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Koprivshtitsa

The architectural-preserved area Koprivshtitsa is huddled into the Sredna Gora Mountain, near the Topolnitsa River, at an altitude of 1050 m. The town had at its supreme in the second half of the 19th century, when Koprivshtitsa had a thousand houses and around 12 000 people living there. It was considered an honour to be a citizen of that town, and welfare and notability were expressed in constructions of that time – two churches, a large number of imposing houses, bridges and fountains.

According to Zachary Stoyanov, an eminent Revival period figure, “Koprivshtitsa had been for centuries a Republic in itself – with no Senat or ministers, charts or presidents, ten times more liberal that the French one, and a hundred times more democratic than the American one.”

The houses of the most eminent town representatives, who had a great impact on the national liberation movement and the cultural development of Bulgaria, today are turned into valuable museum houses. The visitors to Koprivshtitsa should not miss seeing the Lyuben Karavelov, Georgi Benkovski, Dimcho Debelyanov and Nayden Gerov Museum-Houses.

Naiden Gerov House

Naiden Gerov House
The Nayden Gerov House MuseumNayden Gerov, the eminent leader of the National Revival – born 180 years ago in the family of Hadji Gero Dobrevich-Moushek, a teacher from the town of Koprivshtitsa.Nayden Gerov finishes secondary school and later college in Odessa, Russia – he graduates a major equal to today’s “Business and Administration” from the Odessa Richelieu College. He was the author of the first Bulgarian poem “Stoyan and Rada”, of the first Physics textbook, he was also considered the father of the first “travel story”. He was the initiator of the first May 11th celebration of the Cyril and Methodius Day, the Day of Bulgarian Culture and education – the school he founded in Plovdiv (the first Plovdiv high school) had their names as patrons. His most eminent work, though, was his “Dictionary of Bulgarian Language”. The content of that dictionary was carefully collected and revised for half a century – it contained more than 70 000 items and 20 000 proverbs, folk song texts and expressions, all presenting the live Bulgarian language from all regions.

Family-run hotels

Family-run hotels
Family-run hotelsA large number of the beautiful houses were restored and turned into cozy small family-run hotels.

Vacation in Koprivshtitsa

Vacation in Koprivshtitsa
Vacation in KoprivshtitsaThe beauty of the Revival period houses, the green gardens and the quiet atmosphere turn the vacation in Koprivshtitsa into a paradise experience…

Debelyanov House Museum

Debelyanov House Museum
The House Museum of Dimcho Debelyanov (1887-1916), Bulgarian poet and journalist.Dimcho Debelyanov’s poetry belongs to Bulgarian classics. The poet was born 28 March 1887 in Koprivshtitsa, Bulgaria. When he was nine years old his father died, and the family moved to live in Plovdiv in 1896, then to Sofia in 1904. Finished school in Sofia in 1906. Until 1912 he worked as junior clerk, freelance journalist, newspaper reporter, proof-reader, editor, translater, stenographer and so forth, often working two or three jobs at once to make ends meet. Joined Army in 1912 and participated in First Balkan War. Worked in office from 1914 to 1916. Called up again & sent to Front in Jan 1916. Killed in action 2 Oct 1916 while battling Irish troops between villages of Dolno and Gorno Karadjovo. First poems published in autumn of 1906. Unknown at his death, his posthumous fame was considerable. His poetry is in many respects symbolist, and is distinguished by its technical innovation, its precise rendering of nebulous emotional states, and its remarkable musicality.

Debelyanov House Museum

Debelyanov House Museum
Dimcho Debelyanov House Museum preserves the original atmosphere.

Kableshkov House Museum

Kableshkov House Museum
Todor Kableshkov House MuseumTodor Lulchev Kableshkov (born Jan.1, 1851 in Koprivshtitsa – died June 16, 1876 in Gabrovo), eminent Bulgarian revolutionary, one of the leaders of the 1876 April Uprising. Born in a well-to-do family. After finishing his primary education in his hometown, he studied in Plovdiv (1864-67) and later he graduated from a college in Constantinople (1868-71). During the 1876 April Uprising he was the head of the Koprivshtitsa revolutionary committee preparing the uprisial in his hometown. He was the person to write the “Blood Letter”, declaring the start of the uprisal. After it started, he was captured by the Turks, and unwilling to endure all the atrocities, he committed suicide on June 16th in Gabrovo.The vicar of Gabrovo, who was respected by the Turkish Pasha, asked for and got permission to perform a burial service for Todor Kableshkov, according to the Christian rituals. June 17th, the dead body of the great revolutionary, dressed in new clothes and covered with flowers, was mourned by Gabrovo priests in the presence of a large number of people. The patriotic Gabrovo people placed next to his dead body the boned of two Bulgarian rebels from Hadji Dimiter’s Detachment, hanged in 1868, to also be mourned and buried in grace.

Todor Kableshkov Monument

Todor Kableshkov Monument
Todor Kableshkov MonumentTodor Kableshkov is the person who wrote the historical “Blood Letter” to the April Uprising leaders Volov and Benkovski in Panagyrishte. The name of the letter comes from the cross he drew with the blood of one the killed Turks. It is a unique historical document, having no rival in the other countries or their history, written by the hand of a highly educated man, utterly devoted to the cause.“Brothers! Nedzheb Aga arrived yesterday from Plovdiv, and tried to take some people into prison, including me. When I was informed about your decision, taken at the Oborishte meeting, I called several brave men and, after getting armed, we headed to the town-hall, took hold of it, killed the Turkish town manager and some Turkish policemen… Now, as I am writing this letter, the Bulgarian flag is waving in front of the town-hall, guns are firing, accompanied by the echoe of the bell-ringing; and patriots are kissing one another in the streets!… If you, brothers, are true patriots and apostles of freedom, then follow our example over there in Panagyurishte….. Koprivshtitsa, April 20th, 1876, T.Kableshkov”

The first gun

The first gun
The first gunThe monument of the first gun that fired to declare the opening of the April Uprising, 1876.

The Kaluchev Bridge

The Kaluchev Bridge
The Kaluchev BridgeThe Kaluchev Bridge is the place where the first gun declaring the opening of the 1876 April Uprising fired.

Revival period house

Revival period house
Revival period houseA Revival period house in the so typical Koprivshtsa-style.

The Art Gallery

The Art Gallery
The Art GalleryThe old school – now transformed into the Art Gallery of the town

The Topolnitsa River

The Topolnitsa River
The Topolnitsa RiverYet another of the bridges over the Topolnitsa River, witnessing the key moments in the history of our country.