St.Dimitar Cathedral Temple

It was built at the end of 17^th century. The original building was wooden and it existed 2 and a half centuries.

On December 6, 1868 the temple was first officially used by Bulgarian bishop on Bulgarian language. Since then, this church became the chair of Vidin Metropolitan Antim I, who after four years became the first Bulgarian Exarch. On October 26, 1890 the day of the patron saint's day was laid St. Antimis and was celebrated the first Mass. Due to a worn-out of the wooden structure the temple had to be demolished and rebuilt. Funds for the building were collected from the capital of guilds and by voluntary contributions of citizens. The plan was developed by architect Bahnani. On March 10, 1885 officially was laid the foundation stone of the new church. The building is fully prepared and painted in 1926, when the solemn consecration and opening of the temple.

The internal architecture of the temple is impressive. The use of side galleries and two side towers of the main facade is a sign of Catholic cathedrals. Cross stone columns (14 m) with an imitation of marble, have ornamental capitals. The height of the central dome is 33 meters. Impressive are the murals, the openwork carving on balconies and crystal chandeliers. Woodcarving is modernized in Debar- galicheski - rechanski style. Interesting is the picture "Envoys of King Peter served gifts of St. Ivan Rilski". In their faces are depicted Georgi Sava Rakovsky, Hadji Dimiitar, Hristo Botev, Lyuben Karavelov, Vasil Levski and Todor Alexandrov.

Cathedral „Saint Dimitar” is a cathedral church of Vidin eparchy. The church is second biggest in Bulgaria after the cathedral-monument „Saint Alexander Nevski” in Sofia.

Availability for visits: free, all year round,

Transport accessibility: in Vidin, 200 km away from Sofia, buses and trains from Sofia to Vidin

Tourist infrastructure: hotels, restaurants near the site