Dupnitsa Jewish Cemetery

Source: http://www.heritageabroad.gov/Portals/0/Reports%20and%20Surveys/Bulgaria%20Jewish%20sites%202011%20(1).pdf?ver=2016-02-24-124025-147 There has been a Jewish community in Dupnitza since the 16th century. Dupnitza had a synagogue as early as 1578. The cemetery was established sometime in the 16th century and the last known Jewish burial at the site was in 1979. The granite and sandstone gravestones are inscribed in Bulgarian and Hebrew. The cemetery covers 13.5 hectares across a hillside. It has no fence or gate. The cemetery boundaries have shrunken as a result of surrounding housing development and a paved path has been built which cuts through the center of the site (and probably over some of the graves). The site is moderately overgrown and has water drainage problems. It has been vandalized with several gravestones stolen or toppled over the years. The Jewish community owns the cemetery, but lacks the resources to care for it.