The town of Sopot (12 119 inhabitants, 520 metres above sea level) is situated in the fertile sub-Balkan mountain valley of Karlovo (which is the western part of the legendary Valley of the Roses), immediately under the steep southern slopes of the Troyan Balkan Mountain (Central Stara Planina). It is situated at the distance of 5 km west of Karlovo, 136 km east of Sofia, 63 km north of Plovdiv and 61 km south of Troyan. It is the birth place of the Patriarch of Bulgarian Literature Ivan Vazov. A big machine-building centre. History: There is information about the settlement dating back to the Ottoman Rule. During the Revival Period it was called Altun Sopot (Golden Sopot), because of its flourishing development, thanks to the crafts and trade. The citizens of Sopot manufactured aba (coarse homespun woollen cloth and upper men's garment made of it), braids, fur and leather of high quality and traded them predominantly round the Ottoman Empire. The town was destroyed by fire during the struggle for liberation (1877), and its population was slaughtered or expelled. The town was named Vazovgrad between 1950 and 1965 after which it obtained its present name again. Landmarks: In the first place this is the house, in which Ivan Vazov was born, located at the downtown. The initial house was destroyed at the end of the Ottoman Rule but at the initiative of admirers of the poet it was rebuilt in 1932 and proclaimed as house-museum. A special exhibition hall was built next to the house, which exibits key moments of the public and literary activity of the people's poet Ivan Vazov (1850_1921). A memorial to the pet was erected at the central square named after him. Presentation of the Blessed Holly Virgin Nunnery (located near the central square - north of it) which was founded in 1665 next to an old church from the beginning of the 15th century. In 1877 it was almost completely destroyed by fire. Solely the veranda with the hiding place of the Apostle Levksi (the Apostle repeatedly found a secure shelter there), the little church and the drinking-fountain in the middle of the yard survived and were preserved in their initial appearance up to date. All the remaining buildings were restored to their initial appearance. The museum corner "Rada's School", the cell of Hadzhi Rovoama and Lay Sister Rada Gospozhina - characters of Ivan Vazov's novel "Under the Yoke" are here, too. Transport: Sopot is a point of the main road and railway line Sofia - Karlovo - Bourgas. There is a town bus line is functioning at short time intervals between it and Karlovo. It maintains bus connections with some of the smaller settlements within the region, too. The railway station is situated at the distance of 1 km south of the town and there is a town bus going to it. Surrounding areas: The ruins of Anevo Kale ("kale" meaning a fortress, stringhold) (a Bulgarian fortress of the 12th to the 14th centuries) above the Anevo Quarter, on the southern slopes of the Balkan Mountain, at about 900 metres above sea level. Sopot Kale is located north-east of the town, too. Sopot is used as a point of departure to the Troyan Balkan. The lift has an interim station in the locality of Pochivaloto (about 1350 metres above sea level) - a favourite place for take off of delta and para-gliders. One can walk to the Nezabravka Chalet from Sopot, too along a marked track starting from the lift. Marked tracks start from Nezabravka Chalet to various directions around the Troyan Balkan Mountain: south-east towards Dobrila Chalet (1 hour), joining the Kom - Emine ridge route. Mt. Ambaritsa may be climbed from the Dobrila Chalet and one can continue in the direction of Mt. Botev (about 6 hours more) along the most beautiful and Alpine ridge of Stara Planina. It takes 4 to 4.30 hours of hiking to get to Ambaritsa Chalet and 4 to 5 hours to reach Vassil Levski Chalet. One can set out north-west from the Nezabravka Chalet to the Dermenka Chalet, too (about 3 hours) and continue westwards along the ridge.
