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Aya Radwan
Aya Radwan
Home of the first shot of the April Uprising against the Ottoman Empire, Koprivshtitsa is a town soaked in history. Located 111 kilometres east of Sofia, huddled between the mountains of Sredna Gora by the Topolnitsa River, it is a historic town in the Koprivshtitsa Municipality in the Sofia Province in Bulgaria.
The town of Koprivshtitsa is known for its architectural monuments, 383 to be exact, which are poignant examples of the Bulgarian National Revival architectural style of the 19th century.
Being southeast of Sofia, the town enjoys slightly cold weather all year round. During the summer season, the highest temperature can be 16 degrees Celsius in October. In winter, the average temperature is -4 degrees Celsius in January.
There are only legends surrounding the origin of the town of Koprivshtitsa—there are two legends. The first one says that the town was actually a crossroads to the towns of Zlatarica, Pirdop, and Klisura. The other legend says that Koprivshtitsa was actually founded by refugees.
Whatever the town’s origin, it has carved its name in history by the significant role it played during the April Uprising and the lives it gave for the Liberation of Bulgaria. The town was reduced to ashes several times during Ottoman Rule, its people robbed and driven away.
It was up to Koprivshtitsa’s wealthy merchants who employed Bulgaria’s best painters and woodcarvers using the proceeds from the local wool industry. This architectural movement in the town turned it into a spectacular display of the Bulgarian National Revival architectural style.
The local traders paid bribes to the Ottoman Bashibazouks to spare Koprivshtitsa from being torched during and after the April Uprising. It was also due to these bribes that the town enjoyed several privileges, which enabled it to maintain its Bulgarian traditions and atmosphere of the city.
One of Koprivshtitsa’s unique traits is the beauty of its houses; each house is a work of art. There are blue, yellow, and red houses with verandas, bay windows, and eaves. Wood carvings distinguish every room, complemented by a colourful use of rugs and cushions. The town’s streets are paved with cobblestone, leading you through high white stone walls and gardens.
Since 1965, Koprivshtitsa has been hosting the National Festival of Bulgarian Folklore. This festival shows Bulgarian music as it was always played by the ancestors who first played it. Thousands of musicians and singers call the hillside houses home for some days to participate in this colourful festival.
In this article, we’ll learn how to get to Koprivshtitsa, where to stay, what to see and do there, and the Bulgarian Folklore Festival in depth. Not to mention the best places to visit to enjoy the best food you can think of.
How to get to Koprivshtitsa?
There are several ways to get from Sofia to Koprivshtitsa. You can take the train, the bus, or a taxi, or you can drive the way yourself if you prefer.
1. By train:
The train from Sofia leaves to Koprivshtitsa every three hours, the ticket price ranges from 3 Euros to 5 Euros. The route is operated by Bulgarian Railways. When you arrive in Koprivshtitsa, you can take a taxi from Koprivshtitsa Municipality to Koprivshtitsa in less than 10 minutes with about 5 Euros. The entire journey is nearly two and a half hours and a half.
You can also take the train from Sofia to Zlatitsa—the journey is almost two hours long and costs from 2 to 4 Euros. There’s a train leaving from Sofia to Zlatitsa every three hours. When you get to Zlatitsa, you can take a bus from there to Koprivshtitsa, which will take you there in less than an hour and cost 2 Euros.
A bus leaves from Zlatitsa to Koprivshtitsa three times a day. The entire journey from Sofia takes close to four hours.
2. By bus:
The bus is considered the cheapest way to get from Sofia to Koprivshtitsa. There are up to three buses leaving from Sofia to Koprivshtitsa each day. The bus ride takes a bit less than 2 hours and 40 minutes. The bus ticket is only 5 Euros. You can check several bus operators such as Chelopech Municipal Buses and Angkor Travel Bulgaria.
3. By taxi:
The taxi journey from Sofia to Koprivshtitsa will take about an hour and a half. The fare usually starts at 45 to 55 Euros. You can check several operators, such as Za Edno Evro and Yellow Taxi.
4. By car:
If you fancy renting a car and going for a drive, you can rent a car from Sofia for 15 Euros. The approximate fuel cost ranges from 10 euros to 14 Euros. A good website for renting cars is Rentalcars.
Where to stay in Koprivshtitsa?
There are different accommodation options available in Koprivshtitsa that you can choose from. There’s even an entire property for hire if you’re a family travelling together and wish to rent such a place.
1. Guest House Bashtina Striaha (16 Nikola Belovezhdov Str, 2077 Koprivshtitsa):
Only 0.1 kilometres away from the city centre, this Guest House is at the heart of the town. It offers you a lovely garden full of beautiful roses. Ljutova House, Todor Kableshkov House Museum and Saint Bogorodica Church are less than 150 meters away. A double room with one double bed for three nights is 66 Euros. There are restaurants and cafés nearby, only 0.3 kilometres away.
2. Family Hotel Bashtina Kashta (32 Hadji Nencho Palaveev Blvd., 2077 Koprivshtitsa):
Only 50 meters away from Koprivshtitsa’s 20th April Square, this Family Hotel is close to many landmarks, such as the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos. It’s also close to the main shopping street, eco-walking paths, and the local bus stop.
For a three-night stay at the Family Hotel Bashtina Kashta, you will pay 92 Euros for a comfortable double or twin room or 123 Euros for a one-bedroom suite. The hotel’s restaurant offers excellent breakfast choices for vegetarians, which are included in the suite package.
3. Family Vacation Home Topolnitza (Liuben Karavelov 34, 2077 Koprivshtitsa):
This family home is excellent if you’re a family travelling together. It offers a great city view, mountain view, landmark view, and quiet street view as well. It is less than half a kilometre away from the city centre. They also offer an airport shuttle service.
The entire home can be rented for three nights, for example. That would be 481 euros for six people travelling together. The breakfast available is vegan-friendly for an extra charge of 4 Euros.
4. Chuchura Family Hotel (66 Hadji Nencho Palaveev, 2077 Koprivshtitsa):
This hotel is less than half a kilometre from the city centre. It is surrounded by a fascinating area for cycling and is even close to horse-riding facilities. A double room costs 87 Euros for a three-night stay. The hotel’s restaurant serves all delicious types of traditional Bulgarian dishes.
Things to see and do in Koprivshtitsa
The town of Koprivshtitsa is entirely built in Bulgarian National Revival architecture. Its half-timbered houses are a vibrant example of this unique architecture school. Koprivshtitsa is home to more than 300 monuments that tell the history of the town and its people.
All the town’s architectural monuments have been restored to their original state. Other collections have been preserved, including ethnographical treasures, old weapons, National Revival works of art, fretwork, household weaves and embroidery, national costumes, and typical Bulgarian jewellery.
There’s a unified ticket to visit all house museums in Koprivshtitsa; the ticket price is equivalent to 3 Euros.
1. Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos (Church of Sveta Bogoroditsa):
The bell of Sveta Bogoroditsa rang in April 1876 to announce the beginning of the April Uprising. The church was rebuilt in 1817 after its demolition a few years earlier. The church was built in compliance with the rules set by the Ottomans that govern Christian churches, hence the relatively low building of the church.
Sveta Bogoroditsa is distinguishable by its beautiful blue colour, a serene contrast to the red roof tiles. Locally known as the Blue Church, it is located on the hills of Koprivshtitsa. The church’s location provides a peaceful sanctuary for the people of Koprivshtitsa from everyday life. Above the church, there’s a cemetery with many impressive headstones and memorials.
2. Mausoleum Ossuary of the 1876 April Uprising:
This memorial was built to remember those who sacrificed their lives for the independence of Bulgaria from Ottoman Rule. The mausoleum houses the bones of the heroes who gave their lives for their country, and the impressive monument is only a fitting memorial.
The building was built in 1926 and contains a worship place as a chapel. The memorial is there as a remembrance that the struggle for independence is never forgotten.
3. Dimcho Debelyanov’s House Museum:
Dimcho Debelyanov was a Bulgarian author and poet born in Koprivshtitsa in 1887. At one point, he was dubbed the Symbolist Poet since the first poems of his to be published were satirical with symbolist qualities and subjects such as dreams, idealism and the stylizing of medieval legends. He moved with his family to Plovdiv after his father’s death and later moved to Sofia.
Debelyanov’s love for Koprivshtitsa never faded; he always longed for his hometown and often wrote about it. He called Plovdiv the sorrowful city and often spoke of his years there with regret. He studied Law, History, and Literature at the Sofia University faculties of Law, history, and Philosophy and translated works in both English and French.
Debelyanov worked several jobs, including as a translator and freelance journalist. He was mobilized into the Balkan army during the Balkan Wars and discharged in 1914. He later volunteered in the army in 1916 and was killed the same year in a battle with an Irish division near Gorno Karadjovo, which is Monokklisia in Greece.
Dimcho Debelyanov’s poetry was greatly influenced by his time serving in the army. His poetry changed from idealist Symbolism to a simplified and more object-focused Realism. After his death, his works were gathered by his friends and later published in a series of two volumes in 1920 under the title Stihotvoreniya (it means Poems), along with a collection of letters and personal writings.
The Dimcho Debelyanov House Museum is located in the house where he was born, which was originally built by his grandfather. Inside the small blue house with a red tile roof, there are several portraits of the poet, and you can hear his poems in the house. You will get to see Debelyanov in different stages of his life, his never-ending love for Koprivshtitsa, and many of his belongings and personal artefacts.
In the big yard in front of the house, there’s a statue depicting Dimcho’s mother as she awaited her song to return from the war. Alas, she only got the news of his death. A replica of the statue is erected in front of his grave in Koprivshtitsa’s cemetery.
4. Dimcho Debelyanov’s Grave:
The grave of the famous Bulgarian author and poet, who was born in 1887 and died in 1916, is at the Koprivshtitsa cemetery. The poet was renowned for his symbolist poetry, especially when he expressed his sadness about the time he spent with his family in Plovdiv. A Koprivshtitsa native, he had to leave the town after his father’s passing and eventually settled with his family in Sofia.
His poems were first published after he began sending them to Bulgarian literary magazines in 1906. Debelyanov was deployed in 1912 during the Balkan War and was discharged in 1914. He later volunteered to join the army in 1916 and was killed later in the same year.
The war had a significant effect on Debelyanov’s poetry. Instead of satirical and symbolist qualities and subjects, he wrote about more simplified subjects with a realistic touch.
His grave has a mourning statue depicting his mother as she was waiting for him to come back from the war. Ivan Lazarov designed this statue. The same statue exists on a symbolic pedestal in the front yard of his family home in Koprivshtitsa.
5. Todor Kableshkov House Museum:
Remembered through history for many things: one of the most courageous Bulgarian revolutionaries, one of the leaders of the April Uprising and the author of the infamous Bloody Letter to the neighbouring Panagyurishte Revolutionary district. Todor Kableshkov was born in 1851 in Koprivshtitsa to a wealthy family. He first studied in Koprivshtitsa, then Plovdiv, and then abroad in Istanbul.
Todor returned to Koprivshtitsa at the beginning of 1876, where he devoted himself to revolutionary work. During his years in Plovdiv, he established an enlightenment society called Zora. Following his return to Koprivshtitsa, he was assigned the head of the local revolutionary committee.
The Bloody Letter, for which Todor Kableshkov was famous, derived its name from the fact that Todor signed it using the blood of a local Ottoman governor who the revolutionary Georgi Tihanek killed.
The letter was addressed to the Panagyurishte revolutionary committee, specifically Georgi Benkovski. It travelled from Koprivshtitsa to Panagyurishte in Georgi Salchev’s hands.
After the suppression of the April Uprising by the Ottomans, they eventually captured Todor Kableshkov even though he had succeeded in escaping and hiding in the beginning. He was tortured in the Lovech and Veliko Tarnovo prisons and ended up committing suicide in 1876 at the age of 25 in the Gabrovo police office.
Kableshkov is considered one of the most courageous Bulgarian revolutionaries mainly because of the young age at which he started his revolutionary work.
His family home in Koprivshtitsa, where he was born, was turned into a house museum. The house displays Todor’s personal belongings, including the famous Bloody Letter. Walking through the home, you will learn new and exciting stories about this young man’s life and his family.
There’s a monument dedicated to Todor Kableshkov near his family house in Koprivshtitsa, and a bust of Kableshkov was carved and set up beside the house. The complete script of the Bloody Letter was inscribed in stone near the place where Kableshkov wrote it.
6.Georgi Benkovski House Museum:
Known as the Apostle of the fourth revolutionary district, Georgi Benkovski is the pseudonym of Gavril Gruev Hlatev. He was born around 1843 in Koprivshtitsa to the family of a small-time merchant and craftsman and had two sisters. Due to his difficult childhood, he had to drop out of school and start a profession. He was initially trained by his mother to become a tailor and then a frieze dealer, leaving with a friend to Asia Minor to sell their products.
Georgi Benkovski had several jobs during his years abroad, he worked in Istanbul, İzmir and Alexandria including the bodyguard of a Persian consul. During his travels, he learned seven languages: Arabic, Ottoman Turkish, Greek, Italian, Polish, Romanian and Persian.
After meeting Stoyan Zaimov, he became involved in the revolutionary activities of the Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee. Gavril adopted the Benkovski pseudonym after he’d joined a group of revolutionaries who intended to set Constantinople on fire and kill Sultan AbdulAziz; he was given the French passport of a Polish immigrant named Anton Benkowski.
Anton Benkowski was an anti-Russian who had attempted to assassinate the Russian governor of Warsaw, after which he had to serve a life sentence. He succeeded in fleeing to Japan, acquired a passport, and fled again to the Ottoman Empire when he met Zaimov, who sold him his French passport for 5 Turkish liras.
Georgi Benkovski was selected as the head apostle of the 4th Revolutionary District of the April Uprising when the initial apostle conceded his position to Benkovski. After the April Uprising broke out in Koprivshtitsa, Benkovski, who was in the nearby Panagyurishte, formed a band of over 200 revolutionaries called The Flying Band. They toured the entire region to gather more insurgents.
After the uprising was suppressed, only three band members survived besides Benkovski. They escaped to the Teteven Balkan Mountains, where a local shepherd betrayed their location. Benkovski was shot in Ribaritsa.
Georgi Benkovski’s home in Koprivshtitsa was turned into a house museum where you can learn more about his life and his early years with his family. The well-preserved house shows the hopes and dreams of a free country. Family photos of Georgi and his mother radiating love are also in the house. The summer quarters are upstairs, while the winter quarters are downstairs.
There are two monuments in Koprivshtitsa dedicated to Georgi Benkovski. The first is a statue depicting Benkovski riding his horse and calling for the rebellion erected on the hill above the house. There’s also a bust of Georgi Benkovski outside his house museum in town. There are also two monuments dedicated to him, one in Sofia and the other in Ribaritsa, where he was killed.
7. Georgi Benkovski Monument:
This monument was unveiled in 1976 on the 100th anniversary of Benkovski’s death after the suppression of the April Uprising. The sculpture is made of granite, showing Benkovski riding his horse as he looked over his shoulder, calling for his fellow revolutionaries. The monument is located on the hill atop his house museum in Koprivshtitsa.
8. Lyuben Karavelov House Museum:
Lyuben Karavelov was a Bulgarian writer and an essential figure of the Bulgarian National Revival. He was born in 1834 in Koprivshtitsa, where he began his education in a church school before moving to a school in Plovdiv, followed by a Greek school and then another Bulgarian school where he studied Russian Literature.
He studied culture and ethnography in Constantinople. In 1857, Karavelov enrolled in the Faculty of History and Philology at Moscow University. Russian revolutionary democrats influenced him, and he participated in student riots in 1861.
Along with other Bulgarian student radicals, they published a journal where he wrote prose and long short stories in Bulgarian and scholarly publications on Bulgarian ethnography and journalism in Russian. He went to Belgrade in 1867 as a correspondent for Russian newspapers and started publishing prose and journalism in Serbian.
Karavelov spent some time in a Budapest prison for alleged participation in a conspiracy after coming in contact with the Serb opposition. His first newspaper, which he established in Bucharest, where he settled, witnessed his work and friendship with poet and revolutionary Hristo Botev.
In 1870, Karavelov was elected chairman of the Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee, where he worked with Vasil Levski, the leader of the Internal Revolutionary Organization.
Between 1873 and 1874, Karavelov and Botev started a new newspaper named Nezavisimost (Independence). The two writers set the standard up high for Bulgarian language and literature. Sometimes it was difficult to tell who the author of the unsigned masterpieces was, although Karavelov was the recognized master.
After the capture and execution of Vasil Levski in 1873, Karavelov was devastated and retired from the political scene under Botev’s disapproval. Karavelov started a new journal named Znanie (Knowledge) and popular science books. He died in Rousse in 1879, shortly after the Liberation of Bulgaria.
The Lyuben Karavelov House Museum doesn’t only display information and insight into the life of the Bulgarian writer but also into the life of his brother Petko, who served as the Bulgarian Prime Minister on several occasions in the late 19th century.
The house is divided into two parts, each for one brother. Pictures on display show the different stages of the brothers’ lives, along with insightful information about them. Out in the small yard in front of the house, there’s a bust of Lyuben Karavelov.
9. Lyutov House Museum:
This house was originally built in 1854 by masters from Plovdiv for the wealthy citizen of Koprivshtitsa, Stefan Topalov. In 1906, the Lyutov family, local milk merchants, bought the house. The bright blue of the house, paired with the double entrance stairway, gives the house an elegant hue.
The original furniture of the house has been preserved, having been imported from Vienna. The ground floor showcases a beautiful collection of 18th—and 19th-century grey felt rugs, which were a trademark of Koprivshtitsa, alongside traditional dresses and costumes.
The most impressive room is called “The Hayet’ which displays a variety of paintings from the Orient since Lyutov used to trade in Egypt. The house has the typical wooden carved ceiling, a signature of the Bulgarian Revival architectural style. Another exciting feature of the house is the air-refreshing fountain on the second floor.
The Lyutov House Museum is a lively example of how the people lived back during those times. The house’s garden is a lovely place you’ll surely enjoy with a book. Unlike the other house museums in Koprivshtitsa, this is the only museum you’d visit for its ethnographic exhibits and attractive architecture.
10. Nencho Oslekov House Museum:
Nencho Oslekov was a wealthy Koprivshtitsa merchant. The house he lived in was built specially for him by Usta Mincho and Kosta Zograf, who were considered representatives of the Samokov architectural school. Built between 1853 and 1856, the house is a fascinating masterpiece with its exterior design and interior beauty.
Due to the small building area, the house is designed in an asymmetrical shape. It has a central area and an additional wing. The second floor is supported by three cedar columns, and the house features a staircase on the outside.
Decorated with scenes from Venice, the façade also has scenes from other cities worldwide and is beautiful to admire as you approach through the courtyard. The house’s interior is also well preserved, and all houses from that era in Bulgaria have traditional carved wooden ceilings.
The house is divided into winter quarters downstairs, with small windows to keep the heat inside, and summer quarters upstairs, with bigger windows. Kept inside the house is a collection of bells that were used to keep track of livestock back in the day. The bigger the animal, the bigger the bell. One of the rooms of the house is known as the Red Room. It has a beautiful decorative wooden ceiling and paintings.
During the April Uprising, Nencho Oslekov helped the rebels by sewing wool clothes for them in his workshop and helped them in several other ways. After the suppression of the rebellion, he was caught and hanged in Plovdiv for his role in supporting the rebels. His house was turned into a museum in 1956 and is a notable example of the life of wealthy people.
11. The First Rifle Shot Bridge (Parva Pushka):
This little bridge was initially built in 1813, as indicated by a plaque on one side. What is now a serene place was once the scene of the spark of the April Uprising, the killing of the first Ottoman.
The bridge is built above the Bayla River and has attractive architectural surroundings. Nearby, there’s a monument dedicated to Todor Kableshkov, the leader of the uprising. Several hiking trails start from behind the bridge.
The town of Koprivshtitsa is full of beautiful houses on every corner. Most of them date back to the Bulgarian Revival architectural style of the 19th century. During your walk through the town, you will feel like you’ve stepped back in time and are walking through history. The town has hosted the National Festival of Bulgarian Folklore since 1965.
National Festival of Bulgarian Folklore in Koprivshtitsa
Since 1965, Koprivshtitsa has hosted the National Festival of Bulgarian Folklore every five years. The festival is held under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture and the Koprivshtitsa Municipality and with the help of Bulgarian National Television, Bulgarian National Radio, the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with the Ethnographic Museum and the Institute for Art Studies Community Centers.
The festival is a gathering spot for singers and dancers from all over the country who help promote Bulgarian folklore. Traditionally, it is held in the Voyvodenets area in Koprivshtitsa.
The festival is a competition in which all participants present a program based on the folklore of the area from which they come. Local and much smaller festivals are held all over the country to choose the best performers who will be sent to the national festival in Koprivshtitsa.
The National Folklore Festival is a mix between a pop festival and a medieval fair where shows are performed on 8 different stages in the open air. Foreign performers are also welcome to participate in the fair as they try their hands at traditional Bulgarian music.
Beautiful and colourful traditional Bulgarian costumes are also celebrated, as they are worn by different participants in the festival. In addition to traditional singing and dancing shows, storytelling events, gaming events, and craftsmanship events take place.
Since its beginning, the festival’s primary objective has been protecting the traditions endangered by factors such as urbanization and commodification. The festival helps raise awareness about the importance of preserving traditions and living heritage.
Since 2016, the festival has been on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The last edition was postponed from 2020 until the 6th and 8th of August 2021, fearing for the safety of the participants during the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival’s last edition brought together over 12,000 participants from all over Bulgaria and abroad.
Cuisine in Koprivshtitsa
Restaurants serving great food are in different spots in Koprivshtitsa. In addition to traditional Bulgarian food, you can find European,AQ Eastern European, and vegetarian-friendly cuisines. Here’s a list of some of these beautiful places.
1. Tavern “Starata Krusha” (Nencho Palaveev 56, Koprivshtitsa 2077):
With a delicious menu and inviting atmosphere, you will have a great time at this restaurant. The place has all the qualities of a mehana, a traditional Bulgarian outlet. The restaurant offers dishes such as bacon on a skewer with onions, or you can try the Koprivshtitsa kavrma.
Prices are lower than in many other Bulgarian cities. The restaurant is open from 8:30 to 12 a.m. every day and all day on Sundays.
2. Diado Liben (Hadzhi Nencho 47, Koprivshtitsa 2077):
Along with European, Eastern European and Barbeque, this restaurant is vegetarian-friendly. The name means “Grandfather Liben,” and it takes after the local hero Lyuben Karavelov. You can have tasty dishes as Kashkaval Pane, homemade sausage and typical Bulgarian flatbread Parlenka. The place is open every day from 10 am to 12 pm and closes on Tuesdays.
3. Restaurant Bulgaria (G Salchev 4, Koprivshtitsa 2077):
Open every day from 12pm to 12am and closed on Mondays, this restaurant serves European, Central European, and Eastern European Cuisine. The price range is good, most around 9 Euros for an entire meal of appetizers, main course, and green salad.
4. Chuchura (Hadzhi Nencho 66, Koprivshtitsa 2077):
Another vegetarian-friendly restaurant in town, Chuchura, serves traditional Bulgarian dishes. Deliciousness such as Patatnik and homemade pie are available for around 17 Euros. The restaurant is available by reservation.
The town of Koprivshtitsa will certainly captivate you no matter when you decide to visit. One thing to be sure of is that you will lose yourself between the streets of this historic little town.
