|
| |
Gabrovo
|
| |
BG Gabrovo coasvg
|
| |
Габрово
|
| |
110px
|
| |
73,056
|
| |
2005-09-13
|
| |
576
|
| |
5300
|
| |
066
|
| |
42° 52'
|
| |
25° 20'
|
| |
Bogomil Belchev
|
() is a town in central northern
Bulgaria , the
Administrative centre of
Gabrovo Province . It is situated at the foot of the central
Balkan Mountains , in the
Valley of the
Yantra River , and is known as an international capital of humour and satire (see
Gabrovo Humour ), as well as noted for its
Bulgarian National Revival Architecture . Gabrovo is also known as the longest town in Bulgaria, stretching over 25
Km along the Yantra, yet reaching only 1 km in width at places. Near
Gabrovo is located the
Geographic Center Of Bulgaria -
Uzana .
The area around Gabrovo, inhabited since the
Neolithic , gained
Economic importance after
Veliko Tarnovo became
Capital of the
Second Bulgarian Empire in the
12th Century .
Craftsmanship and
Trade prospered due to the proximity to both the capital and the
Balkan passes.
Medieval Gabrovo was a small pass village of about 100 houses.
-early
20th Century in Gabrovo's central part]]
According to the most widespread
Legend , Gabrovo was founded by a young
Blacksmith called Racho, close to whose
Fireplace a
Hornbeam (габър, ''gabar'' in Bulgarian) rose, so the settlement acquired its name.
After the
Ottoman invasion of the
Balkans in the
14th Century , the demographic position of Gabrovo changed significantly, as it was the only settlement in a considerably large geographic area and an attractive place for
Bulgarians fleeing from the conquered capital and neighbouring fortresses. It turned from a village into a small town (''palanka'') and began to develop as an economic, cultural and spiritual centre.
During
Ottoman Rule , the rich tradesmen spent plenty of resources for the small town's public planning. The first Bulgarian secular school, the
Aprilov Gymnasium , was founded in Gabrovo in
1835 with the aid of
Vasil Aprilov and
Nikolay Palauzov . Gabrovo was officially proclaimed a
Town by the Ottoman authority in May
1860 .
Shortly before and after the
Liberation Of Bulgaria in
1878 , Gabrovo developed as a centre of
Industry on the basis of its economic traditions. Joint-stock companies emerged,
Factories were constructed and connections to the large
Stock Exchange s were created, prompting some to label the town "The Bulgarian
Manchester ".
Internationally known as a centre of
Humour and
Satire , Gabrovo has two theatres, the
Racho Stoyanov Drama Theatre and the puppet theatre, a
House Of Humour And Satire that serves as a cultural institute, a centre, museum and gallery to popularise comic art. There is also a cinema, Aleko Cinema, and a number of museums and menorial houses both in the town and around it, most notably the
Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex and the Museum of Education at the
Aprilov Gymnasium . A
Planetarium is also in operation.
Gabrovo is
Twinnned with the
Belgian town of
Aalst and
Mogilev in
Belarus .
Places of interest in Gabrovo include
House Of Humour And Satire and
Aprilov High School . In
Gabrovo Province sites include architectural reserve
Bozhentsi , Ethnographic Complex
Etara ,
Dryanovo Monastery and
Sokolski Monastery .
Uzana , a local winter resort is some 22 km away. Hiking is widely available in the
Central Balkan National Park . For admirers of historical tourism
Shipka Memorial is a must-see.
- City's most successfully sports club is FC Yantra Gabrovo , which was founded in 1919.
- The city also has long Handball traditions.
- About 25 km from the city in Central Balkan Mountains is located the renowned winter resort Uzana .
