Koprivshtitsa - a small town situated in the region of Sushtinska Sredna Gora in the valley of Topolnitza River - is a remarkable, unparalleled historic reserve.
Koprivshtitsa is a captivating mountain town, unique with its cobblestone alleys, houses painted in bright colors with expansive verandahs and picturesque eaves.
During the Ottoman rule, Koprivshtitsa withstood many a raid, it was reduced to ashes several times, its inhabitants were frequently robbed and driven away.
The wealthier townsfolk managed to “ransom” Koprivshtitsa from the Turkish rulers and win some special privileges, thus keeping the Bulgarian traditions and atmosphere of the town intact.
In this way Koprivshtitsa was able to preserve its freedom-loving, patriotic spirit and hand it down to its children. Many Bulgarians who laid down their lives for the liberation of their motherland had been born here:
#Todor Kableshkov and Georgi Benkovski – organizers and participants in the April Uprising which broke out in Koprivshtitsa on April 20, 1876. The Uprising gave voice to the desire and efforts of the Bulgarian people to win back its freedom after five centuries of Ottoman oppression. A lot of foreign journalists reported the events of the spring of 1876 and showed the world that there was a people on the Balkan Peninsula which had not lost its identity and strive for independence. Eventually, in 1878 Bulgaria won the freedom it had so long yearned for, at least partly helped by the publicity of the April Uprising and its subsequent brutal suppression.
#Ljuben Karavelov – a Bulgarian poet, writer and revolutionary;

#Petko Karavelov – a widely respected public and political figure;

#Dimcho Debelianov - a poet who wrote some of the most tender poems in Bulgarian literature;

#Najden Gerov – a writer, publisher, man of letters, ethnologist and patriot;

#Joakim Gruev – a teacher, fighter for religious independence, man of letters and a public man
Together with many other Bulgarians who took part in the wars of liberation and the two World Wars - teachers, artists, craftsmen.

The historians don't have united theory for the origins of Koprivshtitsa. Here are few of the most common theories:

The Legend of “The Jupa”

It is alleged that the roads connecting the towns Zlatitza, Pirdop, Strelcha and Panagurishte crossed exactly where the town of Koprishtitza is located.

Situated in a beautiful valley, covered with lush green grass, watered by several small streams;
this locale was a perfect resting point for caravans, travelers and traders.

One Bulgarian family was attracted by the uplifting and inspiring nature of the region as well as its calm climate, and decided to settle in this area. This family union with its cattles was known as the "
The Jupa"
. They started a new village. The family grew and the houses increased in numbers, and before you know it small clans began to develop. Almost every man in these clans received a nick name because of their skills, work traits, or unique behavior. There ware names like Tihanek (derived from the word quiet), Kozlek (derived from the word describing a goat keeper), and Lomek (derived from the word ruin). These names developed into neighborhood names, some of which exist to this day.

This theory is confirmed by the fact that the modern day Lambov’s neighborhood is still named "
Jupa"
.

Koprivshtitsa and Kurdzhaliite

The privileges that were given to the people living in Koprivshtitsa allowed the local residents to keep their property even after Bulgaria fell under Turkish rule. The village’s riches were the target of Turkish bandits, also knows as kurdzhaliite, who attacked the village three times and caused its inhabitants to flee. Koprivshtitsa was set on fire in 1793, 1804 and 1809, however thanks to their patriotism, resolve and persistence Koprivshtitsa residents were able to preserve the magic and the charm of this town.

Lyuben Karavelov Museum



A coblestone path leads from the main gate to a pretty yard garden huddled among three houses which took 25 years for local master-builders to erect. The three buildings form a an intriguing architectural ensemble. The oldest house was build in 1810 and was called The Winter House. Both Lyuben Karabelov and Petko Karavelov were born there. The two brothers go down in history as people who had dedicated their whole lives to Bulgaria. Lyuben Karavelov - as a publicist, journalist, revolutionary and writer and Petko Karavelov - as a politician (he was Minister of Finance and Prime Minister of the country).
The second building, completed in 1820, was the storehouse where the family prepared and stored the famous Koprivshtitsa “sudjuk “and “lukanka” ( typical Bulgarian flat sausages with spices). The pine trough where they prepared the meat for the sausages is now a museum exhibit displayed in the yard for visitors to see.

The last to be built was The Summer House where the family lived during the warm months in the year.

The printing press, bought in 1871 from the Serbian National Printing House, is a very interesting exhibit. It was used by Bulgarian revolutionary heros Karavelov, Botev, and Levski to print revolutionary newspapers during the liberation efforts and after Bulgaria received its freedom the First Bulgarian Constitution (the Veliko Turnovo Constitution) was printed on it.

Oslekov’s House



The house was build between 1853 - 1856 by order of the wealthy Koprivshtiza merchant Nencho Oslekov. Built by Usta Mincho and Kosta Zograf - representatives of the Samokov architectural school, Oslekov’s house fascinates with its rich exterior and interior decorations.
3 columns of Lebanese cedar support the ceiling of a spacious saloon on the second floor. The outside walls of the saloon are adorned with paintings of various exotic places and cities.

The beautiful wood cravings on the ceilings, the rich wall paintings and in-house arrangements show how the wealthy people lived in the middle of 19 c.

Nencho Oslekov took part in the April Uprising. The rebels’ uniforms were made in his homespun fabric workshop. Because of his contribution to the Uprising, after its failure Nencho Oslekov was captured by the Turks and hanged in Plovdiv.

Dimcho Debelianov’s House



The house where Dimcho Debelianov was born still holds the magic radiating from the poetry of this most tender of Bulgarian poets. Stepping through the wooden gate, a visitor will immediately be drawn into a lovely yard with ancient pines and picturesque cherry trees. A small wooden house with walls of deep blue stands in the middle of the rich verdure and luscious fragrance.
The beauty of his own home and town remained in the poet’s soul until his last breath. The emotionally intense life-poetry of Dimcho Debelianov ended tragically when he was only 29. He was killed in World War One, on 02.10.1916, near Demir Hisar.

He was buried is in the yard of Uspenie Bogorodichno Church. His grave is adorned by the statue of his mother, looking into infinity, waiting her son to come home.

Dimcho Debelianov

Gentle poet of romantic expression was born in that town on March 28, 1887 under the name Dincho. Cloudless childhood spent in his native town in the big family of Veljo Debelyanov and Tsana Staychin. In 1896 his father's death is a tragedy that marked a lifetime of poetic soul Dincho nine years. He studied at Koprivshtitsa Ihtiman and Plovdiv, and graduated high school in Sofia, where the family moved in 1904. Difficult time for forcing young family begins to find any job - working as a clerk in small offices, stenographer in the National Assembly, a newspaper reporter. Meanwhile, writing poems, in 1906 the magazine "
Modern Times"
published his first published works - "
The pelvis, which in silent nights,"
"
When cherries bloomed"
which were signed with the name Dimcho. Circle of :: is made up of vivid personalities as Podvarzachov Dimitar, Nikolay Liliev Christo Yassenov. Great influence on its construction as a poet played some Western and Russian Symbolists, and his teachers and idols Doe and Peyo Yavorov expand his creative vision. Creativity Debelyanov always seek the most natural, not ornate expression, his youth catches the rhythm and rhyme fly carefree.

In 1907 Debelyanov records law in law school, then transferred to the historical-philological faculty. However, only two years of working actively in the field of literature. In the magazine "
Bulgarian Collection"
published "
Longing,"
"
sweet birches asleep,"
"
stanza"
. Inquisitive by nature, learn French, Russian, English and translated writers such as Baudelaire, Verlaine, even Shakespeare. In Bulgarian wrote many satirical works signed with pseudonyms such as I, Amer, Taft, and other Sulbatyor. A number of tender and lyrical pieces which show his grief from the burden of everyday life.

At the end of 1912 Dimcho Debelyanov is called upon to fulfill their military duty and was drafted in the 22nd Infantry Regiment in the Thracian town of Samokov. Made for the lieutenant and commander of the fifth company of the regiment was sent to the Macedonian front during WWI. After eight months of fighting, bullet strikes him on October 2, 1916, morning, near Demir Hisar. Go to under the age 30, performing his duty to the Motherland. Recent poems written on the front are filled with disgust for the war, sad end of his brief but wonderful work.

Only in 1931 a close friend of Debelyanov - Dimitar Podvarzachov along with George Raychev Nevena Boyuklieva and brother Dimcho - Elijah carried his bones from Demir Hisar in Koprivshtitsa which are laid in the churchyard Assumption, where in 1934 sculptor Ivan Lazarov sculpts touched the figure of a mother sitting on the threshold, staring at the road: "
... All of a sudden ln krataka waiting for it to come to her child ..."
. And if thus true dream Debelyanov "
to return to their father's house."
The original monument "
Mother"
was moved to the yard of the home of Debelyanov, which in 1958 was converted into a museum and his grave was placed a monument - a copy.