The town of Koprivshtitsa (2935 inhabitants, 1050 metres above sea level) is situated along the two banks, within the upper course of the Topolnitsa River in the heart of Sashtinska (Real) Sredna Gora Mountain. It is situated at the distance of 110 km south-east of Sofia, 80 km north-west of Plovdiv, 27 km south-east of Pirdop and 24 km north of Strelcha. A town-museum and the unique settlement in Bulgaria, which preserved in compact over 250 patterns of the Revival Period architecture. A cradle of the April Uprising (1876). A tourist centre and a mountain resort. History: Koprivshtitsa originated as a settlement during the 14th century. Its population dealt with cattle-breeding, manufacturing of aba (coarse homespun woollen cloth and upper men's garment made of it), furriery, dyeing and other crafts. The citizens of Koprivshtitsa proved to be good merchants, too reaching as far as Istanbul and Alexandria. The wealthy and urbanised settlement was plundered and destroyed by fire by kurdzhalii (Turkish brigands) three times and rebuilt from ashes to reach its greatest prosperity during the 19th century, when it had over 1000 houses and a population of nearly 12 000 inhabitants. Spacious houses, schools, churches, drinking-fountains, bridges were built there. In 1837 Neofit Rilski (Neophyte of Rila) opened a mutual school and 9 years later Naiden Gerov founded the first in Bulgaria independent boys' intermediate school. In 1864 a girls' intermediate school was opened here and three years later Todor Kableshkov opened the students' society "Zora" (Dawn). In 1869 the chitalsihte (reading room or community centre) was opened here. In the same year Vassil Levski established a revolutionary committee in it. During that time Lyuben Karavelov who was born in Koprivshtitsa headed the foreign Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee (BRCC) in Bucharest. On 20th April 1876 the first shot of the April Uprising against Ottoman Rule rang out here, which started the heroic April epic of Bulgarian people. Todor Kableshkov announced the Uprising. It was headed by another citizen of Koprivshtitsa - Gavrail Hlutev, known to the generations to come as Georgi Benkovski - the adamant and ardent leader of the people's rebellion, who died heroically in the Teteven Balkan Mountain. Unlike Batak, Bratsigovo, Peroushtitsa and other settlements-martyrs, the Osmanli Turks had mercy on Koprivshtitsa. The wealthy men of Koprivshtitsa paid for it and thanks to them Bulgaria today is in possession of its most treasured architectural wealth, untouched by the centuries. The town is the birth place of a lot of functionaries of our Revival Period and renowned Bulgarians - Bogdan Voivoda, Doncho Vatah Voivoda, Detelin Voivoda, Dobri Voivoda ("voivoda" meaning leader of revolutionary detachment of voluneers), Dimcho Debelyanov, Nayden Gerov. Landmarks: Koprivshtitsa is one of the few thoroughly preserved architectural urbanised ensembles of the Revival Period. The Revival Period houses with colourful courtyards, surrounded with high stone walls and gates, the disorderly built curved and narrow cobblestone streets and plots, the numerous stone drinking-fountains, the arch-shaped little stone bridges over the mountain brooklets and the fragrance of geranium, boxshrub, peony and pelargonium contribute to the attractiveness of the little town. Transport. The key transport through which the town is linked with the remaining world is the railway transport. Koprivshtitsa is at the principal railway line Sofia - Karlovo - Bourgas but it is situated at the distance of 10 km north of the town itself. It is connected to it through a bus line servicing each passing train. Koprivshtitsa maintains regular bus lines to Plovdiv, Panagyurishte, Strelcha and Pir-dop. Surrounding areas: The town is a key point from which to set out on hiking tours in the highest and beautiful part of Real Sredna Gora Mountain. Marked tracks start from it in the direction of: Bogdan Chalet (a 3 to 4 hours), from where one can climb the highest peak of the Sredna Gora Mountains - Mt. Bogdan in less than an hour (1604 metres above sea level), Manzul Chalet (Pavel Deliradev, 3.30 -4-hours), Krustyo Cholakov Chalet ( 2.30-3 hours, 11 km along a truck road), the Barikadite (Barricades) Chalet and Hotel (4- 4.30 hours, 18 km along a road). A hiking tour to the Central Stara Planina (the Teteven Balkan Mountain) can be started from the railway station of Koprivshtitsa. It takes 6 to 8 hours to get to the Vezhen Chalet along the marked tracks (on the northern side of the ridge), passing by the peak of the same name (Vezhen, 2198 m).
