Koprivshtitsa
Updated: May 23, 2022
You are beautiful, my forest,
you smell like youth
but you inhabit in our hearts
only grief and sorrow:
who looks at you once,
he is forever sorry
that you can't under yours
shadows to rot,
and whoever needs it
to leave you already
he can't, as long as he's alive,
to forget you.
You are beautiful, my forest,
you smell like youth
but you inhabit our hearts
only sorrow and pity,
your beeches and oaks,
your noises are thick
and flowers, and waters,
fat lambs,
and peony, and grass,
and your coolness,
everything, I say, sometimes
like a bullet falling
of the heart that is
always ready
to cry when he sees
in nature new,
when he sees spring
old age sends
and under the cold, and under the snow
life begins.
Lyuben Karavelov
"My God, a village like a box, where only rye is born, where winter is nine months, where the busiest roads are just two feet wide, where noble guests are considered pilgrims, where neither Blanki nor Well, Bue, neither Cyprian Roberta, nor Louis Leger, etc., etc. - and such a cry of figures and patriots!
Inexplicable!”
Zachary Stoyanov
This monument, dedicated to Benkovski, is one of the symbols of Koprivshtitsa.
It is located above his native house, on the steps up, and from it there is an incredible panoramic view of the whole Koprivshtitsa.
Nearby you will find unique wide green meadows where you can relax, have fun, have a picnic or just enjoy the silence and nature.
The monument depicts Benkovski himself on horseback, symbolizing the significance of the "Flying Detachment", on five stones, in turn, symbolizing the five centuries under Ottoman rule. On them you can read the inscription "Get up, slaves! I cannot stand the slavery anymore!” from the ode "Benkovski" from Vazov's “Epic of the Forgotten”.
House-museum of the revolutionary Georgi Benkovski
The real name of the revolutionary is Gavril Hlatev.
He remains in history as the organizer and leader of the April Uprising.
The house was built of wood in 1831. The museum exhibits tell about the life and revolutionary activity of the freedom-loving Bulgarian.
Yako Dorosiev House-Museum
It houses a permanent exhibition "Koprivshtitsa - educational center during the Revival era"
Merchant Petko Lyutov House (Lyutova House)
Unique architectural Revival monument.
It was built in 1854 by Plovdiv masters.
The owner, Petko Lyutov, traded in Egypt.
The house arouses interest with its beautiful architecture and rich frescoes. The internal ordinance illustrates the situation of the wealthy Koprivshtitsa home from the middle of the 19th century. The hot house, also called the Topalov house, is one of the most beautiful in Koprivshtitsa.
At present, it has also been turned into an Ethnographic Museum. In it you can see a collection of typical "Koprivshtitsa lace", kenet and felt (non-woven colorful bedding made of wool).
The class school with founder Naiden Gerov
Neofit Rilski also taught here.
Stone bridge of the First Rifle (Kalachev Bridge)
The first rifle explodes here, marking the beginning of the April Uprising. The Turkish soldier was shot here, with whose blood Todor Kableshkov stamped the famous "bloody letter", in which he described the events and called on the people of Panagyurishte to join the struggle for freedom. The letter was sent to Georgi Benkovski.
House-museum of the revolutionary Todor Kableshkov
He is chairman of the secret revolutionary committee in Koprivshtitsa and author of the Bloody Letter.
The house was built in 1845 by a master from Koprivshtitsa.
With its imposing facade, rich interior and woodcarving, it is an extremely valuable monument of our Revival era architecture.
The restored living conditions are as they were in the middle of the 19th century.
An exhibition reflecting the revolutionary activities of Todor Kableshkov and the April Uprising in Koprivshtitsa was made.
Cathedral Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
In 1817, on the site of the burned down church Smolski and Mirkovo masters built a new church.
The story goes that it was built in about 11 days.
It is a low building dug into the ground, dimly lit, painted on the outside so that it looks like a house and does not draw attention to itself.
Its bells officially herald the beginning of the April Uprising.
A valuable work of art is the iconostasis, made in 1821. Biblical motifs, beautiful plants and animals are woven into it, like a fine wooden cobweb. The icon paintings are also the work of famous artists and painters such as Zahari Zograf, Ivan Nikolov Obrazopisov, Ivan Spaskovski and the Koprivshtitsa artist Hristo Enchev.
Todor Kableshkov and Dimcho Debelyanov lie in eternal peace in the churchyard. Here is the tomb of Hadji Nencho Palaveev - he donated significant funds for the construction of the local community center and other cultural buildings.
It is known as the "Old Church" and is the oldest church in Koprivshtitsa.
... and in a gentle trance she waits
for her child to come back...
The sculpture "Mother" was placed on the grave of the poet in 1934. The same sculpture is located in the yard of his native house.
"To return to my father's house,
when the evening humbly goes out
and quiet bosoms quiet night unfolds
to caress the sorrowful and unhappy.
Burdened the black fatigue,
what inconsolable days bequeathed to you -
you with timid steps to wake up in the yard
in front of a guest expected joy timid.
Let the old mather meet you on the doorstep
and put his forehead on his helpless shoulder,
to disappear in her smile good
and repeat for a long time: mom, mom…
He humbly entered the familiar room,
your last haven and shelter,
to whisper soft words in silence,
stared wearily at the old icon:
I came to wait for a peaceful disappearance,
that my sun has passed its way… "
House-museum of the poet Dimcho (Dincho) Debelyanov
This is the native house of the poet.
Built in 1830 and today turned into a museum, the house arouses great interest and lyrical mood among all visitors to the city.
The poet-lyricist was born here on March 25, 1887.
The family ordinance of the house has been restored. The museum exposition tells about the life and literary activity of the poet.
Named after his grandfather, his real name is actually Dincho, but when he stood on a high meadow above the city and shouted his name loudly, his echo echoed "Dimcho, Dimcho…" and so he decided to change his name.
In the middle of the yard you will notice a sculpture characterizing Debelyanov's mother, who "expects him to return to his father's house".
You will find the same sculpture on the poet's grave.
At the end of October 1912 Dimcho Debelyanov was mobilized in the 22nd Thracian Infantry Regiment in Samokov.
During the Balkan War he was an ordinary soldier (private) in Samokov.
From September 1913 he was transferred to the Reserve Officers' School in Knyazhevo.
Two years later he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.
At the beginning of the First World War, he himself insisted on being sent to the front, although he was not subject to mobilization.
At the end of January (January 29), 1916, he volunteered for the Macedonian Front, where he stayed for about eight months.
On the night of September 30, the company, whose command had been entrusted to him for several days, went into battle with the British.
Lieutenant Debelyanov was killed in this battle on October 2, 1916, at about 10 am in a battle near Gorno Karadzhovo (today Monoklisia), aged 29 years and 6 months.
He was buried the next day in the yard of the Bulgarian church in Demirhisar (or Valovishta, today Sidirokastro). For honors and merits during the second period of the war he was posthumously awarded the Military Order "For Courage", IV degree.
In 1931, at the initiative of the Living Word literary circle, his bones were transferred to his native Koprivshtitsa.
Later, the sculptor Ivan Lazarov was invited to make a monument to the poet. During one of his visits to Koprivshtitsa, he saw grandmother Lila Paraleeva (who lost her husband and son in the wars) sitting on the doorstep of her gate - leaning her head in her hand and carried away in thought. This gave him the idea for the monument. As Lila Paraleeva died soon after, the sculptor used grandmother Lala Dushkova as a model.
The sculpture "Mother" was placed on the grave of the poet in 1934.
The Oslekova House, declared a Cultural Monument
Currently an ethnographic museum, it is extremely beautiful.
April 20th Square
This is the central square of Koprivshtitsa.
Here stands a monument - an ossuary in memory of those killed in the April Uprising.
The Palaveev House of the "Benefactor of Koprivshtitsa" Nencho Palaveev
Palaveeva's house was bequeathed to Koprivshtitsa, along with quantities of gold, by Nencho Palaveev, known as the "Benefactor of Koprivshtitsa". He helps a lot for the development of the city, and with his donations were built many fountains, water supply network, community center, primary school, bell tower in the church "St. Nicholas ”, the Ossuary in the central square and others.
House-museum of the writer Lyuben Karavelov
Prominent Bulgarian writer and revolutionary.
The complex consists of three buildings built over a period of 25 years: a winter house built in 1810, an outbuilding - built in 1820 and a summer house - built in 1835.
The buildings were used for the needs of the family of the jailer Stoycho Karavela and his wife Nedelya Doganova. Today in all three houses there is a museum exposition dedicated to the life and work of the two brothers Lyuben and Petko Karavelovi.
Here you can see the original printing press that printed the first revolutionary editions - the newspaper "Svoboda" and the newspaper "Nezavisimost".
The emblematic Bulgarian song "You are beautiful, my forest", written by Lyuben Karavelov, is an unofficial anthem of Koprivshtitsa.
A different beauty from Koprivshtitsa!
Probably everyone has walked through the cobbled streets of this unique and inimitable Bulgarian city, admiring the incredible atmosphere created by the preserved, beautiful, Revival architecture.
But this time, I will share with you a different Bulgarian beauty!
Dear ladies, dear gentlemen, accept a Bulgarian rose from Koprivshtitsa!
I wish you an exceptional and impressive walk!