Webcam Vidin. Central Square
On the Danube River in northwestern Bulgaria lies the city of Vidin. It is located 190 kilometers from the capital Sofia and borders two countries: Serbia to the west and Romania to the north, the border with which is the Danube River. Bulgaria's Vidin and Romania's Calafat are connected by an operating ferry. The bridge will soon be commissioned.
This structure has a railway line, an alley for pedestrians and cyclists, two road lanes in both directions. Its length is 3,600 meters.
On the site of the modern city in the 3rd century BC was the village of Dunonye, built by the Thracians. After the conquest of these territories by the Roman legions on the site of the village they built a fortified fortress Banoniya.
Its purpose was to guard the coastal border road. The Byzantines called the town Vidini, while the Bulgarians called it Bdin.
The second half of the 14th century was a favorable period for the city. At that time it reached the peak of economic development and was the capital of the kingdom of Bdin, a major river port and trade center. In 1396 the city was captured by the Ottoman army. From 1794 to 1807 Vidin became the residence of the Turkish commander Osman Pazvatoglu, who owns the land in north-west Bulgaria.
During the long occupation the city was gradually transformed into an eastern settlement. New constructions, buildings, mosques and streets were built in the oriental style. To this day in the modern city some of those buildings have survived. After centuries of dependence, in 1850 the Bulgarians rebelled, trying to free themselves from the Turkish dominion. After the liberation from the Ottoman dominion the inhabitants of the neighboring villages moved to the town.
The territory of modern Vidin is rich in historical sights.
The most well-preserved medieval fortress-museum Baba Vida is situated on the Danube coast. It was built on the site of the Roman fortress of Banonia. On its territory there is a museum and a theater scene on which historical plays and performances are staged.
