Gabrovo
Gabrovo lies
220 km east of the capital Sofia, 150 km northeast of Plovdiv (the second
biggest city in Bulgaria), 274 km west of Varna (the biggest Bulgarian port on
the Black Sea) and 153 km south of Ruse (the biggest Bulgarian port on the
Danube). The strategic
location of the town and its proximity to the geographic centre of the country
define its significance as a transport junction.
The House of Humour and Satire Museum is a cultural institute for
humorous and satiric art of international and worldwide significance. It was
established on the foundations of an old leather factory on the ‘deceitful’
April 1st (the international day of joke- Fool’s day) in 1272 and it is a
dignified successor to the local folklore humour, as well as of the amusing
carnival traditions of Gabrovo – the Bulgarian capital of humour.
Under the
motto ‘The world has survived because it has laughed’ the house develops
versatile activities - it is a museum of laughter, a gallery of the world
humorous art, an informational centre, a place for entertainment, as well as a
tourist attraction both for the old and the young.
Museum
guests are offered an amusing walk around the permanent exhibitions (‘The Roots
of Gabrovo Humour’, ‘Paradise’, ‘The Sin’, ‘The Mask - the Face of the Feast’,
‘Long Live the Carnival!’, ‘World Carnival in Postage Stamps’), children’s
amusement room “Gabrovo Planet”, temporary exhibitions of comic art, as well as
numerous interesting attractions (joke-bank, distortion mirrors, figures of the
famous Gabrovo cat with a cut-off tail, sheep bells/’chanove’/ meant for
exorcism of evil spirits, disguise in carnival costumes, etc.)
The Historical Museum takes an important place in the
cultural life of Gabrovo. The beginning dates back to the first museum
collection initiated in 1883 in Aprilov High School by the school principal
Raicho Karolev. Nowadays the museum is housed in a beautiful baroque building
built in 1904. Its rich collection includes 90 000 exhibits from the
Paleolithic era, the late-ancient civilization on these lands (IV-VI centuries
BC.), the First and Second Bulgarian Kingdom, the Ottoman Empire, the Revival
period and the industrial boom, up to present days. Among its valuables are the
following: Remains from
the life of the first modern people in Europe; A numismatic collection; The second most important
collection of traditional and urban clothing and accessories; The first Bulgarian banknote of 20
Bulgarian levs, etc.
The main
exhibition is called ‘Gabrovo and Gabrovians’. It traces the early beginning,
progress and advancement of Gabrovo, starting from a little settlement of the
protectors of the pass and turning into an enlightened town of craftsmen up to
a centre of the textile industry. Five expositions represent a banker’s office,
sample exhibition stands, stylishly-furnished drawing room of a well-off
Gabrovian family in addition to a church plates collection made by a local
master goldsmith. In the central hall ceremonies are held to honour citizens
who have contributed to the town’s history.
The National Museum of Education is housed in the building of
Aprilov National High School. Founded in 1974 the museum is the only one of its
kind to represents the development of Bulgarian education from 19th century up
to the present. Vasil Aprilov’s private library is preserved there, along with
the books written by Aprilov – ‘Morning Star of the New Bulgarian Education’
(1841), ‘The Bulgarian Scribes’ (1841), ‘The Bulgarian Charters’, etc. The
museum exhibition is allocated into 5 halls. The old school where the method of
mutual instruction and the system of pupil teachers was used is of great
interest.
The
Assumption Church ‘The Assumption’ church is a masterpiece of the Bulgarian
Revival church architecture. It is located in the central part of the town and
was built in 1865 by the great Renaissance Master Gencho Kanev. It was
sanctified in October 26th 1866. In 1872 Bishop Ilarion Makariopolski was
ordained as a Bishop of Tarnovo. The church has a form of basilica with a nave and
two aisles, two domes and two rows of four columns. The master was also the
creator of the decorative ornaments of the church which consist of stone
reliefs of plant and animal patterns. The iconostasis was made of lime tree
only for three years /from 1882 to1885/ and it is a remarkable model of the
post-Liberation woodcarving. It was declared a cultural monument of national
importance in 1976. In the little garden by the church there is situated the
St. Petka of Gabrovo Chapel - the spiritual patroness of the town.
Church of
St. John the Precursor ‘St. John the
Precursor’ Church is soaring in the central part of the town. It is remarkable
with its wood-carved iconostasis made by Master George Rezbar /meaning
“woodcarver”/ in 1814. The tomb of the great Bulgarian revolutionary Todor
Kableshkov is situated in the church courtyard.
Trinity
Cathedral Trinity
Cathedral is located in one of the busiest shopping streets in Gabrovo. It is
imposing as a composition and interesting in terms of both architecture and
artistic design. It was built by the great master Gencho Novakov. It was
sanctified on November 5th 1889 by Climent - Bishop of Tarnovo.
Sokolski Monastery Holy Mother's Assumption Sokolski Monastery “Holy Mother's
Assumption” is situated 10km southeast of the town of Gabrovo, near the village
of Charkovo and the popular ethnographic complex “Etura”.
Sokolski
Monastery “Holy Mother’s Assumption” was founded in 1833 by archimandrite
Yossif Sokolski. He
came in the area of today’s monastery together with hieromonk Agapi and the
same year they built a small wooden church and a residential building nearby
the entrance of a shallow cave. A year later, both constructions were torn down
and replaced with the present imposing temple.
The
newly-built church was blessed in 1834 by the Turnovo metropolitan bishop,
Ilarion of Crete. A school started functioning in Sokolski Monastery in 1836.
Thus, the holy cloister has turned into an educational centre where the famous
Bulgarian Neofit Bozveli was a teacher.
The
monastery took part actively in the struggle for national liberation of
Bulgarian nation. In 1856 the detachment of armed volunteers of Dyado Nikola
found their shelter here. Turkish defeated the detachment and after that 8 of
the revolutionaries were hanged in the cave nearby the monastery. During the
April uprising the detachment of rebels of Tsanko Dyustabanov was formed in the
monastery and this is the place from where Gabrovo detachment set off for its
way to immortality, but freedom. The Apostle Vassil Levski found his shelter
here, too.
During the
Russian-Turkish War of Liberation the monastery was turned into a military
hospital. A small museum collection keeps the relics from the period of the
struggles for liberation.
The icon
of “Holy mother with the Son”, situated in a small iconostasis on the left side
of the church, is believed to be wonder-working. Residential and farm building in Sokolski
Monastery were built in Revival style. In the middle of the monastery yard is
situated a beautiful white stone fountain with eight spouts . It was built in
1865 by the famous master Kolyo Ficheto.
Dryanovo Monastery The historical Dryanovo monastery,
St Archangel Michael, is situated about 4km away from Dryanovo in the
picturesque gorge of the Dryanovo river where limestone rocks rise high on all
sides of the gorge as inapproachable forest walls.
It is
believed that the first monastery in this place was founded some 2km to the
north of the present-day buildings, in an area called The Little St Archangel.
Its founders were two rebel boyars of the then-capital city of Turnovo –the
Assen and Petar brothers. In the 14th century, the holy place was one of the
main centres of Hesychasm and sheltered many monks. At the beginning of the
15th century, the monastery was destroyed by the invading Ottoman troops. Later
on, it was reconstructed on a neighbouring site, known as the Big St Archangel,
but the fate of this monastery was no happier than that of its predecessor. The
Dryanovo monastery was restored anew at the end of the 17th century, this time
in its present-day place. The main church of that time had a single nave and
was half-hidden in the ground. It was standing very near to the present-day
church; besides it, there was also a secondary shrine.
The renovation of the monastery was started at the time of father Rafail,
during the 40es of the 19th century. The current residential buildings rising
from the side of the river were built at that time, while the new church was finished
in 1845. Gradually, the renovated Dryanovo monastery became a religious and
cultural centre and one of the largest and well-kept cloisters in the region of
Turnovo.
Dryanovo monks took active part in the Bulgarians’ uprisings and plots against
the Ottoman rule. One of the main quarters of the Bulgarian Central
Revolutionary Committee in Turnovo was located exactly in the monastery and
famous rebel leaders such as Vassil Levski and Georgi Izmirliev were often to
be found there. There was a secret storeroom for food and arms, which was the
reason why rebel leaders Priest Hariton and Bacho Kiro used the monastery as
their fortress at the time of the April uprising. Only a small number of the
Bulgarian rebels survived the battle with the Turkish troops, while the
monastery was again set on fire with the church being the only building that is
left relatively intact. The most recent reconstruction of the complex was
carried out shortly after the Liberation. A new residential part and a museum
were added to the existing buildings. The bell-tower was erected in 1925.
National Park-Museum Shipka The Shipka peak is 28 km distant
from the town of Kazanlak, and 22 km from the town of Gabrovo. Comfortable bus
transport is provided from both towns. The access to the National Park-Museum
“Shipka” is very much suitable for car tourists. The numerous cafes and
restaurants in the area are also available to the visitors, as are two hotels.
Today Shipka is in quiet. The once battlefield has been turned into an open-air
museum – the National Park-Museum “Shipka”. It was created in 1956 and
encompasses the area of the historic places related to the defence of the
Shipka Pass during the Russian-Turkish War of 1877/78. It is a complex of
monuments, reconstructions of positions, batteries and dug-outs. he first
monuments were Russian and were built in 1878-1881. The Bulgarian monuments on
the Shipka battlefield are of the 3rd and the 5th bodies of volunteers (1910) and the Monument
of Freedomon Sveti Nikola peak (nowadays Shipka peak), unveiled in 1934. Each
year on 3 March and in August of Shipka thousands of Bulgarians gather to
commemorate the fallen heroes and to celebrate the victory that bore the
freedom of Bulgaria.
The humour carnival in Gabrovo originated from the old traditions and festivals held in
town, i.e. the Gabrovo Oleliynya (street festivities) and the 1920s fancy-dress
parties. This inimitable carnival ranks the town of Gabrovo among the rightful
members of FECC (Foundation of the European Carnival Cities). The annual
carnival procession in May draws thousands of visitors and participants from
Bulgaria and abroad. "Letting go of its tail" in a ceremonious way,
the famed Gabrovo cat takes the lead over the high-spirited, boisterous and
versicoloured crowds of dressed-up Gabrovians and visitors along the streets of
Gabrovo.
Travel agency SPA HOLIDAYcan
arrange trips and sightseeing in Gabrovo region. We can meet the tourists at
the Sofia airport and arrange their entire stay in Bulgaria - transportation, accommodation, guide
and more.
We always try to satisfy the individual desires and interests of our clients
and it will be our pleasure to make your visit in Bulgaria just unforgettable!