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Central Southern Bulgaria >> Koprivshtitsa
Intro:
The town of Koprivshtitsa (2935 inhabitants; 1050 meters above sea level) is situated along the two banks, within the upper course of the Topolnitsa River in the heart of Sushtinska Sredna Gora Mountain.
Full text:
It is situated at the distance of 110 km southeast of Sofia, 80 km north-west of Plovdiv, 27 km south-east of Pirdop and 24 km north of Strelcha. It is a town-museum and unique settlement in Bulgaria, which preserved in compact over 250 patterns of the Revival Period architecture. A cradle of the April Uprising (1876). A tourist centre and a mountain resort.
History. Koprivshtitsa originated as a settlement during the 14th century. Its population dealt with cattle-breeding, manufacturing of aba (coarse homespun woollen cloth and upper men's garment made of it), furriery, dyeing and other crafts. The citizens of Koprivshtitsa proved to be good merchants, too reaching as far as Istanbul and Alexandria. The wealthy and urbanised settlement was plundered and destroyed by fire by kurdzhalii (Turkish brigands) three times and rebuilt from ashes to reach its greatest prosperity during the 19th century, when it had over 1000 houses and a population of nearly 12 000 inhabitants. Spacious houses, schools, churches, drinking fountains, bridges were built there. In 1837, Neofit Rilski (Neophyte of Rila) opened a mutual school and 9 years later Naiden Gerov founded the first in Bulgaria independent boys' intermediate school. In 1864, a girls' intermediate school was opened here and three years later Todor Kableshkov opened the students' society Zora (Dawn). In 1869, the chitalsihte (reading room or community centre) was opened here. In the same year, Vassil Levski established a revolutionary committee in it. During that time, Lyuben Karavelov who was born in Koprivshtitsa headed the foreign Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee (BRCC) in Bucharest. On 20th April 1876 the first shot of the April Uprising against Ottoman Rule rang out here, which started the heroic April epic of Bulgarian people. Todor Kableshkov announced the Uprising. It was headed by another citizen of Koprivshtitsa - Gavrail Hlutev, known to the generations to come as Georgi Benkovski - the adamant and ardent leader of the people's rebellion, who died heroically in the Teteven Balkan Mountain. Unlike Batak, Bratsigovo, Peroushtitsa and other settlements-martyrs, the Osmanli Turks had mercy on Koprivshtitsa. The wealthy men of Koprivshtitsa paid for it and thanks to them Bulgaria today is in possession of its most treasured architectural wealth, untouched by the centuries. The town is the birthplace of many functionaries of our Revival Period and renowned Bulgarians - Bogdan Voivoda, Doncho Vatah Voivoda, Detelin Voivoda, Dobri Voivoda ("voivoda" meaning leader of revolutionary detachment of volunteers), Dimcho Debelyanov, and Nayden Gerov.
Landmarks. Koprivshtitsa is one of the few thoroughly preserved architectural urbanized ensembles of the Revival Period. The Revival Period houses with colourful courtyards, surrounded with high stonewalls and gates, the disorderly built curved and narrow cobblestone streets and plots, the numerous stone drinking-fountains, the arch-shaped little stone bridges over the mountain brooklets and the fragrance of geranium, box shrub, peony and pelargonium contribute to the attractiveness of the little town. The greatest wealth of Koprivshtitsa is its Revival Period houses, parts of which were turned into museums: Oslekov's House - the most famous architectural, ethnographic site in the town, ownership of a rich merchant from Koprivshtitsa in the middle of the 19th century. The artistically carved ceilings, the beautifully painted with geometrical figures walls, the exotic mosaics, the ancient engravings and the exquisitely elaborated applied decorative articles indicate the living standards and the spiritual wealth of the well-off citizens of Koprivshtitsa. The home of Georgi Benkovski - the leader of the April Uprising. The wooden gun, the banner of the Flying Detachment of armed volunteers sewed by Raina Popgeorgieva (Knyaginya) (the Princess) and the arms of the Voivoda are the priceless relics of that tempestuous time. The house of Lyuben Karavelov acquaints us with the revolutionary and journalistic activities of one of the most prominent sons of Koprivshtitsa and Bulgaria. The house of Todor Kableshkov exhibits the activity of the 25-years old young man who organized the rebellion in the town, the author of the famous Bloodstained letter by which it was announced to the Main Revolutionary Headquarters in Panagyurishte that Koprivshtitsa had raised in arms. Lyutovs' House Museum hosts an exposition on the subject of "Treasury of Bulgarian Construction Genius". The House of Dimcho Debelyanov - the life and the literary activities of the most lyrical Bulgarian poet are reflected in it. Like in the other houses-museums, here the atmosphere, in which Dimcho Debelyanov lived and created his poems, was preserved, too. The following houses are of interest to the visitor, too namely the houses of Gencho Stoykov, Naiden Gerov, Desyovs', Gurkovs', Mluchkovs', Yotovs', Madzharovs', Markovs', Dogans', Pavlikyans' and the Vakarel's house (the oldest houses in the town with over 300 years of life) and dozens of others. The Uspenie Borgorodichno Church (Assumption Church-1817) with an iconostasis of 1821 and icons painted by Zakhari Zograph and loan Samokovli (1837-1838) is of a high architectural and artistic value. The St. Nikola Church (1842-1844) is worth seeing as well. There are many monuments in the town, too: 20th April Mausoleum-Charnel House (in the central 20th April Sq.) of those who died during the April Uprising. The First Gun Memorial past the old little stone bridge where the rebel Georgi Tihanek fired the first shot of the April Uprising. The monument to Todor Kableshkov, the memorial complex with the key figure of Georgi Benkovski. One of the most moving monuments in our country – ‘’mother waiting for her son to return’’ was placed on the grave of Dimcho Debelyanov. It is the work of the sculptor Prof. Ivan Lazarov.
Accommodation: The Koprivshtitsa Hotel (high above the right bank of the river, opposite the centre of the town). The Hadzhi Gencho Hotel (in the central part, on the left bank of the river). The Dalmatinets Hotel-Restaurant (62, Georgi Benkovski Street). Voivodenets Tourist Hostel (in the centre of the town, at the former Pranzhev's House, 33 beds in rooms with 2, 6, 7 and more beds). Bogdan Tourist Hostel (in the restored Roussekovs’ House, 33 beds in rooms with 2, 3, 4, 7, and 9 beds). Private lodgings are on offer, too, information being available at the Accommodation Bureau.
Tourist information - in the Tourist Information Centre, 2077 Koprivshtitsa, 1, Lyuben Karavelov Street, tel./fax: 07184 2191, e-mail: koprivshtitza @hotmail.com; at the Council of Tourism (2090 Koprivshtitsa, 15, Lyuben Karavelov Street, tel: 07184 2759 and 2104), in the above mentioned hotels, tourist's dormitories, the Accommodation Bureau as well as in Detelin Voivoda Tourist Association (tel.: 07184 2145) and in the town-hall.
Transport. The key transport through which the town is linked with the remaining world is the railway transport. Koprivshtitsa is at the principal railway line Sofia - Karlovo - Bourgas but it is situated at the distance of 10 km north of the town itself. It is connected to it through a bus line servicing each passing train. Koprivshtitsa maintains regular bus lines to Plovdiv, Panagyurishte, Strelcha and Pirdop.
Surrounding area. The town is a key point from which to out on hiking tours in the highest and beautiful part of Sushtinska Sredna Gora Mountain. Marked tracks start from it in the direction of: Bogdan Chalet (3 to 4 hours), from where one can climb the highest peak of the Sredna Gora Mountain Mt. Bogdan in less than an hour (1604 meters above sea level), Manzul Chalet (Pavel Deliradev: 3.30 - 4 hours), Krustyo Cholakov Chalet ( 2.30-3 hours, 11 km along a truck road), the Barikadite Chalet and Hotel (4-4.30 hours, 18 km along a road). A hiking tour to the Central Stara Planina (the Teteven Balkan Mountain) can be started from the railway station of Koprivshtitsa. It takes 6 to 8 hours to get to the Vezhen Chalet along the marked tracks (on the northern side of the ridge), passing by the peak of the same name (Mt. Vezhen, 2198 m).
 | Detailed information about the Bulgarian towns and cities |
Central Southern Bulgaria
Batak, Bratsigovo, Peroushtitsa, Pazardzhik, Koprivshtitsa, Sopot, Karlovo, Kalofer, Hissarya - spa resort, Plovdiv, Asenovgrad, Chepelare, Smolyan, Devin, Pavel Banya, Kazanluk, Stara Zagora, Chirpan, Dimitrovgrad, Haskovo, Kurdzhali | Southeastern Bulgaria
Svilengrad, Elhovo, Yambol, Sliven, Kotel, Karnobat, Aitos, Malko Turnovo | Northwestern Bulgaria
Berkovitza, Chiprovtzi, Belogradchik, Vidin, Kozlodui, Oriahovo, Montana, Vratsa, Mezdra, Botevgrad, Etropole, Yablanitza, Cherven bryag, Loukovit, Lom | Central Northern Bulgaria
Teteven, Troyan, Apriltzi, Lovech, Pleven, Nikopol, Svishtov, Pavlikeni, Sevlievo, Gabrovo, Tryavna, Dryanovo, Elena, Veliko Turnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Byala, Rousse | Southwestern Bulgaria
Petrich, Sandanski, Gotse Delchev, Bansko ski resort, Razlog, Blagoevgrad, Doupnitsa, Samokov, Kyustendil, Pernik, Pirdop and Zlatitsa, Panagyurishte, Kostenets, Velingrad | Northeastern Bulgaria
Pliska, Shoumen, Veliki Preslav, Turgovishte, Razgrad, Toutrakan, Silistra, Dobrich, Provadia | Bulgarian Black Sea Coast
Shabla, Roussalka, Kavarna, Balchik, Albena, Zlatni Pyasutsi (GOLDEN SANDS), St. St. Konstantin and Elena, Varna, Kamchia, Obzor, Elenite, Slunchev Bryag (SUNNY BEACH), Nessebar, Pomorie, Bourgas, Sozopol, Dyuni, Primorsko, Kiten, Tsarevo, Ahtopol | Bulgarian Mountains
Rila, Rila Monastery, Borovetz, Malyovitza, Pirin, Melnik and The Rozhen Monastery, Shiligarnika, Stara Planina (The Balkan Mountain), KOM - Emine Route, The Rhodope Mountains, Pamporovo, Bachkovo Monastery, Shiroka Luka, Vitosha |
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