Kotel is an old town, arose in the mouth of the Kotel pass, situated in the eastern part of the Balkan range, at 530 meters altitude. Its population is of about 7600 and it is located 330 km east of Sofia.
The village was mentioned for the first time in a Turkish register dated from 1486. The city's economy blossomed due to the fact, that the locals were very hard working, they developed many craft. The city enjoyed great wool supplies asuch was noted with its fabrications of carpets. Between 18th and 19th century, the local is secured contract to supply clothes to the Turkish army and this invariably gave them lots of privileges. The city flourished in trade and became as one of the richest cities with patriotic locals. The attraction in the city includes houses, which were preserved from its inception. The houses are tall, wooden, with beautiful wood carved doors and roofs. Most interesting of the features in the house interior includes hand made carpets, pillows, Folk dress, jewellerries etc.

Beside these, Kotel is the fortress of the Bulgarian spirit. It’s birthplace to many famous Bulgarian activists during the Bulgarian national revival - George Sava Rakovski, Neofit Bozveli, Dr. Peter Beron, Sofronii Vrachanski, etc.

After the liberation in 1894, 90% of the city was destroyed in blaze; the remaining 10 percent are suburbs called Galata, some ancient house from the inception of the city are still preserved in these suburbs and they 100 in number. This makes the city very attractive and beautiful. Among the features of the city is a school were the tourist can witness first hand original ancient loom from the locals

Among the tourist attractions is the museum of natural science, the ethnographical exposition in Kiurpeva house, the churches St. Troitsa (Holy trinity) and St. Peter and Pavel, they feature well preserved wood carvings.