Kalofer
Encyclopedia
Kalofer is a town in central Bulgaria, located on the banks of the Tundzha
between the Balkan Mountains
to the north and the Sredna Gora
to the south. Kalofer is part of Plovdiv Province
and the Karlovo
municipality. It is best known as the birthplace of Bulgarian poet and revolutionary Hristo Botev
.
The modern settlement of Kalofer emerged in the 16th century, managing to preserve its Bulgarian character in the Ottoman Empire
and to develop as a centre of craftsmanship, primarily cord production. The Kalofer monastery has been in operation since 1640 and the convent since 1700. During the Bulgarian National Revival
the town became a centre of revolutionary activity, being the birthplace of figures such as Hristo Botev, Exarch Joseph
, Dimitar Panichkov, Nikola Ivanov
.
,22 km away from Sopot, 56 km away from Plovdiv
, 222 км away from Burgas
, 300км away from varna
and 164 км from the capital of BulgariaSofia
.
There is no bank in Kalofer, but two bank branches are available. In the city center there are two automated teller machine
s.
The post office in Kalofer is open Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 4 pm. You can buy stamps and envelopes there or make a phone call.
There are many shops in Kalofer where you could buy food and other things. Several of them are located in the center of the town. Every Thursday there is also a market.
on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands
, Antarctica is named after Kalofer.
Tundzha
The Tundzha is a river in Bulgaria and Turkey and the most significant tributary of the Maritsa, emptying into it on Turkish territory near Edirne....
between the Balkan Mountains
Balkan Mountains
The Balkan mountain range is a mountain range in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. The Balkan range runs 560 km from the Vrashka Chuka Peak on the border between Bulgaria and eastern Serbia eastward through central Bulgaria to Cape Emine on the Black Sea...
to the north and the Sredna Gora
Sredna Gora
Sredna Gora is a mountain range in central Bulgaria, situated south of and parallel to Balkan mountain range and extending from the river Iskar to the west and the elbow of Tundzha north of Yambol to the east. Sredna Gora is 285 km long, reaching 50 km at its greatest width...
to the south. Kalofer is part of Plovdiv Province
Plovdiv Province
Plovdiv Province is a province in central southern Bulgaria. It comprises 18 municipalities on a territory of 5,972.9 km² with a total population, as of December 2009, of 701,684 inhabitants...
and the Karlovo
Karlovo
Karlovo is a picturesque and a historically important town in central Bulgaria located in a fertile valley along the river Stryama at the southern foot of the Balkan Mountains...
municipality. It is best known as the birthplace of Bulgarian poet and revolutionary Hristo Botev
Hristo Botev
Hristo Botev , born Hristo Botyov Petkov , was a Bulgarian poet and national revolutionary. Botev is widely considered by Bulgarians to be a symbolic historical figure and national hero.-Early years:...
.
The modern settlement of Kalofer emerged in the 16th century, managing to preserve its Bulgarian character in the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and to develop as a centre of craftsmanship, primarily cord production. The Kalofer monastery has been in operation since 1640 and the convent since 1700. During the Bulgarian National Revival
Bulgarian National Revival
The Bulgarian National Revival , sometimes called the Bulgarian Renaissance, was a period of socio-economic development and national integration among Bulgarian people under Ottoman rule...
the town became a centre of revolutionary activity, being the birthplace of figures such as Hristo Botev, Exarch Joseph
Joseph I of Bulgaria
Joseph I, born as Lazar Yovchev, , also known as Iosif I, was a Bulgarian Exarch from 1877 to 1915. His grave, marked by a white cross and a bed of flowers, is located just outside the western wall of St Nedelya Church in Sofia....
, Dimitar Panichkov, Nikola Ivanov
Nikola Ivanov
Nikola Ivanov was a Bulgarian general, Chief of the Headquarters of the Bulgarian Army between 10 May 1894 and 29 November 1896, Minister of war between 29 November 1896 - 30 January 1899...
.
Geography
Kalofer is located in the southern outskirts of Stara Planina. It is only 17 kilometers away from KarlovoKarlovo
Karlovo is a picturesque and a historically important town in central Bulgaria located in a fertile valley along the river Stryama at the southern foot of the Balkan Mountains...
,22 km away from Sopot, 56 km away from Plovdiv
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
, 222 км away from Burgas
Burgas
-History:During the rule of the Ancient Romans, near Burgas, Debeltum was established as a military colony for veterans by Vespasian. In the Middle Ages, a small fortress called Pyrgos was erected where Burgas is today and was most probably used as a watchtower...
, 300км away from varna
Varna
Varna is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, with a population of 334,870 inhabitants according to Census 2011...
and 164 км from the capital of BulgariaSofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
.
History
Kalofer was founded in the 16th century (1533). From the very beginning it enjoyed privileges as a city, which allowed it to preserve its typical Bulgarian character. In the time when traditional customs were booming about 1200 devices for producing traditional colored Bulgarian wollen threads (gaitan) were operating in the town. Traditional Bulgarian holidays have always been observed in Kalofer. The town has been burnt down at least three times. Due to forestation the marks from the damage has been covered, but they can still be found here and there. With the passage of time, residents of Kalofer have created their own methods of survival and have cultivated a strength of character, which has remained their typical personality trait until today. Each time when the town was burnt, the people of Kalofer built it all over again, carrying stones from their own farming land, working through the night. Usually reconstruction activities started with re-building the church or the monastery.Religion
Not only the natural beauty of Kalofer makes it famous, but also its beautiful churches and monasteries. Early in the morning one can hear the melodic jingle of the church bells. Following a small street could take you to the Convent for girls, inheriting four metochions, in which Anastasia Dimitrova, the first Bulgarian female teacher, has been educated. The monastery for men has been open since 1640, and the convent for nuns since 1700. Today, both of them, despite the numerous burnings, are open for visitors.Economy
In Kalofer typical Bulgarian customs and traditions have been well preserved over the centuries. A part of the attractions in the region is visiting ateliers producing the internationally famous Kalofer lace or the traditional rugs or woolen covers (kitenitsi). The making of souvenirs, works of copper, barrels for wine, incrustrated knives, as well as the typical Bulgarian dishes will always be remembered in this region.Social Institutions
- Money and Banking
There is no bank in Kalofer, but two bank branches are available. In the city center there are two automated teller machine
Automated teller machine
An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public...
s.
- Post and Internet Services
The post office in Kalofer is open Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 4 pm. You can buy stamps and envelopes there or make a phone call.
- Food and convenience stores
There are many shops in Kalofer where you could buy food and other things. Several of them are located in the center of the town. Every Thursday there is also a market.
Annual events
- January 6:Birth of Hristo Botev and Epiphany (Yordanov Den).
- June 2: Day of Botev.
- August 15: Holiday of Kalofer Lace.
Honour
Kalofer PeakKalofer Peak
Kalofer Peak is a 300 m sharp rocky peak in the Levski Ridge, Tangra Mountains on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica...
on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands
South Shetland Islands
The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands, lying about north of the Antarctic Peninsula, with a total area of . By the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, the Islands' sovereignty is neither recognized nor disputed by the signatories and they are free for use by any signatory for...
, Antarctica is named after Kalofer.
External links
- The official forum of Kalofer
- Transportation, logistics and offroad services in Kalofer and nearby in Balkan mountain (at the moment Bulgarian version only)
- Website about Kalofer and the Central Balkan Mountains
- Kalofer at Journey.bg
- Nikola Gruev's photo gallery of Kalofer
- Website about Hristo Botev (in Bulgarian)