Nayden Gerov’s House

This is one of the houses immortalized in Lyuben Karavelov’s novel Old Time Bulgarians. It still preserves the atmosphere and the spirit and of the past so well described in the book.

In this house Gero Mushek opened the first monastery school. Nayden Gerov was born into his large family in 1823. He grew up to become an eminent Bulgarian public figure politician, teacher and writer. He opened the first Bulgarian class school in Koprivshtiza, wrote a number of articles and philological studies, translated songs and fables. Nayden Gerov is also the author of the first Bulgarian lyrical poem Stoyan and Rada, and of a many pieces of patriotic poetry inspired by his nostalgia for Bulgaria while he was a student in Russia. He loved Bulgaria and the Bulgarian language and after long years of research gave his country the first Dictionary of Bulgarian language.

Uspenie Bogorodichno Church

In 1817 master-builders from the famous Smolski and Mirkovski architectural schools constructed a new church in place of the old one, burnt down by the Kurdzhalii (Turkish raiders). According to legend, it was build in 11 days. The church is low, dug deep into the ground, dimly lit, painted to look like a regular house on the outside so as to attract as little attention as possible. What is remarkable about it is its iconostasis, carved from wood by a famous Bulgaria craftsman - Hadji Georgi from Vidin, a representative of the Teteven school of wood-carving. It was completed 4 years after the church was built. The iconostasis resembles a delicate wooden cobweb in which Biblical motifs and beautiful plants and animals are entwined. The iconographic murals were created by celebrated icon painters such as Zahari Zograf, Ivan Nikolov Obrazopisov, Ivan Spaskovski and Hristo Enchev.

St. Nikolai Churh

After a general town meeting in 1839, the people of Koprivhstitza decided to have a second church built in the town. Neofit Rilski himself documented the decision with a written protocol detailing the future construction.
More than 600 people contributed to the endeavor. The construction started in 1842 and lasted for 2 years.
Architecturally, the church is a blend of  Turkish and Renaissance styles. The whole church is made up of stone slabs. Its iconostasis consists of light blue frames holding icons painted by Joan Popovich, Alexander Dimitrov and Hristo Enchev.

Mausoleum of the April Uprising

The mausoleum is erected in memory of all those who died during the liberation epopee of the April Uprising – a reminder of the turbulent and patriotic spring of 1876.
It was built in 1928 with funds donated by Nencho Palaveev.
The lower part of the monument is an ossuary and the upper part houses a small chapel.

Monuments

The First Gun  - it is devoted to the first gunshot which marked the beginning of the April Uprising.
The monument is placed near the Kaluchev bridge where on April 20, 1876 Georgi Tihanek killed the zaptieh (Ottoman policeman) Kara Hiusein. With the blood of the killed Turk Todor Kableshkov signed the famous “blood letter” and announced that  “...the Bulgarian flag is flutters  in front of the town-hall, guns are firing  accompanied by the toll of church bells, patriots are kissing one another in the street...”

The Common Grave –  a monument built in memory of the people from Koprivshtitsa died in the Anti-Fascist War.

Fountains and Bridges

Koprivshtitsa is famous for its numerous stone fountains and bridges. With their interesting architecture they complement the town’s unique atmosphere and make it even more attractive and unforgettable.