Melnik

Beneath the southern slopes of Pirin, Melnik lies among steep sandstone formations and vineyards. In the early 13th century the Bulgarian noble Alexius Slav made the fortified town the capital of his independent domain. Its position in the mountains offered protection, while the surrounding country became known for the wine that sustained generations of growers and merchants.

Under Ottoman rule Melnik developed a prosperous wine trade. A large house built in 1754, later associated with the Kordopoulos merchant family, combined living quarters with space for wine production and storage. Its cellars held barrels of the local wine, and its size reflected the wealth that commerce brought to the town. Churches and monasteries around Melnik continued to serve its Orthodox inhabitants through the centuries of changing rule.