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Gabrovo

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Overview

Gabrovo (Bulgarian: Габрово) is a city in the Balkan region of Bulgaria. The city is also home to two museums, several historical churches and monuments in and historic bridges over the Yantra River, all popular destinat

Facts

Rank

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage

Media

From Wikipedia1,202 words

WBP editorial3

A coffee‑break with the locals

When you wander the riverfront promenade, pause at any of the modest, family‑run cafés that line the Yantra. Here you’ll hear the spirited banter that fuels the city’s reputation for humour, but the jokes are often about everyday challenges – the cost of heating, the quirks of public transport, or the latest football controversy. Ordering a traditional milka (milky coffee) gives you a moment to watch elderly patrons play bridge on worn wooden tables, a pastime that links generations. The rhythm of these gatherings offers travellers a glimpse into how Gabrovo’s residents sustain a tight‑knit community despite the city’s linear sprawl.

Beyond the museums: using Gabrovo as a base for Balkan trekking

Gabrovo’s position at the foothills of the central Balkan range makes it an ideal launchpad for day‑long hikes that skip the overcrowded mountain resorts. The nearby Shipka Pass, historically a crossing point for armies, now provides marked trails that weave through ancient beech forests and open onto sweeping river valleys. Pack a sturdy pair of boots and a lightweight rain jacket; the weather can shift quickly at 400 metres elevation. After a trek, return to the town for a hearty portion of kapama, a slow‑cooked pork stew, which restores energy while you exchange stories with fellow walkers at the hostel’s communal dining table.

What guidebooks overlook: the subtle art of Bulgarian Revival craftsmanship

While the grand façades of Gabrovo’s Revival period are frequently photographed, few visitors notice the small workshops tucked behind them where artisans still practice traditional woodcarving and stone‑masonry. These craftsmen, often descendants of 19th‑century builders, create intricate wrought‑iron railings and decorative window frames on demand. A quiet stroll down Kapana Street reveals an open‑door studio where a master carver explains the symbolism behind a coiled dragon motif, a nod to protective folklore. Engaging with these creators not only enriches your understanding of the city’s aesthetic lineage but also supports a living heritage that seldom appears in mainstream travel itineraries.

Introduction

For other uses, see Gabrovo (disambiguation). City in BulgariaGabrovo ГабровоcityFrom the top, Town Hall, Orlovets Hall, House of Humour and Satire FlagCoat of armsGabrovoLocation of GabrovoShow map of BulgariaGabrovoGabrovo (Balkans)Show map of BalkansCoordinates: 42°52′N 25°20′E / 42.867°N 25.333°E / 42.867; 25.333CountryBulgariaProvince(Oblast)GabrovoGovernment • MayorTanya HristovaArea • city233.817 km2 (90.277 sq mi)Elevation392 m (1,286 ft)Population (Census 2021) • city48,133 • Density205.86/km2 (533.17/sq mi) • Urban54,608Time zoneUTC+2 (EET) • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)Postal Code5300Area code066WebsiteOfficial website Gabrovo (Bulgarian: Габрово [ˈɡabrovo]) is a city in central northern Bulgaria, the administrative centre of Gabrovo Province.Historical populationYearPop.±%18877,958—    19108,423+5.8%193413,668+62.3%194621,180+55.0%195637,919+79.0%196557,805+52.4%197575,040+29.8%198581,415+8.5%199276,522−6.0%200167,065−12.4%201158,950−12.1%202145,940−22.1%Source: CensusesIt is situated at the foot of the central Balkan Mountains, in the valley of the Yantra River, and is known as an international capital of humour and satire (see Gabrovo humour), as well as noted for its Bulgarian National Revival architecture. Gabrovo is also known as the longest town in Bulgaria, stretching over 25 km along the Yantra, yet reaching only 1 km (0.6 mi) in width at places. The geographic center of Bulgaria - Uzana - is located near the town.

History

[edit] The area around Gabrovo, inhabited since the Neolithic, gained economic importance after Veliko Tarnovo became capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire in the 12th century. Craftsmanship and trade prospered due to the proximity to both the capital and the Balkan passes. Medieval Gabrovo was a small pass village of about 100 houses. After the Ottoman invasion of the Balkans in the 14th century, the demographic position of Gabrovo changed significantly, as it was the only settlement in a considerably large geographic area and an attractive place for Bulgarians fleeing from the conquered capital and neighbouring fortresses. It turned from a village into a small town (palanka) and began to develop as an economic, cultural and spiritual centre. Bulgarian Orthodox Theophany Crucession in Gabrovo. The priests are going to throw a wooden cross in the Yantra. Believers will then jump into the icy waters to "save" the cross. During Ottoman rule, the rich tradesmen spent plenty of resources for the small town's public planning. The first Bulgarian secular school, the Aprilov National High School, was founded in Gabrovo in 1835 with the aid of Vasil Aprilov and Nikolay Palauzov. Gabrovo was officially proclaimed a town by the Ottoman authority in May 1860. In the 1870s Felix Kanitz said that Gabrovo is "a big workshop" and that it is a "city that lives from the water," referring to widely used water power. The glory of the goods of Gabrovo became known throughout the Ottoman Empire, and beyond that, in Bucharest even nowadays there is a street named "Gabroveni". Shortly before and after the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878, Gabrovo developed as a centre of industry on the basis of its economic traditions. Joint-stock companies emerged, factories were constructed and connections to the large stock exchanges were created, prompting some to label the town "The Bulgarian Manchester". The Bulgarian National Revival church of Gabrovo, an architectural monument.

Population

[edit] Gabrovo saw its most rapid growth in the post-World War II years, when its population doubled. Following general population trends in Bulgaria, the number of citizens started declining after the fall of Communism in the country. People started emigrating abroad or to the capital, Sofia. Currently, Gabrovo is more than 30,000 people short of its peak, achieved in the period 1985-1991 when the number of the residents exceeded 80,000. According to Census 2011, as of February 2011[update], the population of the town was 58,950 inhabitants. Ethnic, linguistic and religious composition[edit] According to the latest 2011 census data, the individuals declared their ethnic identity were distributed as follows: Bulgarians: 54,227 (97.9%) Turks: 473 (0.9%) Roma: 343 (0.6%) Others: 193 (0.3%) Indefinable: 151 (0.3%) Undeclared: 3,563 (6.0%) Total: 58,950 The ethnic composition of Gabrovo Municipality is 60,207 Bulgarians, 504 Turks and 367 Roma among others.

Culture

[edit] Internationally known as a centre of humour and satire, Gabrovo has two theatres, the Racho Stoyanov Drama Theatre and the puppet theatre, a House of Humour and Satire that serves as a cultural institute, a centre, museum and gallery to popularise comic art. There is a cinema, Aleko Cinema, and museums and memorial houses in the town and around it, most notably the Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex and the National Museum of Education at the Aprilov National High School. On a Saturday around the week of May 21, Gabrovo hosts an annual Carnival of Humor and Satire with the slogan in Bulgarian “Da izkukurigame ot smyah” (translating to "Let`s go nuts from laughter"). On the day of the carnival, the streets of Gabrovo town are overflowing with fun characters like masked musketeers, bullfighters, shamans, gypsies, and much more. The carnival is also popular for its use of traditional Balkan songs, folklore choreography, and a rich display of Gabrovo humour and culture. A planetarium is in operation.

Tourism

[edit] Places of interest in Gabrovo include the House of Humour and Satire and Aprilov National High School. In Gabrovo Province sites include architectural reserve Bozhentsi. Hiking is widely available in the Central Balkan National Park and in the Bulgarka Nature Park, itself home to Ethnographic Complex Etara, Dryanovo Monastery, Sokolski Monastery, Shipka Pass, and the Uzana area. For admirers of historical tourism Shipka Memorial is a must-see. Gabrovo is member of the Creative Tourism Network ®.

Notable people

[edit] Vasil Aprilov (1789–1847) - revivalist and educator; founder of the first secular school in Bulgaria Ivan Hadji Berov (1858–1934) - industrialist- lit the first light bulb in Bulgaria - erected the first hydro electric power plant in Gabrovo Tsanko Dyustabanov (1844–1876) - revolutionary Teodor Kabakchiev (born 1998), professional motorcycle racer Ivan Kolchev Kalpazanov (1835–1889) - industrialist, ancestor of the modern industry in Gabrovo and Kingdom of Bulgaria (1882) Vasil Nikolov Karagiosov (1856–1938) - teacher, industrialist, politician, German vicecouncul, monk in the Zograf monastery, Mount Athos, Greece Nikolay Palauzov (1821–1899) - merchant, donated money for the Gabrovian school Petar Rúsеv - father of former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff Tota Venkova (1855 – 1921), first native-born Bulgarian woman physician. The regional hospital in Gabrovo is named after her. Christo Yavashev (1935–2020) - installation artist

Twin towns – sister cities

[edit] See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Bulgaria Gabrovo is twinned with: Aalst, Belgium Chernihiv, Ukraine Kumanovo, North Macedonia Mittweida, Germany Mogilev, Belarus Mytischi, Russia Nowy Sącz, Poland Panevėžys, Lithuania Petah Tikva, Israel Prešov, Slovakia Shaki, Azerbaijan Sisak, Croatia Thun, Switzerland