Bulgarian village known for its tasty beans applies for Guinness record

With an original wall canvas of beans beads, the residents of the Bu;garian village of Smilyan, best known for its particularly tasty beans, are preparing to set a Guinness record. The record will be for the largest number of unique participants in making the canvas. So far, they are nearly 18,000.

The wall canvasis 4x2m. So far, it has taken 12 years to make it. The idea is every one who visited Smilyan and the ethnographic collection in the community centre to participate in completing the canvas by sticking beads of white or black beans. The idea is to put together key symbols and landmarks of the village, such as the clock tower, Arda river, the beans plant etc.

Applying for a Guinness record is neither about the size of the canvas, nor about the amount of beans used.

Ilia Godev, secretary of the community centre says there are countries in Latin America that also produce beans, and perhaps the bid for canvas size would not be successful, so the idea is actually to apply for a record for the largest number of participants included in making it.

Each participant writes his/her name in a special book. So far, they are nearly 18,000. About 500 more beans beads need to be placed to complete the canvas. So everyone who wants to get into the record has to hurry, residents from the village said.

The village of Smilyan is one of the oldest settled regions in the Rhodope Mountains, South Bulgaria. It is 15 km from the city of Smolyan and 20 km from the Greek border.

There is a centuries-old clock tower in the village built of stone and wood. It is some 10 meters high and was first a lookout tower during the period of the Ottoman Empire. From the top of the tower it is possible to see the whole reach of the Arda River, so residents always knew if an enemy was approaching.

Smilyan is most famous with its particularly tasty beans. Every year since 2003, the village holds a festival every other weekend in November to honour its delicious beans. The village of Smilyan is also a popular tourist destination.

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