The city of Gabrovo is situated in the northern spurs of the middle Balkan range, in the narrow and picturesque Yantra valley.
It stands at 390 meters altitude and its population amounts to 76 500 residents. It is located 220 km northeast of the capital Sofia, 270 km southwest of Varna, 45 km southeast of Veliko Tarnovo, and 28 km southeast of Sevlievo. The central geographical position of Gabrovo makes it main transport junction.
According to the legend, after the invasion of the ottomans, a local from the village of Bojentsi named Racho Kovacha (Racho the Blacksmith) arrived in the very location of Gabrovo, and a first established Gabrovo village in 1479. The first records on the existence of a village date from 1479. As defenders of the pass of Shipka, the locals were allowed to carry arms and this helped them to keep their independence. A flourishing state of crafts began in the early years of the Bulgarian national revival. The iron- smithery is considered to have been the oldest and main occupation but later it was displaced by crafts like processing of furs, wool, homespun tailoring, manufacturing of shoes and braidings. Crafts stimulated economically the locals and made their life dynamic. The first factory was established in 1860, and Gabrovo was proclaimed a town. An elementary school was built up in 1825 and 1835 was the year the first Bulgarian secular school was opened.
Since 1889, the secular school has gone by the name of its founder Vassil Aprilov - Aprilov`s Grammer School. Today, in this building is housed the National Museum of Education that is one of its kinds in Bulgaria and offers unique exposition.

Also in Gabrovo is the unique House of Humore and Satire where an international biannual is held every odd year. In 10 halls, on an area of 8000 square meters are exhibited the works of creators from more than 150 countries. Cultural days are organized in May every year.

The tourists can visit the Historical museum situated in Dechkova's house, the art gallery "Hristo Tsokev", the Baev bridge built by the great master Kolyu Ficheto in 1855, the Clock tower, The monument of Racho Kovacha, erected in the Yantra River, etc.

Indisputably the most colourful part of Gabrovo town is the Ethar Architectural and Ethnographic Complex. The atmosphere of the Bulgarian revival is recreated here by a large number of old workshops for traditional crafts. All operations are done by hand and the mechanisms are only water- driven. Not far from the Complex is located the Monastery of Sokolovo.

Uzana, a mountainous area of the geographical centre of Bulgaria is at a distance of 20 km from Gabrovo, and is a starting point for many mountain routes.

The village of Bojentsi and Dryanovo Monastery are located 15 km away from Gabrovo and 20 km away is the muzeum town of Tryavna.

Places of interest: Tryavna, Ethara, Bojentsi, Uzana, Sokolski Monastery, Dryanovo Monastery, Shipka,
Bacho Kiro Cave

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