ABOUT GORNA ORIAHOVITSA

The town of Gorna Oriahovitsa (40 829 inhabitants, 160 meters above sea level) is situated at the northern foothill of the Tarnovo Elevations, some 7 km northeast of Veliko Tarnovo, 3 km northwest of Liaskovets and 247 km northeast of София.

HISTORY

The first information about the settlement dates back to the second half of the fifth millennium BC and is related to the ruins found near the place Blatoto (the Swamp), which is near the high school of Gorna Oriahovitsa. The ruins were of rectangular houses made of hedge and clay. There were also traces of early Thracian settlements near the Pchelno Miasto place, which is approximately 3 km east of the town of Gorna Oriahovitsa, between the elevation Kamaka and the Arbanasi Mound. The inhabitants of the settlement were from the krobizes tribe. The settlement had significant dimensions – it covered an area of over 100 decares. The fortress Kamaka was erected in order to provide security to the settlement. The settlement itself existed from the fifth to the first centuries BC up to the coming of the Romans who invaded the place and later built their own settlement over its ruins. The new Roman settlement gradually acquired economic power, growing mainly grapes and producing wine. The existence of the settlement continued up to the coming of the Slavs (6-7 century AD). There is no substantiated evidence of a settlement life during the period from the 7 to the 12 centuries.
After the restoration of the Bulgarian State at the end of the 12 century there was need of protection of the new Metropolis Tarnovgrad. Several sentry fortresses were built, among which the Rahovets Fortress, which is situated only 4 km northwest of the contemporary town of Gorna Oriahovitsa. During the Ottoman invasion the Turks conquered the fortress without demolishing it. Rahovets existed up to the year 1444 when Vladislav III Varnenchik destroyed it. Three small villages existed in the region during the Ottoman Rule –Mala (Small), Sredna (Middle) and Goliama (Great) Ranovitsa.
Gorna Oriahovitsa gradually turned into an economically powerful settlement, particularly during the Revival Period. Crafts prospered and trade was among the most active pursuits in Northern Bulgaria. Every Friday there was a big market of cattle, agricultural production, wood and charcoal. In 1822 a monastery school was opened in the town and in 1827 the private school of Father Gerassim Stoikov, which became a public school in 1835. In the period between 1850-1859 two more schools were opened – the first girl’s school and the first intermediate high school organized by Ivan Momchilov.
In 1870 Gorna Oriahovitsa was proclaimed a town. By then it had 4700 inhabitants, 1200 houses and 5 churches. The people of the town have taken part in almost all the manifestations of the national liberation process and struggles in the region. Vasil Levki organized a revolutionary committee here in 1869. During the preparation of the April Uprising Gorna Oriahovitsa was fixed to be the center of the First revolutionary district with Stefan Stambolov for its apostle leader.
After the Liberation the town developed as a big transport center and so it is even today. Its proximity to Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanasi, the magnificent monasteries in the region and a lot more places of interest makes it a tourist center as well.

LANDMARKS

While in the town of Gorna Oriahovitsa one can visit the Town Musem of History, the house of Sider Chieftain, the Joint School, the churches “St. Nikola and “St. George”, the monument of Georgi Izmirliev, which is in the center of the town, as well as the monuments of Vasil Levski, Hristo Botev and Sider Chieftain.

SURROUNDING AREAS

The ruins of the Medieval fortress Rahovets are located 4 km northwest of Gorna Oriahovitsa. Guests of the town can also visit the Bahadur place where they can see a Medieval Necropolis, also the St. Petka fountain and the Ovchar’s fountain, from which a water pipelie was brought to the Rahovets Fortress. The ruins of the Thracian Fortress on the Kamaka elevation are located south of Rahovets. The Bojura Forest Park is some 7 km west of the town.