgaria.jpg|Memorial to the Jewish soldiers from Dupnitsa File:Dupnica-Centre.jpg|Dupnitsa centre File:Cherkvata sv georgi stroej 1906god.png|St. George Orthodox Church in 1906. ==Notable people==

• (-1811), Bulgarian rabbi • Ana Maleshevska (1871–1942) – Bulgarian teacher, revolutionary and political activist • Aaron Aaronov - opera singer; • Asen Tcholakov – revolutionary, activist of VMRO • Georgi Ikonomov (1822–1865/7) – key figure of the National Revival period of Bulgaria • Georgi Kitov (1943–2008) - archeologist • Georgi Nadzhakov (1896–1981) - Dean of Sofia University "St. Kl. Ohridski" (1945–1952), physicist, "the father of the Xerox copier", academic • Ivan Bozhilov (1940–2016) – historian, professor • Lyubomir Dyakovski (b. 1951) – opera singer, father of Ludmila Dyakovska (co-founder of "No Angels" pop-band from Germany) • Nikola Drenski(1898–1944) – Bulgarian colonel • Nikola Lazarov (1880–1900) – Bulgarian revolutionary, member of VMORO • Patricki Sandev (1882 - 1959) born in Kazanlak and spent most of his life in Dupnitsa. • Plamen Oresharski, former Prime Minister of Bulgaria, born in Dupnitsa. • Tsvetan Sokolov – Bulgarian volleyball player • Ventsislav Mutafchiyski (b. 1964) - military doctor and Head of the National Operational Headquarters for Fight with Coronavirus Pandemic in Bulgaria • Voin Voinov (b. 1959) – director-choreographer, organizer of South-Western International Folklore Festival "Peace on the Balkans", Honorary Citizen of Dupnica • Yane Sandanski, Bulgarian revolutionary and political activist (born in Vlahi, moved to Dupnica as a child) ==References==