Chiprovtsi
Chiprovtsi
Chiprovtsi is a small town with 480 m of altitude, situated on the banks of the Ogosta River, at the foot of the Western Balkan Mountains. Its population is about 2500 people and it is 33 km to the west of town of Montana. It was founded by the Thracians but its efflorescence it reached in the first three centuries of the Turkish yoke. In the XVI and XVII centuries Chiprovtsi was the biggest jeweler center in the whole Balkan Peninsula. In 1688 the Bulgarian catholics organized the Chiprovtsi uprising. It failed but changed the status of the whole Northwestern Bulgaria as a buffer zone between the Ottoman Empire and Habsburgs lands. In the XIX century carpet industry rapidly developed. Carpets of Chiprovtsi, made by hand, brought fame to the town throughout the whole world.
Today it is a quiet and pleasant town with magnificent nature.
Sights
5 km to the northeast is the Monastery of Chiprovtsi, burnt and rebuilt six times during the Turkish yoke.
At 20 km distant from the town is the Lopushka Monastery with unique icons painted by iconographers from Samokov.
In the vicinity of the town the beautiful Chiprovski waterfall can be seen.
Chiprovtsi St John monastery
The Chiprovtsi monastery, named St. John of Rila, has its origins in the 10th century AC and is one of the 30 monasteries that were built during the very first Bulgarian state that strengthened the position of Christianity and helped the deed of Cyril and Metodius who introduced the cyrillic alphabet in the country. For 9 centuries, the Chiprovtsi monastery had acted as a cultural and educational centre. It survived the Madyar invasion in the 13th century, the fall under Ottoman rule in the 14th century and the raids of Mihail Hrabri in the 15th century. It served as a main shelter and also as a focal point in the uprisings of Konstantin Fruzhin in the 15th century and of the Chiprovtsi inhabitants in the 17th century. The monastery was raided and robbed more than once, and was also partially destroyed and then reconstructed with the financial support of welathy Bulgarians six times in a row during the 19th century.
The tower-ossuary is of particular interest among the buildings in the monastery complex as it holds the bones of some of the victims of the Chiprovtsi uprising, including those of Panayot Hitov and Philip Totyu. The St. Anastasii the Great chapel, which is thoroughly decorated with frescoes, represents an interesting architectural and artistic object as well. A curious fact in the history of the monastery is that in 1800, the very Russian emperor sent a Gospel as a gift to the cloister.
Chuprene Biosphere Reserve
The reserve is one of the largest biosphere reserves in Bulgaria. It is established in 1973 to preserve the northern coniferous forests of Bulgaria. In 1977 it was included in the list of biosphere reserves under the program "Man and Biosphere".
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Water Holes Cave
Water Holes Cave is located in Apriltsi Municipality, within the Central Balkan National Park on the northern slope of the massif of Botev Mount.
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Albotin rock monastery
Albotin monastery is an inactive Medieval rock monastery included in Vidin diocese.
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Uzana - the geographic center of Bulgaria
Uzana - the heart of the Balkans. In its embrace, the mountains has kept this extraordinary place where you can fully take charge with power and hours to enjoy its grandeur and beauty of nature.Far from the urban vanity you will find abundance of colors and shades, serenity and peace of mind. Here the warbling of the birds and the whisper of wild grasslands will put a spell on you forever.
Chervenitsa - geological phenomena over the village of Kunino
The natural phenomenon Chervenitsa is a molded boulder, rising more than 150 m above the terrace of the river Iskar in village of Kunino. It is located about 46 km east of Vratsa and approximately 120 km northeast of Sofia.
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Lopushanski monastery "Sv. Yoan Predtecha"
The Lopushanski monastery is located in the Balkan Mountain in the valley of Dalgodelska Ogosta river. It is operational and consists of a church, residential and farm buildings and a white stone fountain, all surrounded by a stone wall.
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The museum of salt
A unique museum in the whole Eastern Europe dedicated to the production of salt by solar evaporation of sea water, Pomorie
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Taukliman Reserve
Natural Reserve Taukliman typical landslide with length of about 4 km, formed between the edge of the Dobrudzhansko plateau and the coast.
Basilica Sveta Sofia - Sofia city
The Early Christian basilica Sveta Sofia is an active Orthodox church in the center of Sofia city. The church was probably built in the early VI century on the ruins of early Christian tombs from II - IV century and the ruins of two earlier churches from IV-V century. It is located among the necropolis of the ancient Serdica.
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Medieval fortress "Monyak"
"Monyak" fortress is one of the largest and high located fortresses in the Rhodopes near the village of Shiroko pole, Kardzhali Region
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Vakarelski monastery "St Petka"
Vakarelski monastery "St Petka" was found in XX century and now it is working occasionally. It was functioning as nunnery.
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"The Womb" cave
A unique Thracian temple near the village of Nenkovo, Kardzhali Region
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Thracian sanctuary "Gluhite kamani"
The megalithic complex "Gluhite kamani" is one of the largest Thracian sanctuaries since BC, whose strength continues to act today to anyone who visits it.
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Krivus Fortress
A medieval fortress located on a picturesque cliff above Arda River near the village of Bashevo, Kardzhali Region
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"St. Konstantin and Elena" monastery near Ladzha quarter, Ivaylovgrad
The monastery of Lazdha or Ivaylovrad monastery "St. Konstantin and Elena" is situated close to Ladzha quarter in the town of Ivaylovgrad
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Rakovitsa monastery Sveta Troitsa
Rakovitsa monastery Sveta Troitsa was was found in X-XI century and during the Middle Ages was an important literary and cultural center in Bdin area.
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Roman tomb - town of Hisarya
The Hisar tomb is a late Roman family tomb built in the second half of the IV-th century.
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Elenska basilica
Elenska basilica is early Christian temple that is preserved to nowadays and is situated in proximity to the town of Pirdop
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"St. Theodor Tyron and Theodor Stratilat" church
A unique monument of culture with extremely precious frescoes and icons included in UNESCO's list with the World Cultural Heritage, village of Dobarsko, Blagoevgrad Region
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Ovech Fortress
One of the oldest fortresses in Bulgaria located on a high mountain plateau above the town of Provadiya
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