Monument to Apriltsi in the area of Zli dol near the town of Klisura
- Stefan Ivanov
- Oct 23, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 20
Autumn has painted the northern slopes of Sochtinska Sredna gora in warm tones, and every leaf is now a color.
It is indescribably beautiful!
I am driving along the Sub-Balkan road in the direction of the quiet historical town of Klisura.
Април
1876
As I grip the steering wheel, my eyes fall on the memorial inscription lying on the right side of the road. I look at him and my heart beats madly, remembering those memorable times when the Bulgarians rose up, yearning for freedom.
I take the turnoff for Klisura and immediately turn left in the direction of the Zli dol area.
When the first huge granite rock with a metal sign pops up in front of my eyes on the left, I pull over, turn off the engine, get out of the car, and headlong into history - to that memorable day:
April 20, summer 1876
On his way back from the meeting in Oborishte, Nikola Karadjov traveled with activists from Koprivshtitsa and the surrounding settlements. For this reason, he was with Todor Kableshkov when, on April 20, Turkish troops attempted to arrest the Koprivshtitsa leader.
Nikola Karadjov participated in the fight with the prisoners, witnessed the capture of the konak and re-signed (with a short comment and his signature) the famous bloody letter to Georgi Benkovski for greater credibility.
Immediately after that, he headed for his hometown and just two hours later started the uprising in Klisura.
Nikola Karadjov took over the leadership of the rebels in his hometown and was appointed chairman of the Military Council and chief of the guards.
Early in the morning of April 21, the Military Council of the Klisura rebels was established. On the same day, the rebel flag was solemnly consecrated and handed over here at this place - the Zli dol area.
On the huge granite rock are inscribed the names of all the leaders who took part in the military council of the first Bulgarian government in Klisura:
Nikola Karadjov – chairman and chief of the guards
Nyagul Boyadzhiev – assistant to N. Karadjov
Hristo Pavurdzhiev – guardian of the cattle for slaughter
Nesho Berberski – chief of weapons and military supplies
Doncho Popmakaveev – chief of food for the troops and the poor
Tsanko Boyadzhiyski – responsible for preparing hats
Yakim Hadzhistoyanov – responsible for preparing clothing
Tuncho Petkov – responsible for preparing cats for the tservuli
Hristo Boyadzhiyski – horse distributor
Pop Bozhko – priest of the troops
Filip Bozhkov Popov – chief clerk (secretary)
Grigor Bozhkov Popov – assistant to the chief clerk
The military council of the Klisurtsi is an example of a truly democratic people's government.
All property, all food supplies are declared common.
Nikola Karadjov organized everything in the activities during the Freedom Days between April 20 and 26, 1876.
In anticipation of the enemy, the Klisura rebels guarded the key positions – Zli dol, Presveta, Prekiya pat, Humnik, Topancheto, Arhangelov den, Pamuk mogila, Buhalovi kamani and Ostritsa.
The Klisura area of Zli dol is a unique cultural monument, preserving the memories of one of the most terrible battles of the April Uprising, which the city lost in an unequal battle against the cruel enslaver and was completely burned down.
On April 26, a large number of bashibozuk, gathered from the Strem Valley and the Kazanlak region, led by the Karlov feudal lord Tosun Bey, completely surrounded Klisura. The fewer Bulgarian defenders could not withstand the attacks of the Turks.
Over two hundred of the villagers who did not manage to escape were brutally slaughtered. The victims were mainly women, children and the elderly. The people of Klisura retreated neighborhood by neighborhood. Many rebels died in the fighting, and the rest, together with the population, retreated to Koprivshtitsa.
Volov appeared with a detachment of Koprivshtitsa. He gathered retreating Klisura fighters and attacked the Turkish horde in the rear, but the heavy rain wetted the rebels' gunpowder and their rifles could not fire.
Panayot Volov was forced to retreat to Koprivshtitsa.
That day put an end to the April Uprising for Klisura.
After the second huge granite rock, located on the left of the road I came on, there is a path that I now take. The path winds through a young pine grove. With every step I take, I seem to sense the courage, valor, and selflessness of the people of the gorge who fought here in those memorable days.
Soon, stone steps appear amidst the dried pine needles.
The stone steps lead me to this monument, built of white marble.
This is the monument in the Zli dol area, erected in 1961 on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the April Uprising as a celebration of all the heroes of Klisura!
The author of this monument is architect Vasil Beyazov.
The majestic monument seems to have raised a golden laurel wreath high in the sky, probably symbolizing the indomitable Bulgarian spirit, yearning for freedom.
1876.
From this height, the sons of heroic Klisura rebelled against the centuries-old enslaver - the Turkish Empire...
The new history of Bulgaria began.
Glory!
Eternal glory to Apriltsi!
The battle site "Kozinaroviya Kladenets" on "Chereshovo Topche" Street, a defensive post from the April Uprising on "Hr.Danov" Street, positions of the insurgents from 1876 in the Shaykovitsa area, 200 meters east, Presveta area 300 meters east, Humanik area west, Zli Dol area 1.5 kilometers northeast, Varlishnitsa historical area 1 kilometer south, Nikola Karadjov's battle site in Ravna Reka area 10 kilometers east, as well as the Pavurdzhievi house have been declared immovable cultural values (NCC) historical monuments of culture with the category of national importance.
How do you get to Klisura?
The town of Klisura is located on the border of the Sofia and Plovdiv districts.
It is located in Southern Bulgaria near the Sub-Balkan Road*.
*The Republican Road I-6, also known as the Sub-Balkan Road, is a first-class road of the Republican road network of Bulgaria with a west-east direction, passing through the territory of nine districts: Kyustendil, Pernik, Sofia District, Sofia, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Sliven, Yambol and Burgas.
Its total length is 508.5 km, making it the longest republican road in Bulgaria.
Klisura is located:
109 kilometers (about 1 hour and 30 minutes by car) from the capital
94 kilometers (about 1 hour and 20 minutes by car) from the city of Plovdiv
384 kilometers (about 5 hours by car) from the city of Varna
278 kilometers (about 3 hours and 20 minutes by car) from the city of Burgas
25 kilometers (about 28 minutes by car) from the city of Koprivshtitsa
How to get to the Zli dol area?
Returning back to the Sub-Balkan Road, continue towards the city of Burgas.
You will soon see that the road forks. Continue straight without taking the turn that will take you to the Sub-Balkan Road.
On the right, among the trees, there is this signpost, which you are very likely to miss – I also only noticed it on my way back from Zli dol, and that was because I was walking.
And finally, my dear friends,
you shouldn't miss checking out
the special photo album with moments –
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