ABOUT THE TOWN
The town of Koprivshtitsa is situated near to the Topolnitsa river, at 1060 meters above the sea level. It is situated at the distance of 110 km. south – east of Sofia, at the distance of 80 km. north – west of Plovdiv and at the distance of 27 km. south – east of Pirdop. Koprivshtitsa is a town – museum and unique settlement in Bulgaria, which has preserved in compactness over 250 patterns of the Revival Period architecture.

HISTORY
Koprivshtitsa originated as a settlement during the 14 th century. Its population dealt with cattle – breeding, manufacturing of aba, furriery, dyeing and other crafts. The citizens of Koprivshtitsa proved to be good merchants too reaching as far as Istanbul and Alexandria. The wealthy and urbanized settlement was plundered and destroyed by fire by Turkish brigands three times and rebuilt from ashes to reach its greatest prosperity during the 19 th century when it had a population of nearly 12 000 inhabitants. Spacious houses, schools, churches fountains and bridges were built there during that period.
On 20 th of April 1876 first shot of the April Uprising against Ottoman Rule rang out here, which started the heroic April epopee of the Bulgarian people. Todor Kableshkov announced the Uprising and another citizen of Koprivshtitsa - Gavrail Hlutev, known to the generations to come as Georgi Benkovski - was the adamant and ardent leader of the people’s rebellion. The town is birth place of a lot of functionaries of our Revival Period, such as Bogdan Voyvoda, Doncho Voyvoda, Dobri Voyvoda, Dimcho Debelianov.

PLACES TO SEE
Koprivshtitsa is one of the few thoroughly preserved architectural urbanized ensembles of the Revival Period.
The Revival Period houses with colorful courtyards, surrounded with high stone walls and gates, the disorderly built curved and narrow cobblestone little streets and plots, the numerous stone fountain contributes to the attractiveness of the little town. The greatest wealth of Koprivshtitsa are its Revival Period houses, part of which were turned into museums. One of these museums is the Oslekov's House. It is the most famous architectural, ethnographic site in the town, ownership of a rich merchant from Koprivshtitsa in the middle of the 19 th century. The home of Georgi Benkovski – the leader of the April Uprising is also interesting. The wooden gun, the banner of the Flying Detachment of armed volunteers sewed by Raina Popgeorgieva and the arms of the Voyvoda are the most priceless relics of that tempestuous time.
You also can visit the house of Luben Karavelov that acquaints you with the revolutionary and journalistic activities of one of the most prominent sons of Koprivshtitsa and Bulgaria.
The Dimcho Debelianov House – the life and the literally activities of the most lyrical Bulgarian poet are reflected in it. Like in the other houses – museums, here the atmosphere, in which Dimcho Debelianov has lived and has created his poems, has been restored here, too. Except this houses you can visit the church “St. Nikolai” and the “Mausoleum – Ossuary – 20 th April” devoted to those who died during the April Uprising. You should not miss the monument of Todor Kableshkov and Kableshkov's House.

SURROUNDING AREAS
The town is a starting point for numerous tourist and eco tracks in the highest and the most beautiful part of Real Sredna Gora Mountain. A marked route starts from it in the direction of: Bogdan Chalet (a 3 to 4 hours walk), from where one can climb the highest peak of Sredna Gora – the mount of Bogdan (1604 meters above the sea level). There are also routes to Manzul Chalet (a 3.30 to 4 hours walk), Krustyo Cholakov Chalet (a 2.30 – 3 hours walk) 11 km, the Barikadite Chalet (a 4 – 4.30 hours walk). An excursion to the Central Stara planina can be started from the railway station of Koprivshtitsa. It takes 6 to 8 hours to get to the Vezhen Chalet.