Koprivshtitsa is a tender symphony of nature, color and history. The rows of houses built in the characteristic style of the National Revival Period, the folklore festivals and the rich cultural heritage have all helped the town become one of the most important ethnographic centers in Bulgaria. It was founded in the 14th century as a small cattle farming settlement but grew in importance during the Ottoman Rule when the citizens’ perspective gradually changed and they started engaging in many social and cultural activities. This was best reflected through the construction of some of the most mesmerizing architectural landmarks in the country such as the 19th-century Lyutov and Oslekov Houses. Koprivshtitsa was also an important revolutionary centre in the years before the liberation of the country from the Ottomans and provided shelter to some of the major figures of the Bulgarian resistance. It was also the place where the notorious April Uprising of 1876 was declared that eventually led to the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878). Today many of the houses from that period have been transformed into ethnographic museums where one can see the most exquisite house decorations and woodcarvings and learn more about the customs and traditions of 18th and 19th-century Bulgarians. Koprivshtitsa is situated in the central part of the country, 100 km east of Sofia.
What was said about Koprivshtitsa is also completely true of its surrounding towns and villages. They all carry the characteristic features of Revival Period Bulgaria and have given birth to some of the most renowned writers, poets and social activists in the country’s history. The most famous among them are Sopot, Karlovo, Kalofer and Klisura.
