KOPRIVSHTITSA (Копривщица) is a historic town in central Bulgaria, lying on the Topolnitsa River among the Sredna Gora mountains. It is located about 111 km east of the capital Sofia.
Koprivshtitsa is one of the most glorious and honored historical places in Bulgaria.
The town was one of the centers of the April Uprising in 1876 against the 500 year Ottoman domination and it was here that the first shot was fired.
The April Uprising 1876 preceded the Russian - Turkish Liberation War (1877-1878) between the Ottoman Empire and the Eastern Orthodox coalition led by the Russian Empire and composed of Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro.
After the war the Balkan nations officially proclaimed independence from the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria was re-established in 1878.
Koprivshtitsa is the birthplace of many prominent Bulgarian revolutionists and national heroes.
The place is also known for its authentic Bulgarian architecture, still preserving the atmosphere of the Bulgarian National Revival period of the 19th century.
The town boasts a large number of architectural monuments from the period, most of which have been restored to their original appearance. Collections of ethnographic treasures, old weapons, National Revival works of art, fine fretwork, household weaves and embroidery, national costumes and typical Bulgarian jewelry have also been preserved.
The main attractions are the memorial houses of the Bulgarian revolutionists, national heroes and poets.
The most popular are:
The Kableshkov Memorial House 1845
The Karavelov Memorial House 1810-1835
The Benkovski Memorial House 1831
The Debelyanov House 1830
The Oslekov House 1853
The Lyutov House 1854
The Kalachev Bridge
Photos of Koprivshtitsa:
