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119-798: The village is in Strandzha Nature Park . Lying at the mouth of the Rezovo River in the Black Sea , Rezovo is the southernmost point of the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and the southeasternmost inhabited place in Bulgaria and the European Union mainland. The village is 11 kilometres south of Sinemorets , 17 km from Ahtopol and 36 km from Lozenets . As the Rezovo River constitutes

238-679: A "European lottery" to campaigning for the introduction of local voting rights for foreign nationals throughout Europe. Under the header of "strengthening of the Community's image and identity", the Committee suggested the introduction of "a flag and an emblem", recommending a design based on the Council of Europe flag, but with the addition of "a gold letter E" in the center of the circle of stars. The European Council held in Milan on 28/29 June 1985 largely followed

357-526: A cross for several reasons. Firstly, the cross symbolizes roads crossing, and also represents the east, the west, the north, and the south with its arms. Furthermore, the cross appears in most of the European Council members' flags, and it is the oldest and most noble symbol in Europe. Moreover, the cross depicted Christianity. As far as the colours are concerned, he proposed them to be white and green, colours of

476-526: A crown and the stability of government. The blue background resembles the sky and symbolises truth and the intellect. It is also the colour traditionally used to represent the Virgin Mary. In many paintings of the Virgin Mary as Stella Maris she is crowned with a circle of twelve stars. In 1987, following the adoption of the flag by the EC, Arsène Heitz (1908–1989), one of the designers who had submitted proposals for

595-441: A hill made of marble blocks. Coins discovered during the excavations prove the practice of Charon's obol . The ritual constitutes a coin being placed in or on the mouth of the dead person before burial as a payment for Charon , the ferryman who conveyed souls across the river that divided the world of the living from the world of the dead. The top of the hill is crowned by a small domed tomb with similar construction plan to those of

714-400: A local chief and high priest, included a domed mound, a fortified edifice for the priests, a mould necropolis, a mine and a fortress. The domed mound has a diameter of 25 metres (27 yd), built by three rows and white marble blocks, and has been preserved up to a height of 1.8 metres (2.0 yd). The fortress is situated on Golyamo Gradishte peak, the highest point of the park; its diameter

833-635: A population of global significance. They include red whip snake , Aesculapian snake , European blind snake , sheltopusik (Europe's largest lizard), Kotschy's gecko , European pond turtle , Balkan pond turtle , spur-thighed tortoise , Hermann's tortoise , etc. The sand lizard , which is typical for western Bulgaria but very uncommon to the east, is also present in the park. Ten amphibian species have been recorded, such as European tree frog , eastern spadefoot and southern crested newt . The absence of common reptiles and amphibians, such as fire salamander , common spadefoot and common European viper ,

952-501: A symbol. Numerous proposals were looked into. Among the unsuccessful proposals was the flag of Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi 's International Paneuropean Union , which he had himself recently adopted for the European Parliamentary Union . The design was a blue field with a red cross inside an orange circle at the centre. Kalergi was very committed to defending the cross as "the great symbol of Europe's moral unity",

1071-750: A unique historical heritage. The vegetation of Strandzha evolved before the formation of the Bosphorus Strait when the whole southern Black Sea coast was linked and represents the westernmost extension of the Euxine-Colchic ecoregion . Because of the proximity of three seas, the Black Sea , the Marmara Sea and the Aegean Sea , Strandzha remained unaffected by the Quaternary glaciation and retained its mild and relatively humid climate. Under those conditions

1190-487: Is 100 metres (0 yd) and the walls are 2.5 metres (2.7 yd) thick. In the 5th–3rd century BC it was a dolmen and it was reconstructed as a monumental sanctuary in the 3rd–2nd century BC. The complex had a prominent place in the religious life of the Thracian tribes from all over the mountain. The Thracian necropolis of Propada, 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the north-west of Malko Tarnovo, contains 40 burial mounds on

1309-687: Is celebrated in mid-August in the historic area Petrova Niva in commemoration of the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising . The most characteristic tradition in Strandzha is Nestinarstvo , which involves a barefoot dance on smouldering embers performed by nestinari . The ritual was practised in several Bulgarian and Greek villages in the region and was first documented in 1862 by the Bulgarian poet Petko Slaveykov . Some historians theorise that Nestinarstvo dates back to Thracian times. The ritual

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1428-525: Is criss-crossed by a dense network of deep ravines, streams and rivers. The rivers have a discharge maximum in winter, in November – December. With a total length of 147 kilometres (91 mi), the Veleka river is the longest and largest in Strandzha. Its upper course has a rocky bottom and many rapids. As the river flows through the karstic region of the mountain, its banks are steep with cliffs and precipices. After

1547-444: Is higher and influenced by the cold northern and north-eastern winds. There is no natural protection to the north which often results in abrupt temperature falls. Strandzha has a significant potential for climate therapy. Due to the healthy climate along the coastline combined with sandy beaches, Ahtopol was designated a climatic sea resort of national importance and Sinemorets a climatic sea resort of local importance. Strandzha

1666-647: Is included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves under the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme. The whole territory is part of the network of nature protection areas of the European Union , Natura 2000 . Strandzha Nature Park falls within two terrestrial ecoregions of the Palearctic temperate broadleaf and mixed forest  — the Balkan mixed forests and the Euxine-Colchic deciduous forests . Forests cover 80% of

1785-591: Is located in an area with a difficult access along the banks of the homonymous river and features archaeological sites from ancient Thrace. Uzunbodzhak is included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves under the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme and is situated along the border with Turkey. Vitanovo is located on the main Rezovo ridge 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) from Malko Tarnovo and 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from Brashlyan . Its altitude varies from 400 to 600 metres (0 yd), making vegetation different from that in

1904-494: Is noteworthy. The ichthyofauna of the park is among the richest in Europe with 41 freshwater and brackish water species of fish, as well as 70 marine fish species. There are nine Ponto- Caspian and five boreal relict species. The Ponto-Caspian dates from the ancient Sarmatian Sea. The boreal dates from the epoch of Quaternary cooling. The Black Sea bleak and the Bulgarian minnow are endemic species that can only be found in

2023-407: Is performed on the feast days of Saints Constantine and Helena on 3 and 4 June when a pilgrim procession consisting of all residents, led by nestinari carrying icons, heads to a holy spring near the village, where they consecrate the icons and dance horo . After sunset, the crowd makes a large fire about 2 metres (2.2 yd) wide and 5 to 6 centimetres (2.4 in) thick and dances around it until

2142-613: Is preserved in its authentic form only in the village of Balgari. The main threat to the park comes from the uncontrolled tourist development which has plagued the Bulgarian Black Sea coast since the early 1990s. So far, the coast of the Strandzha Nature Park has remained almost intact. The most notable example is the case of the Golden Pearl hotel complex near the village of Varvara, whose construction commenced in 2006 on

2261-528: Is situated entirely in Burgas Province within the territory of two municipalities, Malko Tarnovo and Tsarevo , in the extreme south-eastern corner of Bulgaria. This area includes the 7,000 inhabitants of 19 villages, and the towns of Malko Tarnovo and Ahtopol . Strandzha is the least populated region in Bulgaria with a population density of 10 people per km . It is accessible through the I-9 first class road to

2380-614: Is the largest protected area in Bulgaria spanning a territory of 1,161 square kilometres (448 sq mi) in the Strandzha Mountain in the extreme south-eastern corner of the country on the border with Turkey. It was established on 25 January 1995 to protect ecosystems and biodiversity of European importance, as well as the traditional cultural, historical and folklore heritage of the region. The altitude varies from 710 metres (780 yd) on Gradishte Peak to 0 metres (0 yd) at

2499-460: Is the fireplace, built in stone, up to 2 metres (2.2 yd) wide in its foundations and 1 metre (1.1 yd) deep. It narrows in height and takes the shape of a truncated pyramid. Examples of Strandzhan houses have been preserved in Malko Tarnovo, Brashlyan and Kosti . Historically the region has been a centre of Bulgarian culture. Strandzha is inhabited by three ethnographic groups —

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2618-476: Is the first nature reserve in Bulgaria, established in 1933. It is situated 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to the north of Kosti and 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) to the east of Balgari . It hosts 260 species of vascular plants and forests with average tree age of 120–130 years. Srednoka is situated in the lower course of the Mechi Dol river and is the only reserve in Strandzha with many meadows and open spaces. Tisovitsa

2737-543: Is the same as today's, at the coast. However, the locals were forced to move inland because of persistent raids by Caucasian Laz pirates , settling during the 19th century in the Kladarsko Bardo area 10 kilometres to the west, also along the Rezovo River. By 1900, that "Old Rezovo" had 70–80 houses and an Eastern Orthodox church of Saint Elijah the Forerunner. The seaside land was not completely abandoned, as it

2856-780: The Ahtopol peninsula and are dated from the Neolithic period (c. 6000—3000 BC). Since the mid-1st millennium BC the mountain was inhabited by the Thracian tribes Thyni and Asti and was part of the Odrysian kingdom . The Thracians of Strandzha were infamous for their pirate raids. By the 2nd century BC, the power of the Odrysian kingdom declined and it became a client state of the Roman Republic . However, it kept its independence until 46 BC, when it

2975-463: The Black Sea coast with average length of 50 kilometres (31 mi) from west to east and 20 kilometres (12 mi) from north to south. The nature park is situated in Burgas Province with two towns, Malko Tarnovo and Ahtopol , and several villages within its territory. It includes five nature reserves : Silkosiya , Sredoka , Tisovitsa , Uzunbodzhak and Vitanovo . Silkosiya is the oldest one in Bulgaria, established in 1933, and Uzunbodzhak

3094-519: The Bronze Age and many of their rock sanctuaries and dolmens have been preserved in Strandzha. One of the main characteristics is the presence of megalith structures. Among the most important monuments of that epoch is the Thracian cult complex in Mishkova Niva , one the south-eastern slopes of Golyamo Gradishte peak 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from Malko Tarnovo. The complex, constructed in honour of

3213-630: The Bulgarian Empire for the first time in the aftermath of the Byzantine–Bulgarian war of 894–896 . Strandzha remained a contested region between Bulgaria and Byzantium throughout the Middle Ages . In the 14th century, Bulgarian emperor Ivan Alexander (r. 1331–1371) gave refuge to the Hesychastic monk Gregory of Sinai and provided funds for the construction of a monastery near Paroria , in

3332-727: The European Commission ) for the first time on 29 May 1986. The European Union, which was established by the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 to replace the European Communities and encompass its functions, has retained de facto use of the "Community logo" of the EC. Technically and officially, the "European flag" as used by the European Union remains not a "flag" but "a Community 'logo' — or 'emblem' — [...] eligible to be reproduced on rectangular pieces of fabric". In 1997,

3451-806: The European Union  — Strandzhan oak, Caucasian whortleberry, Colchic holly, twin-flowered daphne ( Daphne pontica ), tutsan ( Hypericum androsaemum ) and H. calycinum . The Pontic rhododendron is the symbol of the park and an important relict species with a highly disjunct areal in Europe where it inhabits only the north-western Iberian Peninsula and Strandzha. There are 56 endemic plant species, including local endemics ( Veronica turrilliana and Anthemis jordanovii ), western Black Sea coast endemics ( Silene caliacrae and Lepidotrichum uechtrizianum ), 6 Bulgarian endemics ( Pyrus bulgarica , Oenanthe millefolia , Galium bulgaricum , Veronica krumovii , among others) and 40 Balkan endemics, such as Saponaria stranjensis . 113 species are listed in

3570-628: The International Union for Conservation of Nature management category V (protected landscape/seascape). The whole territory of the park and the adjacent Black Sea waters are included in the European Union network of nature protection areas Natura 2000 under the code Strandzha BG0001007. Strandzha Nature Park is listed as an important bird and biodiversity area by BirdLife International . There are two information centres for visitors: in Malko Tarnovo and in Gramatikovo . Strandzha Nature Park

3689-510: The Pan-European movement wrote a memorandum which contained some rules that a flag for such union should follow. The rules he stated where: After these statements, Coudenhove-Kalergi proposed that the Pan-European movement flag would be the perfect one to fit these criteria 15 July 1951, the consultative assembly put forward a final memorandum on the European flag. The symbols proposed where

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3808-514: The Quaternary , and have gentle slopes and a slight inclination. In the western regions there is an extensive karst area with carbonate rocks spanning from the village of Varovnik to the town of Malko Tarnovo with ponors , caverns and caves . The territory of Strandzha Nature Park falls within the Mediterranean soil area of Europe, characterised by wetter soils in comparison to the rest of Southern Europe . There are seven soil types in

3927-534: The Red Book of Bulgaria , including several species that within Bulgaria can only be found in the park — Ophrys reinholdii , Verbascum bugulifolium , Sideritis syriaca , Cistus laurifolius , among others. Strandzha Nature Park has the richest vertebrate fauna among all protected areas in Bulgaria ;— 410 species, not counting 70 species of marine fishes. There are 66 breeding mammal species. Among

4046-451: The Red Cross in particular being "recognized by the whole world, by Christian and non-Christian nations[,] as a symbol of international charity and of the brotherhood of man", but the proposal was rejected by Turkey (a member of the Council of Europe since 1949) on grounds of its religious associations in spite of Kalergi's suggestion of adding a crescent alongside the cross to overcome

4165-612: The Strandzha dialect which is part of the Rup dialects and has preserved many words from the Old Bulgarian language. The traditional Ruptsi settlements in the park are Balgari, Brashlyan, Byala Voda , Gramatikovo , Kalovo , Kondolovo , Malko Tarnovo, Rezovo , Slivarovo , Stoilovo , Vizitsa , Zabernovo and Zvezdets. After 1913 the Ruptsi who inhabited the territory of modern Turkey settled in

4284-530: The Strasbourg coat of arms at the centre was only used for the pennants of Council personages and flags flown on Council buildings, and omitted in all other cases. The council put forward this proposal, which had a green flag with a white and red Star of Liberation, and the Strasbourg coat of arms on the upper left-hand corner. The star in a circle was in 1944-5 the insignia of the armies of Liberation. appeared in

4403-573: The Thracian tombs of Kazanlak , Aleksandrovo , Mezek , etc. The necropolis was active until the 4th century AD. Another sanctuary of interest is situated in Kamenska Barchina, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Malko Tarnovo. It is located in an area of conglomerate rocks , which are relatively rare in Strandzha. There are many circles carved in the rock, associated with the sun cult and the preparation of sacred wine. There were around 60 Thracian fortresses in Strandzha, many of which were used in

4522-490: The face of a clock . The diameter of each star is equal to one-ninth of the height of the hoist. The colours are regulated in the 1996 guide by the EC, and equivalently in the 2004 guide by the Council of Europe. The base colour of the flag is defined as Pantone " Reflex Blue ", while the golden stars are portrayed in Pantone "Yellow": The 2013 logo of the Council of Europe has the colours: The twelve-star "flag of Europe"

4641-667: The flag of Europe in the village, along with the national and municipal flags, and the street starting from the Bulgarian border sign was renamed the Europe Alley. Rezovski Creek on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands , Antarctica is named after Rezovo. 41°59′N 28°1′E  /  41.983°N 28.017°E  / 41.983; 28.017 Strandzha Nature Park Strandzha Nature Park ( Bulgarian : Природен парк Странджа Priroden park Strandzha , also transliterated as Stranja Nature Park )

4760-621: The "Central and Eastern Eurobarometer " poll included a section intending to "discover the level of public awareness of the European Union" in what were then candidate countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Interviewees were shown "a sticker of the European flag" and asked to identify it. Responses considered correct were: the European Union, the European Community, the Common Market , and "Europe in general". 52% of those interviewed gave one of

4879-498: The Black Sea coast are a wintering destination for some birds. There are 269 avian species in the park, including populations of global importance of white-backed woodpecker , semi-collared flycatcher , olive-tree warbler and sombre tit , as well as populations of European importance of Egyptian vulture , white stork , black stork , Eurasian eagle owl and four eagle species. There are 24 species of reptiles , 11 of which have

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4998-579: The Black, Marmara and Aegean seas which clearly distinguishes the local climate from that of the rest of Bulgaria. The region is among the warmest in the country with temperatures rarely falling below 0 °C in winter and rising above 24 °C in summer due to the cooling effect of the Black Sea. The average temperature drops with the rising elevation in the interior which creates conditions for more frequent and longer-lasting mists, heavier snowfall and earlier frosts. In winter frequent fogs lead to hard rime and

5117-403: The Council of Europe in 2004, the flag is rectangular with 2:3 proportions: its fly (width) is one and a half times the length of its hoist (height). Twelve yellow stars are centred in a circle (the radius of which is a third of the length of the hoist) upon a blue background. All the stars are upright (one point straight up), have five points and are spaced equally, like the hour positions on

5236-533: The Council of Europe lobbied for other European organisations to adopt the flag as a sign of European unity. The European Parliament took the initiative in seeking a flag to be adopted by the European Communities . Shortly after the first direct elections in 1979 a draft resolution was put forward on the issue. The resolution proposed that the Communities' flag should be that of the Council of Europe and it

5355-462: The Council of Europe responsible for designing the flag, in a 1989 statement maintained that he had not been aware of any religious connotations. In an interview given 26 February 1998, Lévy denied not only awareness of the Marian connection, but also denied that the final design of a circle of twelve stars was Heitz's. To the question "Who really designed the flag?" Lévy replied: I did, and I calculated

5474-497: The EU had not yet assumed its present name or constitutional form (which came in steps in 1993 and 2009). Adoption by the EU, or EC as it then was, reflected long-standing CoE desire to see the flag used by other European organisations. Official EU use widened greatly in the 1990s. Nevertheless, the flag has to date received no status in any of the EU's treaties . Its adoption as an official symbol

5593-598: The European Movement, which was of great significance since 1947. Green also depicted hope, and the green cross over a white background was a design that had not been used yet. Finally, Levy proposed that the arms of Strasbourg was an important element to be added as it represented where the council would be, and being located in the heart of the cross meant that the council was the point where the European roads met. Shortly after this design considerations by Paul Levy, on 27 July 1950, Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi, president of

5712-599: The Executive Forest Agency of the Ministry of Environment and Water of Bulgaria. The directorate implements the state policy for the management and control of the protected area, aiming at the long-term conservation of the unique nature and ensuring the sustainable social and economic development of the region. It monitors the management and conservation of the forests, game, and fish resources while encouraging tourism and environmental protection. The park falls within

5831-538: The Madonna is inspired by the banner of the cathedral's Congrégation Mariale des Hommes , and the twelve stars are found on the statue venerated by this congregation inside the cathedral (twelve is also the number of members of the congregation's council). The Regional Office for Cultural Affairs describe this stained glass window called "Le vitrail de l'Europe de Max Ingrand" (The Glass Window of Europe of Max Ingrand). According to graphical specifications published online by

5950-496: The Middle Ages when churches were constructed in their inner yards. The fortresses were built of large stones without the use of mortar. Vestiges of those stronghold can be found near the villages of Mladezhko , Balgari , Brodilovo , Malko Tarnovo, etc. The ruins of a fortress with church foundations are situated 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) to the south-east of Zvezdets . There are ruins of several small early Byzantine castles along

6069-587: The Ministry of Environment and Water. Flag of Europe The flag of Europe or European flag consists of twelve golden stars forming a circle on a blue field. It is the official flag of the European Union . It was designed and adopted in 1955 by the Council of Europe (CoE) as a symbol for the whole of Europe . Since 1985, the flag has also been a symbol of the European Union (EU), whose 27 member states are all also CoE members, although in that year

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6188-690: The Muslim objections. Other proposals included the flag was the European Movement , which had a large green E on a white background , a design was based on the Olympic rings , eight golden rings on a blue background, rejected due to the rings' similarity with "dial", "chain" and "zeros", or a large yellow star on a blue background, rejected due to its equality with the flag of the Belgian Congo. The Consultative Assembly narrowed their choice to two designs. One

6307-531: The Ottoman province of Edirne in The Destruction of Thracian Bulgarians in 1913 , published in 1918, before the wars Rezovo (Рѣзово) was a village in the district of Vassiliko inhabited by 70 Bulgarian Exarchist families. After the wars, the main occupation of the locals was charcoal production and logging , with some agriculture , cattle breeding and fishing . Wood and charcoal were exported by means of

6426-405: The Ruptsi, Tronki and Zagortsi. The Strandzhan or Eastern Ruptsi (called this way to distinguish them from the Rhodopean Ruptsi) are considered the largest of the three groups. The etymology of the name is linked to the word ropa or rupa , which means a "mine shaft" in the local dialects. They have preserved some vestiges of the pagan religious traditions and rites of the Antiquity . They speak

6545-409: The Turks who committed great atrocities to the local population. Over 60 villages were burned down and thousands were massacred. Strandzha was liberated during the First Balkan War (1912–1913) and formally joined Bulgaria after the Second Balkan War in 1913. The rich history of Strandzha has left important vestiges across the territory of the park. The Thracians worshipped a Sun god as early as

6664-573: The Veleka and Rezovska drainages. There are several species restricted to the Black Sea basin ( vyrezub , mushroom goby , bighead goby , toad goby , tubenose goby , western tubenose goby and racer goby ). The round goby and estuarine perch are found in the Caspian and Black Sea basins. The invertebrate fauna is poorly studied. There are 80 Bulgarian and 4 local endemics, as well as 34 relict species. The documented history of Strandzha dates back several millennia. The oldest traces of human habitation are stone axes and ceramic fragments found in

6783-427: The Veleka include the Mladezhka river (40 kilometres (25 mi)), Mechi Dol (26 kilometres (16 mi)), Katun (15 kilometres (9.3 mi)), and the main tributary of the Rezovo river is the Delievska river (17 kilometres (11 mi)). Strandzha Nature Park includes five nature reserves ( Silkosiya , Sredoka , Tisovitsa , Uzunbodzhak and Vitanovo ), eight natural landmarks, and 14 protected areas. Silkosiya

6902-401: The border between Bulgaria and Turkey . According to a hypothesis its etymology is linked to the mythological king Rhesus of Thrace . The banks of the river are covered with dense oak and beech forests. The Bulgarian bank is characterised with many cliff formations and caves. The Rezovo river is faster and colder than the Veleka and therefore has a larger trout population. The tributaries of

7021-399: The border between Bulgaria and the European part of Turkey , Rezovo directly overlooks the Turkish bank of the river and the Turkish village of Beğendik, in Demirköy district, Kırklareli Province . Rezovo is the most southeastern point of the continental EU. Researchers have attempted to link the village's name to that of Rhesus of Thrace , a Thracian king of the Iliad , and although

7140-413: The case of the Cross of Burgundy , emblem of the "Grand Duchy of the West". (on the official documents, "sky-blue" does not refer to the shade, but to the symbolism of the colour. The French translation, the heraldic description and hatching pattern, and colour illustrations make it clear that the background was azure (blue) and not light blue.) Following Expo 58 in Brussels, the flag caught on and

7259-509: The coast and in some areas to the west of the park have replaced forests destroyed by human activity. The most widespread floral communities of that type are dominated by Chrysopogon gryllus , Bothriochloa ischaemum and bulbous bluegrass ( Poa bulbosa ). The coastal dunes are home to psammophytic vegetation. The river banks are covered with dense forests of black alder ( Alnus glutinosa ), white willow ( Salix alba ) and crack willow ( Salix fragilis ). Deciduous forests cover 80% of

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7378-399: The coast between the rivers Veleka and Rezovska. These were part of the defensive system built by emperor Justinian I (r. 527–565) against Avar and Slavic incursions. On a small cape to the south of Ahtopol are the ruins of the Church of St Yani which used to be part of a larger monastic complex. The only preserved section of the edifice is the apse . During the Ottoman rule the area

7497-402: The correct answers, 15% gave a wrong answer (naming another institution, such as NATO or the United Nations), and 35% could or would not identify it. In 2002, Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas designed a symbol, dubbed the "barcode", which displayed the colours of the national flags of the EU member states in vertical stripes. It was reported as a replacement for the European flag, which was not

7616-425: The crown of twelve stars of the Woman of the Apocalypse , often found in Marian iconography (see below ). On 25 September 1953, the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe recommended that a blue flag with fifteen gold stars be adopted as an emblem for the organisation, the number fifteen reflecting the number of states of the Council of Europe. West Germany objected to the fifteen-star design, as one of

7735-416: The effect that Heitz's proposal contained varying numbers of stars, from which the version with twelve stars was chosen by the Committee of Ministers meeting at Deputy level in January 1955 as one out of two remaining candidate designs. Lévy's 1998 interview apparently gave rise to a new variant of the Marian anecdote. An article published in Die Welt in August 1998 alleged that it was Lévy himself who

7854-410: The exact design of the new flag. Officially adopted on 8 December 1955, the flag was unveiled at the Château de la Muette in Paris on 13 December 1955. For the flag of the Council of Europe, many stylistic proposals were made in regards to colours and symbolism. These first proposals were made 19 January 1950 by Paul Levy in a letter to the Secretary-General. He proposed that the flag should contain

7973-471: The existence of an ancient settlement at the place of the modern village has been proven (with the oldest artifacts dating to the 4th century BC), it is hard to establish any connection with Rhesus' personality. In ancient times, the area was subject to large-scale metallurgical activity, with the largest ancient deposit of slag in Bulgaria. It is believed that the medieval fortress of Castrition lay on Cape Kastrich north of modern Rezovo. Today's village

8092-431: The fire dies and only embers remain. The nestinari's barefoot dance on embers that follows as the climax of the night is accompanied by the beat of the sacred drum and the sound of a gaida (Bulgarian bagpipe). After the dance, the nestinari's feet do not show any trace of injury or burns. In the past the ritual was performed in the villages of Brodilovo, Gramatikovo, Kondolovo, Kosti and Slivarevo but nowadays Nestinarstvo

8211-465: The flag's design, suggested a religious inspiration for it. He stated that the circle of stars was based on the iconographic tradition of showing the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Woman of the Apocalypse , wearing a "crown of twelve stars". Heitz also made a connection to the date of the flag's adoption, 8 December 1955, coinciding with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Paul M. G. Lévy , then Director of Information at

8330-442: The flag, were not included in the replacement Treaty of Lisbon , which entered into force in 2009. Instead, a separate declaration by sixteen Member States was included in the final act of the Treaty of Lisbon stating that the flag, the anthem, the motto and the currency and Europe Day "will for them continue as symbols to express the sense of community of the people in the European Union and their allegiance to it." In reaction to

8449-409: The following Furthermore, several colours were also proposed: In the end, the flag of Europe was chosen to have 12 five-pointed golden stars in a circle over a blue background, probably inspired by the Pan-European flag and other designs such as Salvador de Madariaga's and Arsène Heitz's proposals. [REDACTED] However he agreed that the white ground should be left with a green cross provided

8568-608: The highest elevation. Approximately 38% of the park's territory has an altitude from 0–20 metres (0–66 ft), 60% from 20–60 metres (66–197 ft), and only 2% lies above 60 metres (66 yd). The mountain is an anticline with core layers formed by igneous and metamorphic rocks with Paleozoic origin and surface strata covered with Mesozoic sediments dating from the Triassic , Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The anticline has an orientation from north-west to south-east. The river valleys are geologically young, formed during

8687-480: The homonymous protected area in the modern park, which attracted clerics from Bulgaria, Byzantium and Serbia. The interior of the region fell to the Ottoman Turks shortly after 1369 and the coastal towns were conquered in 1453. Under Ottoman rule, many villages provided auxiliaries to the Ottoman army or had to protect the mountain passes and therefore enjoyed a more favourable status — they paid no taxes and

8806-518: The icing of the forests at altitudes above 500 metres (0 yd). The winds are predominantly northern. Along the coastline the winds flow from the north in November – March, from the east in April – August and from the north-east in September – October. The sea breeze causes the high frequency of eastern winds in summer. In the interior the predominant wind direction is more varied with northern winds being

8925-551: The intention. It was not adopted by the EU or any other organisation at the time, but an updated version was used in the visual identity of the Austrian EU Presidency in 2006. The official status of the emblem as the flag of the European Union was to be formalised as part of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe . However, as the proposed treaty failed ratification, the mention of all state-like emblems, including

9044-497: The members was Saar Protectorate , and to have its own star would imply sovereignty for the region. The Committee of Ministers (the council's main decision-making body) agreed with the Assembly that the flag should be a circle of stars, but opted for a fixed number of twelve stars, " representing perfection and entirety". The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 25 October 1955 agreed to this. Paul M. G. Lévy drew up

9163-535: The men had the right to bear arms. There were 17 privileged villages in the territory of the modern park where Muslims were not allowed to settle. During the time of internal disorder in the Ottoman Empire in 1785–1810, brigand bands wreaked havoc in Strandzha resulting in the migration of thousands of people. Another massive migration wave followed the Russo-Turkish War (1828–29) and many Bulgarians settled in

9282-451: The most common are the roe deer , red deer , wild boar , grey wolf , golden jackal , red fox , European badger , and beech marten . The park protects some of the largest and most important populations of European otter and wildcat in Europe. The European pine marten and marbled polecat are uncommon in Strandzha. There are 25 bat species present including Bechstein's bat and Kuhl's pipistrelle . 27 species of small mammals at

9401-553: The most frequent in January – March and in October. The annual precipitation is high, reaching in some areas above 1,000 millimetres (39 in). Along the coast rainfall is under the influence of the Mediterranean and is characterised with a winter maximum while the higher regions of Strandzha also have a second maximum in May – June as a result of the continental climate. In the interior rainfall

9520-517: The north-western regions of Strandzha. Their main occupation was livestock breeding , and especially sheep breeding, logging , charcoal production and mining. The second largest group are the Tronki who inhabit mainly the areas to the north and to the west of the park in Sredets Municipality . They made a living mainly in agriculture but also in sheep and cattle breeding. The Zagortsi inhabit

9639-458: The official status of a "logo". This compromise was widely disregarded from the beginning, and the "European logo", in spite of the explicit language of giving it the status of a "logo", was referred to as the "Community flag" or even "European flag" from the outset. The Communities began to use the "emblem" as its de facto flag from 1986, raising it outside the Berlaymont building (the seat of

9758-522: The oldest known incarnation of the village had been. The Church of Saints Constantine and Helena was built in 1906. After the Balkan Wars of 1912–1913, Rezovo became part of the Kingdom of Bulgaria and a limited number of Bulgarian refugees (25 families) from other parts of Eastern Thrace that remained under Ottoman rule settled in the village. According to Lyubomir Miletich 's demographic survey of

9877-506: The other reserves. Access to the reserves is restricted to research teams, with a few strictly defined tourist trails. Among the most significant protected areas are the Mouth of the Veleka river and Silistar . Silistar is situated on the Black Sea coast between the villages of Sinemorets and Rezovo and has the highest number of plant species per square kilometre in Bulgaria. In terms of biogeography

9996-530: The park falls within both the Balkan mixed forests , and the Euxine-Colchic deciduous forests terrestrial ecoregions of the Palearctic temperate broadleaf and mixed forest . The combination of climate, specific geographic position and relief, as well as the lack of a strong anthropogenic influence, have contributed to the formation of 130 different habitats , making Strandzha Nature Park first in that indicator among all protected areas in Europe. There are 1670 species of vascular plants which constitute 44% of

10115-503: The park include European ground squirrel , lesser mole-rat , Günther's vole , three dormouse species, and two other globally threatened species. The park is an important sanctuary of the Roach's mouse-tailed dormouse . There have been reports on the presence of Mediterranean monk seals in the rocks and caverns of Silistar. Strandzha is situated on Via Pontica, the second-largest bird migratory route in Europe. The bays and estuaries along

10234-469: The park under the World Reference Base for Soil Resources soil classification — Fluvisols (4% of the park's area), Leptosols (10%), Cambisols (4%), Luvisols (46%), Planosols (20%), Alisols (11%) and Nitisols (5%). Strandzha is the only place in Bulgaria where Alisoils are found and the only place in Europe with Nitisols. The climate of Strandzha is influenced by the proximity of

10353-818: The park's area and belong to 28 forest and 18 bush habitats. This variety is due to the lower river valleys, the sea coast and the karstic terrain. These include forests of oriental beech ( Fagus orientalis ), sessile oak ( Quercus petraea ), Strandzhan oak ( Quercus hartwissiana ), Hungarian oak ( Quercus frainetto ), common hornbeam ( Carpinus betulus ), oriental hornbeam ( Carpinus orientalis ) and small-leaved lime ( Tilia cordata ) with undergrowth of pontic rhododendron ( Rhododendron ponticum ), Caucasian whortleberry ( Vaccinium arctostaphylos ), cherry laurel ( Prunus laurocerasus ), Black Sea holly ( Ilex colchica ), Himalayan meadow primrose ( Primula rosea ) and common heather ( Calluna ). There are 64 relict plant species , 6 of which cannot be found elsewhere in

10472-440: The park's area, with old-growth forest forming 30% of them. These woods are the last remaining temperate forests with evergreen laurel undergrowth in Europe. The park has the highest number of vertebrate species of all protected areas in Bulgaria, including 66 species of mammals , 269 species of birds , 24 species of reptiles , 10 species of amphibia and 41 species of freshwater fish , as well as 70 species of marine fish in

10591-463: The present European Union, in 1986. The Council of Europe gave the flag a symbolic description in the following terms, though the official symbolic description adopted by the EU omits the reference to the "Western world": Against the blue sky of the Western world, the stars symbolise the peoples of Europe in a form of a circle, a sign of union. Their number is invariably twelve , the figure twelve being

10710-415: The proportions to be used for the geometric design. Arsène Heitz, who was an employee in the mail service, put in all sorts of proposals, including the 15-star design. But he submitted too many designs. He wanted to do the European currencies with 15 stars in the corner. He wanted to do national flags incorporating the Council of Europe flag. Carlo Curti Gialdino (2005) has reconstructed the design process to

10829-546: The ratification of the European Constitution in 2005, and mention of all emblems suggesting statehood was removed from the Treaty of Lisbon of 2007, although sixteen member states signed a declaration supporting the continued use of the flag. In 2007, the European Parliament officially adopted the flag for its own use. The Council of Europe in 1950 appointed a committee to study the question of adopting

10948-569: The recommendations of the Adonnino Committee. But as the adoption of a flag was strongly reminiscent of a national flag representing statehood and was extremely controversial with some member states (in particular the United Kingdom, as the proposed flag closely resembled the Queen's personal standard ), the Council of Europe's "flag of Europe" design was adopted, without the letter E, only with

11067-478: The region has preserved relict species from the Neogene . The relief of Strandzha is hilly, characterised by mild rolling ridges covered with dense woods. To the west the mountain is steeper and more rugged. Strandzha Nature Park has two clearly defined ridges — Rezovo ridge with its highest summit at Golyamo Gradishte peak at 710 metres (780 yd) and Bosna ridge with Papia at 502 metres (549 yd)) forming

11186-630: The region was annexed by the Roman Empire in 45 AD. In the Middle Ages the area was contested between the Byzantine and the Bulgarian Empires until it was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in the late 14th century. After the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878, Strandzha remained in the Ottoman Empire , which resulted in the 1903 Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising by the local Bulgarian population. The region

11305-501: The regions to the north of the park and are thought to have migrated from north-eastern Bulgaria. The customs and rituals in Strandzha are related to specific days of the year, which in most cases coincide with the church holidays of the Christian calendar. They are traditionally divided into a summer (beginning on St George's Day , 6 May) and a winter period (beginning on St Demetrius' Day , 26 October). The largest festival in Strandzha

11424-458: The removal of the flag from the treaty, the European Parliament , which had supported the inclusion of such symbols, backed a proposal to use these symbols "more often" on behalf of the Parliament itself; Jo Leinen , MEP for Germany, suggested that the Parliament should take "an avant-garde role" in their use. In September 2008, the Parliament's Committee on Constitutional Affairs proposed

11543-504: The right to appeal to court orders of the government establishing protected areas. In 2008 the Court declared the Golden Pearl hotel complex illegal and in 2012 the construction site was demolished. The issues regarding the development of the park's coastline remain open. The Master Plan of Tsarevo Municipality adopted in 2008 and approved by the Ministry of Environment and Water envisages the construction of vacation complexes with 75,000 beds on

11662-462: The rubric Team Europe. The blazon given by the EU in 1996 describe the design as: "On an azure field a circle of twelve golden mullets , their points not touching." The flag used is the Flag of Europe, which consists of a circle of twelve golden stars on a blue background. Originally designed in 1955 for the Council of Europe, the flag was adopted by the European Communities , the predecessors of

11781-694: The southern areas of the Russian Empire . After the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878, Strandzha remained outside the borders of the reborn state. In July 1903 in the historic area Petrova Niva the delegates of the Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization (IMARO) discussed the outbreak of an anti-Ottoman rebellion. The Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising broke out in Strandzha and Macedonia in August 1903 and lasted for about twenty days before being suppressed by

11900-430: The symbol of perfection and entirety. Other symbolic interpretations have been offered based on the account of its design by Paul M. Levy . The five-pointed star is used on many national flags and represents aspiration and education. Their golden colour is that of the sun, which is said to symbolise glory and enlightenment. Their arrangement in a circle represents the constellation of Corona Borealis and can be seen as

12019-530: The territory of the park and Natura 2000 network. As a result, the European Commission launched an infringement procedure against Bulgaria that forced the Ministry to withdraw the positive environmental assessment of the Master Plan in 2010 but the decision was rejected by the Supreme Administrative Court. The Strandzha Nature Park Management Plan drafted in 2003 has not yet meet with approval by

12138-579: The territory of the part, supported by Tsarevo Municipality without ecological evaluation. After protests the construction was declared illegal later that year but the mayor of Tsarevo and the investor appealed to the Supreme Administrative Court of Bulgaria . In June 2007 the Court revoked the protected status of Strandzha Nature Park with order No. 6794/29.06.2007. After mass protests the National Assembly adopted legislation prohibiting

12257-494: The total number of species in Bulgaria. The vegetation of the park includes many communities of a Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean type: warm oak forests with undergrowth of evergreen sclerophyll shrubs, such as tree heath ( Erica arborea ), butcher's-broom ( Ruscus aculeatus ), Rose of Sharon ( Hypericum calycinum ), green olive tree ( Phillyrea latifolia ), Cistus incanus , sage-leaved rock rose ( Cistus salvifolius ), among others. The xerothermic grasslands along

12376-476: The town of Malko Tarnovo. Strandzha Nature Park was established on 25 January 1995 to protect ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as the traditional cultural, historical and folklore heritage of the region. Before 1995 the protection of the region had been fragmented, consisting of isolated nature reserves and protected areas. The park is administered by a directorate based in Malko Tarnovo and subordinated to

12495-534: The village of Zvezdets , the river valley grows wider, the inclination decreases, the water flow slows and the river creates many meanders . In the lower course the river banks are flooded seasonally forming a wetland forest of alluvial longose groves. The Veleka is navigable in the first 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) up from the river mouth. The second longest river is the Rezovo river , at 112 kilometres (70 mi). It generally flows east and along most of its course forms

12614-413: The waters of the Black Sea . The invertebrate fauna is poorly researched and includes 84 Bulgarian endemic species, of which 4 are local, and 34 relict species . The oldest traces of human habitation found in the territory of the park date from the Neolithic period in c. 6000 BC. By the mid-1st millennium BC Strandzha was inhabited by Thracian tribes, forming part of several Thracian kingdoms until

12733-557: The west and the III-9901 third class road to the east which serves the park coastline. The two roads are linked by the II-99 second class road. With an area of 1,161 square kilometres (448 sq mi), or approximately 1% of the national territory, the park is the largest protected territory in Bulgaria. Due to the geographic location of Strandzha in the immediate vicinity of Asia , the park contains biodiversity of European importance as well as

12852-492: The wooden pier in the Rezovo River. The population has gradually declined, however, but today Rezovo is a popular beach resort and a spot frequented by tourists because of its southeasternmost location. Until recently, it was part of the border zone and visitors were required to be checked by Border Police officials. As Bulgaria joined the European Union on 1 January 2007, Rezovo became the contiguous EU's southeasternmost point. On 2 January 2007, municipal mayor Petko Arnaudov hoisted

12971-470: Was accepted by the Assembly. The design was similar to Salvador de Madariaga's, but rather than a constellation, the stars were arranged in a circle. Arsène Heitz was one of several people who proposed a circle of gold stars on a blue background. None of his proposals perfectly match the design that was adopted. Paul Levy claims that he was the one who designed the template for the flag, not Arsène Heitz. In 1987, Heitz would claim that his inspiration had been

13090-506: Was adopted by the Parliament on 11 April 1983. The June 1984 European Council (the Communities' leaders) summit in Fontainebleau stressed the importance of promoting a European image and identity to citizens and the world. The European Council appointed an ad hoc committee, named "Committee for 'a People's Europe'" (Adonnino Committee). This committee submitted a substantial report, including wide-ranging suggestions, from organising

13209-618: Was annexed by the Roman Empire , forming the province of Thracia . The region remained part of the Roman Empire and its successor the Byzantine Empire . In Roman times, Strandzha was a centre of copper and iron ore mining and metallurgy. In the late 6th and early 7th centuries the Slavs settled in most of the Balkans, including Strandzha. The whole territory of the modern park was included in

13328-515: Was by Salvador de Madariaga , the founder of the College of Europe , who suggested a constellation of stars on a blue background (positioned according to capital cities, with a large star for Strasbourg , the seat of the council). He had circulated his flag round many European capitals and the concept had found favour. The second was a variant by Arsène Heitz, who worked for the council's postal service and had submitted dozens of designs, one of which

13447-413: Was designed in 1950 and officially adopted by the Council of Europe in 1955. The same flag was adopted by the European Parliament in 1983. The European Council adopted it as an "emblem" for the European Communities in 1985. Its status in the European Communities was inherited by the European Union upon its formation in 1993. The proposal to adopt it as official flag of the European Union failed with

13566-506: Was first mentioned in Ottoman registers as Rezvi , a village of 41 Christian families. In the 18th century, it was noted as Büyük Rezve ("Big Rezve") and marked as a sea port on Ottoman maps. According to Austrian Wenzel von Brognard and other 18th-century western travellers, the river mouth at that place had a good wharf suitable as a storm and winter shelter. Rezovo has changed its location slightly several times: its oldest known location

13685-598: Was inspired to introduce a Marian element as he walked past a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. An article posted in La Raison in February 2000 further connected the donation of a stained glass window for Strasbourg Cathedral by the Council of Europe on 21 October 1956. This window, a work by Parisian master Max Ingrand , shows a blessing Madonna underneath a circle of 12 stars on dark blue ground. The overall design of

13804-420: Was isolated, which influenced the formation of a local style of rural architecture. The Strandzhan wooden houses evolved in the 17th and 18th centuries. They have a stone foundation and first floor and a wooden second storey. The walls, floors and ceilings are constructed from oak timber. The houses often follow an elongated plan  — all rooms are arranged one after another. An important architectural element

13923-502: Was liberated in 1912 during the First Balkan War . The rich history has left an important cultural heritage by several civilizations and folklore traditions unique for Bulgaria, such as Nestinarstvo that involves a barefoot dance on smouldering embers — a vestige from the pagan past. Traditional Strandzha wooden architecture from the mid-17th to the 19th century is preserved in the villages of Brashlyan and Kosti , as well as in

14042-479: Was planned as part of the 2004 European Constitution but this failed to be ratified. Mention of the flag was removed in 2007 from the text of the Treaty of Lisbon, which was ratified. On the other hand, 16 EU members that year, plus France in 2017, have officially affirmed (by Declaration No. 5224) their attachment to the flag as an EU symbol. The flag is used by other European entities, such as unified golf teams under

14161-551: Was used as a pasture because of the favourable climate. In 1903, the residents of Rezovo took an active part in the Bulgarian Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising , seeking unification with their compatriots in the Principality of Bulgaria . However, the revolt was crushed by the Ottoman authorities and most of Old Rezovo was burned to the ground. The surviving locals settled on the coast, approximately where

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