GABROVO

 

Gabrovo (77,000 residents) is the largest town in the region of the Central Balkan Mountains. Gabrovo Having sprung up as a strategic settlement in close proximity to the Balkan Mountains passes, today it is a crossing point of tourist routes from the Danube to the Rhodopes, and from the Black Sea to western Bulgaria. The town lies 220 km from Sofia, 150 km from Plovdiv, 274 km from Varna, 234 km from Bourgas, and 153 km from Rouse. The distance to Troyan is 70 km, to Tryavna 22, to Dryanovo-19, to Apriltsi 55, and to Teteven 130km. Direct bus-lines run to Sofia, Plovdiv, Veliko Turnovo, Rouse, Lovech and Tryavna.

Museums and Monuments of Culture

Cultural life in Gabrovo is busy and dynamic. The hown boasts the one and only HOUSE OF HUMOUR AND SATIRE in the world. This museum has 10 exhibition rooms on an area of 8,000 sq. m., and displays works of artists from 153 countries. It not only gathers, but studies and disseminates humour and satire in all genres of art as well. Dechkov House was built up in 1835 to meet the housing and business needs of chorbadji Dechko. Later on the house accommodated the Girls' School and Gabrovo Municipality. During the Liberation War the building housed a refugees hospital, and today it is the setting of an ethnographic exhibition entitled 'Late 19th c. Construction work on Aprilov High School began in 1851. The building strikes one with its monumental exterior, and simple and clear-cutforms. Over the Ottoman rule master builders from Bozhentsi village preserved the national spirit building it into one of the most picturesque architectural ensembles of the National Revival period. The houses have stone ground floors, jutting out first floors and bay windows, and extended eaves under stone-slated heavy roofs. The snow-white facades, wooden cornices and verandahs with woodcarved columns and capitals leave indelible impressions. Theatre life in Gabrovo embraces events held by Racho Stoyanov Drama Theatre, and the Puppet Theatre. Exhibitions of exceptional originality can be seen at GABROVO MUSEUM OF HISTORY

Churches And Monasteries
The Assumption Church was raised in 1865 by the Tryavna master builder Ousta Gencho Kunev. Stone built, it's striking edifice with a tower and belfry is one of the most outstanding monuments of architecture in Gabrovo. The icons and woodcarved iconostasis rank among the masterpieces of National Revival art. The Sokotski Monastery is tucked away in one of the most scenic niches of the Gabrovo portion of the Balkan Mountains. The monastery chapel treasures icons painted by Zahari Zograph. Fresh mountain water runs our of an eight-spout fountain constructed by Ousta Kolyo Ficheto in the middle of the monastery courtyard.

Crafts

Since its emergence Gabrovo has been a centre of Bulgarian crafts. Today traditional crafts are practiced live at the Etura Ethnographic Museum In The Open, located 8 km south of Gabrovo. The museum features over 20 Bulgarian crafts woodcarving, coppersmith's trade, wooden flute making, cowbell making, bread and candy making, herb gathering, cutlery, weaving, wollen braid weaving, furriery, wood-working and turnery, pottery making, etc. On request anyone can be instructed in them. The practice of some of them involves the driving force of water.

Festivals, Festivities And Traditions

Every odd year the House of Humour and Satire and the town of Gabrovo host the International Biennial of Humour and Satire in the Arts an integral part of the celebrated May Festivities of Culture. The May Festivities Of Culture are held annually, and embrace theatre performances, concerts, and a variety of other cultural events. However, the hub of these is the International Biennial Of Humour And Satire In The Arts held under the motto The World Lasts Because It Laughs. An ancillary event is the colourful carnival procession inthe streets. The month of Augustwelcomes the Balkan Youth Festival entitled 'The Youth of the Balkans'. It is a meeting ground of young people from the Balkan countries who come to discuss ideas, projects and issues of theirs. Performances of folk dance and song groups make the summer evenings in Gabrovo throbbing with hot Balkan rhythms.In September Gabrovo plays host to the Days Of Chamber Music.Reenactments of Bulgarian customs and traditions can be seen at Etura Ethnographic Museum and Bozhentsi Reserve of Architecture and History on big national holidays like St.Lazar's Day, Palm Sunday, St. George's Day, etc.

Surrounding Nature

Gabrovo spreads out along the hilly banks of the Yantra river and among the northern spurs of the Central Balkan Mountains. It is 392 m above sea level, and enjoys a moderate continental climate in a mountainous setting. The average annual temperature is 10C. The winter is cold; the summer relatively warm. The rainfall is above the average in this country reaching its maximum in June. The snowcover holds for about 110 days.
The mountainous woodlands are fairly rich in big and small game. A well maintained hunting lodge can be found on the town outskirts (Girgini village),

Sports Opportunities And Facilities

Sports fans are offered a swimming complex, two stadiums and Orlovets modern sports hall. 122 km south of Gabrovo one can reach a high mountain clearing known as Ouzana. Here is the geographical centre of Bulgaria. In winter Ouzana turns into a magnetic place for winter sports lovers. The mclearing is studded with hotels, recreation homes and chalets offering guests a range of skiing facilities. 15 km west of Gabrovo is the Lyulyatsite locality. It is a high rising plateau ending in majestic lilac-clad cliffs. Lyulyatsite offers good opportunities for recreation all theyear round. The Municipal Tourist Off ice rents out mountain bikes; provides information on the blazed cycling and hiking trails; dispenses maps of hiking routes andblazedtrails.