Storks find a home in the village of Tsar Simeonovo near Vidin

At the corner of the geographical map of Bulgaria, there is a small village with a majestic name. Located among the fertile lands of the Northwest and blessed with a beach on the Danube, it provides a haven for about seventy residents. But the highest recognition comes from the storks, who have chosen to build their nests on almost every street pole.

Unfortunately, the village of Tsar Simeonovo is currently undergoing a serious test - day and night, due to repairs to the road through Dimovo, trucks are rushing along the main street, and the people, deprived of sleep, are barely enduring this.

"We live right on the bend and at night there is constant beeping,“ the residents of the village tell Radio Vidin. „Nobody respects the 50 km/h limit. We're scared. There's not even a sidewalk here. Not a single police car is present. It's like a race here.“

The residents of Tsar Simeonovo hope that this would end by the end of June and that they can return to their normal life life.

And although the Danube is a favourite place for relaxation not only for the people of the village, they also remember its other side, when in April 2006 the river flooded the road and reached the houses. Today, a plaque placed in front of the city hall reminds of the destructive power of nature. Erosion processes and landslides are not absent here, as well as the need to repair buildings and build sidewalks, but the advantages are undoubtedly greater. The regional town of Vidin is just 22 km away. During the working days, you can get there by bus, as well as by car.

The wealth of Tsar Simeonovo, however, are the storks that have built 34 nests this year.

"Of course, they bring luck and happiness," says mayor Elena Lozanova, who left her life in the capital to find a new home in her husband's village. "Recently, the energy company put up several platforms to strengthen the nests. Nests can be found on almost every pole. There are storks next to our house. I watch them walk around the yards, where it is quieter, looking for grass and twigs to fill their nests with. They are very beautiful."

The cozy life close to nature, but also to the big city attracts not only Bulgarians, but also foreigners. It is foreigners who are turning the once beautiful hotel of the village into a neat apartment block. There are also vacant houses that can be purchased. A young family recently acquired one of them and is currently renovating it, the mayor says.

The locals hold their annual gathering on St. Peter's Day.

"In the evening, when it gets cooler, people gather in front of the town hall," says Elena Lazarova about the event, which is held on July 11 and 12, according to the old-style calendar. "They are very happy and eagerly await the festival."

With this positive news, we leave the village of Tsar Simeonovo - a beautiful and hospitable place where storks find security and comfort, and its residents strive for better living conditions.

Text: Diana Tsankova (based on a report by Nedka Lilkova from BNR- Vidin)