You are currently driving through the geographical center of the country where the roads climb into the clouds. The Gabrovo province is most famous for the Shipka Pass which connects the north and south through the Balkan mountains. You can park your car at the base of the peak and climb the stone steps to the massive Liberty Memorial. From the top you get a panoramic view of the rose valleys and the rugged ridges that defined the history of the nation. It is a powerful place to stop and look at the path you have just traveled.
Head toward the city of Gabrovo to visit the Etar Open Air Museum which is a perfect stop for families. This village is built along a rushing stream and features water-powered workshops from the past centuries. You can watch local craftsmen make wooden bowls and silver jewelry right in front of you. The smells of fresh baked bread and roasted coffee fill the air as you walk along the cobblestone paths. It is a living history book where you can see how people lived before the age of factories.
The drive continues to the mountain village of Bozhentsi which is an architectural reserve tucked away in the woods. The white houses with stone-slab roofs look like they have not changed in two hundred years. You can leave the car at the entrance and wander through the quiet streets to find a traditional tavern. The area is known for its peaceful atmosphere and the dark forests that surround the valley. This is the best place to end a long day of driving through the central mountains.
Gabrovo (province) highlights
- Shipka Pass climbs to a massive stone monument at the top of the peak overlooking the rose valleys. Walk up the many stairs to see old cannons and a panoramic view of the central mountain range. Honor the history of a place where the future of the nation was decided during a great battle.
- Etar Museum recreates a village of water mills where craftsmen work with wood and silver in the open air. Eat fresh bread from a stone oven and watch how life worked before the arrival of modern tools. See how the local stream powers all the old machines used in the traditional workshops.
- Sokolski Monastery offers a quiet garden cloister with a famous stone fountain that has eight water spouts. Sit on the cliff edge to view the green mountains and the deep woods surrounding the site. View the bright murals on the outside of the church which are full of color and detail.
- Bozhentsi Village hides white houses with stone roofs tucked away in a quiet and green mountain valley. Walk the old cobblestone streets to find small taverns that serve recipes from a past age of the hills. Discover one of the most beautiful and well kept villages in the country during a slow forest drive.
- Tryavna Clock Tower stands as the symbol of a town where the old clock still rings every single hour. Walk across the stone bridge to see wood carving shops along the main street of the old quarter. Learn about the famous art school and see the beautiful carvings on the ceilings of the local homes.
- Uzana Meadow marks the official geographic center of the country and offers a great spot for a mountain walk. Find many mountain huts and enjoy the view of the highest peaks in the central Balkan range. Visit this popular place for skiing in the winter and long hikes through the summer grass.
- Dryanovo Monastery occupies a spiritual site tucked into a canyon with high limestone cliffs on all all sides. Visit the nearby cave and follow the river trail to see hidden mountain waterfalls in the woods. Learn about the long history of the monastery which served as a symbol of strength for the people.
- Bacho Kiro Cave reveals the site where some of the oldest human remains in Europe were found by scientists. Take a guided tour to see giant halls and strange stone shapes inside the well lit cave rooms. Walk the easy paths through the mountain rock to see where history and nature meet underground.
- Bulgarka Nature Park covers a vast forest area with trails that lead to the ridge of the Balkan mountain range. Drive through the trees and stop at a spring to enjoy a quiet day in the deep mountain woods. Spot rare birds and animals if you move quietly through the thick green leaves of the park.
- Museum of Humor provides a fun city stop filled with jokes and art that will make you laugh out loud. Visit the only place of its kind to see funny statues and learn about the world famous festivals. Enjoy the unique spirit of the local people through the displays of art and comedy.
The local Four
History of Gabrovo (province)
Gabrovo is the industrial forge of Bulgaria. In the 19th century, the province was dubbed the Manchester of the Balkans because of its massive production of textiles and leather. The geography of the mountains steep slopes and fast flowing rivers was harnessed at the Etar, where waterwheels powered everything from saws to jewelry lathes. This spirit of innovation and Gabrovo Frugality became the basis for the country first modern schools and factories.
The province history reached a bloody climax at the Shipka Pass in 1877. A few thousand Bulgarian volunteers and Russian troops held the ridge against a 30,000 strong Ottoman army in a brutal three day battle. The Shipka Epic is the foundational myth of modern Bulgaria; without this defense, the liberation of the country would have likely failed. The 32 meter stone monument at the summit is a site of national pilgrimage.
A road trip through Gabrovo leads to Bozhentsi, a 600 year old village where time stopped. Founded by a noblewoman fleeing the fall of Veliko Tarnovo, its stone roofed houses are perfectly preserved. Between the wood carving traditions of Tryavna and the Sokolski Monastery perched on a cliff, the province is a showcase of the National Revival era, where the tenacity of the mountain people built the economic foundation of a new nation.