Koprivshtitsa
Encyclopedia
Koprivshtitsa is a historic town in Sofia Province
, central Bulgaria
, lying on the Topolnitsa River among the Sredna Gora
mountains. It was one of the centres of the April Uprising
in 1876 and is known for its authentic Bulgarian architecture and for its folk music
festivals, making it a very popular tourist destination.
Koprivshtitsa is one of the characteristic Bulgarian towns, still preserving the atmosphere of the Bulgarian National Revival
period of the 19th century. The town is huddled in the mountain folds 111 km east of Sofia. The town boasts a large number of architectural monuments from the period, 383 in all, most of which have been restored to their original appearance. Collections of ethnographical treasures, old weapons, National Revival works of art, fine fretwork, household weaves and embroidery, national costumes and typical Bulgarian jewelry has also been preserved. It was here that the first shot of the April Uprising against the Ottoman
occupation was fired in 1876.
Since 1965 the National Festival of Bulgarian Folklore has taken place approximately every five years in Koprivshtitsa, gathering musicians, artists and craftsmen from across Bulgaria. Featuring thousands of performing artists in a pastoral setting in the hills above the town, the Koprivshtitsa festival is the only significant Bulgarian music event focusing on amateur performances, and the majority of authentic Bulgarian village music released during Communist rule was recorded in Koprivshtitsa by Balkanton
during the 1970s and 80s.
As of September 2009, the town has a population of 2,541 and the Deputy Mayor is Radka Lukanova Skenderova. Koprivshtitsa is located at 1,030 m above sea level, at 42°38′N 24°21′E.
>
Sofia Province
Sofia Province is a province of Bulgaria. The province does not include Sofia in its territories, but Sofia however remains its administrative center...
, central Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, lying on the Topolnitsa River among 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...
mountains. It was one of the centres of the April Uprising
April Uprising
The April Uprising was an insurrection organised by the Bulgarians in the Ottoman Empire from April to May 1876, which indirectly resulted in the re-establishment of Bulgaria as an autonomous nation in 1878...
in 1876 and is known for its authentic Bulgarian architecture and for its folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
festivals, making it a very popular tourist destination.
Koprivshtitsa is one of the characteristic Bulgarian towns, still preserving the atmosphere of 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...
period of the 19th century. The town is huddled in the mountain folds 111 km east of Sofia. The town boasts a large number of architectural monuments from the period, 383 in all, most of which have been restored to their original appearance. Collections of ethnographical treasures, old weapons, National Revival works of art, fine fretwork, household weaves and embroidery, national costumes and typical Bulgarian jewelry has also been preserved. It was here that the first shot of the April Uprising against the Ottoman
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...
occupation was fired in 1876.
Since 1965 the National Festival of Bulgarian Folklore has taken place approximately every five years in Koprivshtitsa, gathering musicians, artists and craftsmen from across Bulgaria. Featuring thousands of performing artists in a pastoral setting in the hills above the town, the Koprivshtitsa festival is the only significant Bulgarian music event focusing on amateur performances, and the majority of authentic Bulgarian village music released during Communist rule was recorded in Koprivshtitsa by Balkanton
Balkanton
Balkanton was a state-owned record manufacturing company in Bulgaria founded in 1952. Many of the produced records were, or still are available in the countries of the Soviet bloc....
during the 1970s and 80s.
As of September 2009, the town has a population of 2,541 and the Deputy Mayor is Radka Lukanova Skenderova. Koprivshtitsa is located at 1,030 m above sea level, at 42°38′N 24°21′E.
Landmarks
- the Oslekov House (1853–1856), today an ethnographical museum
- the Georgi BenkovskiGeorgi BenkovskiGeorgi Benkovski was the pseudonym of Gavril Gruev Hlatev , a Bulgarian revolutionary and leading figure in the organization and direction of the Bulgarian anti-Ottoman April Uprising of 1876 and apostle of its 4th Revolutionary District.Born around 1843 to the family of the small-time merchant...
Memorial House (1831) - the Lyuben KaravelovLyuben KaravelovLyuben Stoychev Karavelov was a Bulgarian writer and an important figure of the Bulgarian National Revival....
Memorial House complex (1810–1835) - the Dimcho DebelyanovDimcho DebelyanovDimcho Debelyanov was a Bulgarian poet and author whose death in the First World War cut off his promising literary career. Born to a prosperous family in Koprivshtitsa, Bulgaria, he experienced hardship upon the death of his father in 1896, which necessitated the family moving to Plovdiv, and...
Memorial House (1830) - the Todor KableshkovTodor KableshkovTodor Kableshkov was a 19th-century Bulgarian revolutionary and one of the leaders of the April Uprising....
Memorial House (1845) - the Lyutov House (1854)
- the Nayden GerovNayden GerovNayden Gerov , born Nayden Gerov Hadzhidobrevich February 23, 1823, Koprivshtitsa–October 9, 1900, Plovdiv) was a Bulgarian linguist, folklorist, writer and public figure during the Bulgarian National Revival....
House - the Church of the Dormition of the TheotokosDormition of the TheotokosThe Dormition of the Theotokos is a Great Feast of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches which commemorates the "falling asleep" or death of the Theotokos , and her bodily resurrection before being taken up into heaven. It is celebrated on August 15 The Dormition...
(1817) - the Church of St Nicholas (1839)
- the Memorial Ossuary of 20 April housing the bones of those who died in the April Uprising (1926)
- the bridge where the first shot of the uprising was fired in 1878, Kalachev most (1813)
- the Hadzhi Nencho Palaveev Community Centre (chitalishteChitalishteA chitalishte is a typical Bulgarian public institution and building which fulfils several functions at once, such as a community centre, library and a theatre. It is also used as an educational institution, where people of all ages can enroll in foreign language, dance, music and other courses....
) (1869) - the Sts. Cyril and Methodius School (1837), the first class school in Bulgaria (1837)
- the Street of Handicrafts
Born in Koprivshtitsa
- Stoyan Chomakov (1819–1893), politician
- Nayden GerovNayden GerovNayden Gerov , born Nayden Gerov Hadzhidobrevich February 23, 1823, Koprivshtitsa–October 9, 1900, Plovdiv) was a Bulgarian linguist, folklorist, writer and public figure during the Bulgarian National Revival....
(1823–1900), writer - Yoakim Gruev (1828–1912), enlightener
- Lyuben KaravelovLyuben KaravelovLyuben Stoychev Karavelov was a Bulgarian writer and an important figure of the Bulgarian National Revival....
(1834–1879), writer - Georgi BenkovskiGeorgi BenkovskiGeorgi Benkovski was the pseudonym of Gavril Gruev Hlatev , a Bulgarian revolutionary and leading figure in the organization and direction of the Bulgarian anti-Ottoman April Uprising of 1876 and apostle of its 4th Revolutionary District.Born around 1843 to the family of the small-time merchant...
(1843–1876), revolutionary - Petko KaravelovPetko KaravelovPetko Karavelov was a leading Bulgarian liberal politician who served as Prime Minister on four occasions....
(1843–1903), politician - Todor KableshkovTodor KableshkovTodor Kableshkov was a 19th-century Bulgarian revolutionary and one of the leaders of the April Uprising....
(1851–1876), revolutionary - Mihail Madzharov (1854–1944), politician
- Pavel Gruev (1879–1945), man of law
- Dimcho DebelyanovDimcho DebelyanovDimcho Debelyanov was a Bulgarian poet and author whose death in the First World War cut off his promising literary career. Born to a prosperous family in Koprivshtitsa, Bulgaria, he experienced hardship upon the death of his father in 1896, which necessitated the family moving to Plovdiv, and...
(1887–1916), poet
Gallery
External links
- Website of Koprivshtitsa
- Pictures of Koprivshtitsa
- Koprivshtitsa Folklore Festival, 2010 information
>