Gabrovo is a town in central Bulgaria, administrative and economic center of the eponymous municipality of Gabrovo and Gabrovo district. It is located along the Yantra River at the northern foot of the Shipka part of the Balkan Mountains. In close proximity to it, in the Uzana area, is the geographical center of Bulgaria. According to the latest NSI data as of December 31, 2018, the population of Gabrovo is 52,169 people. Gabrovo residents are known for their love of humor (see Gabrovo jokes), for their annual humorous carnival of humor and satire, for their mechanical engineering, for their numerous monuments and bridges and long streets. Gabrovo is the longest town in Bulgaria with its 25 km from Yabalka district to Smirnenski dam.
Theaters
Racho Stoyanov Drama Theater
Ran
Bosilek State Puppet Theater
MIM Theater - Gabrovo
Summer theater
Gargara Youth Theater Studio - Gabrovo
Art galleries
Hristo
Tsokev Gallery
Art gallery - 10 Orlovska St
Shop-gallery "Avits
Art" - 15 Radetsky Street
Music and dance art
Gabrovsky
Chamber Orchestra
Orchestra Gabrovo
Representative wind orchestra
- Gabrovo
Gabrovo reserve officers' choir "Emanuil Manolov"
Staroplaninsko Echo Choir
Vocal group "Nadezhda" at the Society of
the Disabled and Community Center "Gabrovo"
Vocal group "Nezabravka"
from the Day Center for Old People at Aprilov-Palauzov Community Center
Women's choir for academic singing - Gabrovo
Mixed Choir "Aprilov -
Palauzov"
Vesela Music Club
Chance Vocal Group
Children's
folklore ensemble "Gabrovche"
Sivek Dance Ensemble
Talevi Music
School
Show - ballet "Magia" - Gabrovo
Ritmika Competitive Dance
Club
Dance formation "Mega Dance"
Music School at the "Emanuil
Manolov" Music Society
Children's art workshop at "Raicho Karolev"
school
Encaustic School of Fine Arts
Houses of culture and
cinemas
Home of humor and satire
House of Culture "Emanuil
Manolov"
People's Community Center "Aprilov - Palauzov 1861"
People's Community Center "Gabrovo 2002"
People's community center
"Hristo Smirnenski 1949" - Rusevtsi quarter
Community center "St. St.
Damascene and Onufrius Gabrovsky 2011"
Community center "Zora" - Nova
Mahala quarter
Aleko Cinema
Museums
Open Air Ethnographic
Museum "Eter"
Architectural-historical reserve Bozhentsi
Regional
History Museum (Gabrovo)
House Museum The Boy's House
Home of
humor and satire
National Museum of Education
Museum exhibition
"Postal messages in Gabrovo"
Cultural Center Bread House "St.
Christopher" - Gabrovo
Interactive museum of industry - in the past,
Gabrovo was an important trade and craft center. To this day, industry
continues to be a leading industry in the region. From here was born the
idea of creating the only museum of its kind on the Balkan Peninsula,
opened on March 21, 2014. In an innovative way, by means of sound,
visual and light effects, the history of the socio-economic life of the
city is traced. The exposition is developed in three stages, each of
them occupying a separate floor of the building. The first stage is
dedicated to industrialization after the Liberation (from the end of the
19th century to 1944). The second stage traces the fate of the industry
during the communist rule (from 1944 to 1990). The third stage examines
the industry in the period from the fall of the totalitarian regime to
the present day. The talk is led by virtual narrators, and visitors are
accompanied by a guide who answers their questions and helps them work
with the interactive installations and digital panels. Thanks to modern
information technologies and audio-visual applications, an authentic
atmosphere and a sense of realism are achieved.
Gabrov's humor
Gabrov's humor
Home of humor and satire
Liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule - on March 3
every year, on Mount Shipka
April 1 – humor day and Planeta Gabrovo's
birthday
International Biennale of Humor and Satire in the Arts
(IBHSI) – third Saturday in May, every odd year
National "Thank You"
brainstorming meeting - the third Sunday of May, every odd year
Dixieland Parade - May, every year up to and including 2007.
International Festival of Comedy Performance - May, every odd year
Children's Mini Carnival – the third Saturday of May, annually
Traditional carnival – the third Saturday of May, annually
National
exhibition (review) of cats - annually on the day of the Carnival
May
24 - Day of Bulgarian Writing - an annual event
Plein air painting in
the village of Bozhentsi
Orchestra Gabrovo is the host and organizer
of the International Dixieland Parade, which is held annually in the
second ten days of May until 2007 inclusive.
International Fair of
Folk Crafts – beginning of September, every year
Battles of Shipka -
August 22
International Forum "Art, Ecology and Science for
Sustainable Social Development" - August 20 - 27 /since 2010/ -
organizers: Nadezhda Savova - founder of Saint Hristofor Bakery -
Gabrovo, World Cultural Platform "Culture 21", Association "Planeta
Gabrovo", Gabrovo municipality
September Days of Culture August 28 –
September 14 /since 2009/
Chamber Music Days – May and September
Feast of sacred music - 14.10. - annually, on the occasion of the day of
St. Petka Bulgarska and the Spiritual Feast of Gabrovo
"Funny Film
Fest Gabrovo"
Paper Lanterns - an annual September festival that
celebrates freedom, love and peace (since 2011).
Sports
Sports
hall Orlovets,
Stadiums: Hristo Botev, Vasil Aprilov, Hristo
Smirnenski
Yantra Football Club, founded on September 21, 1919. The
beginning was made with a match against "Lokomotiv" - Gorna Oryahovitsa
won with 1:0.
Yantra 2000 Football Club
"Bucky" handball sports
club - Gabrovo
Sports club for applied shooting and airsoft "Alfa
Metal"
Volleyball Club "KVK Gabrovo"
Yantra Rugby Club
Sport
Model Club Gabrovo
Five tennis courts and three indoor swimming pools
are available to Gabrovtsi residents
Assumption Church (Gabrovo)
Holy Trinity Cathedral,
Saint John the Forerunner Church - Kamaka quarter
Saint Ivan Rilski
Church - Bichkinia quarter
"St. Panteleimon" Chapel - "Dr. TOTA
VENKOVA" Medical Center
Chapel "Holy Apostles Peter and Paul"
Virgin Monastery "Holy Annunciation"
Sokol monastery
Chapel of
Saint Petka, consecrated on October 14, 2000.
Saints of Gabrovo
Saint Onufrius of Gabrovo – January 4
Saint Damascene of Gabrovsky –
January 16
Saint Lazar Bulgarian (Debeldyalski) – April 23
Holy relics and miraculous icons in Gabrovo
The holy relics of St.
Catherine, St. Anna, St. Onuphrius of Gabrovo, St. Mercury
Miraculous
icon of the Holy Mother of God in Sokol monastery
In the 13th
century, the holy relics of St. Paraskeva (Petka) of Epivatska passed
through Gabrovo on their way to Tarnovo, to remain in the Tsarevets
temple specially built for them by Tsar Ivan Asen II in the old capital
until it fell under Ottoman rule.
On November 24, 2008, the holy
relics of St. Catherine, St. Anna and St. Onuphrius of Gabrovo were
exhibited for worship in the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
church.
On September 21 and 22, 2009, the Miraculous icon of the Most
Holy Mother of God Troeruchitsa from the Troyan Monastery visited the
"Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary" church in Gabrovo.
On October
19, 2009, a part of the relics of Saint Ivan Rila the Wonderworker,
which are kept in Veliko Tarnovo, visited the church "St. Ivan Rila",
Bichkinia district.
On November 24, 2009, the holy relics of St.
Catherine, St. Anna and St. Onufrius of Gabrovo were brought out for
veneration in the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary church.
Monument to Vasil Aprilov
Memorial plaque of Saint
Petka
Monument to Racho Kovacha
Monument to Nikolai Palauzov
Memorial plaque to Nikolai Palauzov
Monument to Dr. Petar Tsonchev
Monument to Yuri Venelin
Memorial plaque of Raicho Karolev
Monument to Ran Basilek
Monument to Chardaphon the Great
Memorial
tablet of Chardaphon the Great
Monument to Gen. Fyodor Radetsky
Monument to the dead of the 55th Podolsky Regiment (Ensign
Krakhovetskiy) and 56th Zhytomyr Regiment (Ensign Nikolaev)
Monument
to Mitko Palauzov
Monument to Dr. Tota Venkova
Memorial plaque of
Dr. Tota Venkova
Monument to teacher Tsvetko Samardzhiev
Monument
to Tsanko Dyustabanov
Monument to Emanuil Manolov
Monument to
Pancho Vladigerov
Monument to Neophyte of Rila
Monument to Cunning
Peter
The monument on Mount Shipka
Memorial plaque of Vasil Levski
Memorial plaque of "Maternal Care" Society - Gabrovo
A full-length
monument to Captain Santa Claus
Monument to Captain Dyado Nikola,
erected by the grateful citizens of Gabrovo in memory of the hero
Monument to cadet Nikola Donchov Boinovski or as Nikola Voinovski is
known (1849 – 1876), cadet in Odessa, participant in the detachment of
Hr. Botev, who died near the village of Shipkovo, Troyansko, after the
defeat of the squad in the Vrachan Balkan
Russian monument
Monument to those who died in the wars (1912 – 1918)
Monument of
freedom
Monument to Totyu x. Dosev or also known as Totyu Ivanov
Memorial plaque of Todor Kableshkov
Fertility monument - at the
beginning of Gabrovo, direction from Sevlievo
Monument to Academician
Nikola Mihov
Feld Memorial Plaque. Ivan Somlev, (1922 – 1944),
aviator, "My feat is nothing compared to the duty to the Motherland."
Monument to Nikola Vaptsarov, (1909 – 1942), poet
Monument to Yordan
Radoslavov
Bust of Ivan Kalpazanov - located in the Regional History
Museum - Gabrovo
Bridges
Igoto Bridge (Konashki Most)
Baev
Bridge
Shivarov bridge
Padal Bridge (next to the House of Humor
and Satire)
Bychkin bridge
Hadzhitsonev bridge
Potter's bridge
Borovsky bridge
Gornokrai bridge
Facades of famous houses
Bobcheva house
Yamantiev's house
Dr. Tsonchev's house
The house
of Hadji Stoychevi
The house of Hadji Gunchevi
The House of
Morocco
Konkilevi's house
Fountains and wells
Kamen springs
- "Toplica" and "Izvora"
Gunin's well
Stinking water
April
fountain
Konashka (market) fountain
Petar Hadzhihristov's fountain
The fountain of the Virgin Monastery
Clock tower fountain
The
fountain at the grain market
The love fountain
Clock tower
fountain with a lion's head
Parks
Park next to the Church of
the Assumption (Gabrovo)
"Mecheto" Park (between "Aprilov - Palauzov"
Regional Library and "Racho Stoyanov" Drama Theater)
Bajdar Park
(Alleys)
The park opposite the "Mac" company (Marcoteia)
The park
next to the Sony service
Gradishte Park
Marcotteia Park
The
park next to the Wheel
Curious
The Eight Wonders of Gabrovo is
a half-joking list of "sights":
Monument in the river - monument
to Racho Kovacha on an island in the Yantra River.
Cosmos on Earth -
an establishment on the 20th floor of the tallest building - Cosmos Cafe
(does not exist).
Ship in the forest - the building of the hospital
for lung diseases, has the shape of a ship. It was built by Gabrovo
industrialist Pencho Semov. It is located in a wooded area in the
quarter "Dyado Dyanko". The people of Gabrov call it "Steamboat".
A
tree in the middle of the road - a hundred-year-old tree near the Racho
Kovacha monument, on "Skobelevska" street.
Stairway to nowhere -
steps among the trees, near the House of Culture.
Small planet
Gabrovo (Asteroid 2206 Gabrovo) – a small planet named after Gabrovo and
registered under number 2206 was discovered.
Three Babes Under Water
- a composition of three bathing nude women holding fish in the fountain
in front of the Yantra Hotel.
The horsemen on the roof of the
"Emanuil Manolov" House of Culture.
Two bridges side by side over the
river - the Baeviy bridge.
Name
The first known name of the settlement, Gabruva, dates
from 1477, and today's name, Gabrovo, appeared in the 17th century.
One of the first written documents in which Gabrovo is mentioned is
from 1704. In it, permission is requested for the repair of the
church "St. Petka" and it is said that "it is ours from the conquest
to this day". The name comes from the hornbeam tree.
History
of the city
Occurrence
According to the most common legend,
Gabrovo was founded by Racho Kovača about 250 years ago. The story
goes that he was a wandering master blacksmith who settled under a
hornbeam tree. There are many other, but not so popular, legends
about the first settlers of Gabrovo.
Gabrovo arose in the
Middle Ages as a strategic settlement near the old mountain passes.
2 km east of the city is the "Gradishte" fortress, which existed
until the beginning of the 7th century. Based on the discovered gold
and copper coins from the time of the Roman emperors Constantine I
the Great (306 – 337) and Justin II (565 – 578), archaeologists date
the Gradishte fortress as late antique and early medieval (from IV
to VI century)
Archeological research on the territory of the
fortress revealed a fortress wall with a length of about 4 km, which
surrounded the fortress, 42 densely built residential buildings,
premises of the garrison guarding the fortress, a main entrance and
three guard towers. The main temple, built in the 4th century, was
located in the highest part of the Gradishte fortress, and a little
later a baptistery was built next to it, the so-called. baptistery.
The Gradishte fortress was destroyed and rebuilt many times; it is
considered to have ceased to exist after the fall of Bulgaria under
the Ottoman yoke.
In 2012, the excavations in Gradishte were
cleaned, and in 2013, it is planned to continue the excavations.
During archaeological excavations in 1985 and 1989, a
multi-layered necropolis in the center of Gabrovo, which existed in
the period XIII-XIX centuries, was studied, as well as the remains
of the church "Sveta Petka". It is believed that the church was
built after the stay of the relics of St. Petka Bulgarska in the
settlement, when they were transferred from Epivat to Veliko Tarnovo
in 1298. Thus, the existence of a settlement on the territory of
Gabrovo during the time of the Second Bulgarian State was confirmed.
Gabrovo is the hometown of Ivan Kalpazanov, who built and
together with Vasil Karagyozov equipped with modern German machines
the first textile factory in Gabrovo and in the newly liberated
Principality of Bulgaria (1882). Having turned into the "Bulgarian
Manchester", Gabrovo is home to many outstanding enterprising
individuals. Thus, industry and education are developing here at a
rapid pace in parallel. The two became the founders of long-term
Gabrovo-German relations. The beginning was made in December 1881 in
the city of Chemnitz, Germany. The culmination was the establishment
of a German consulate in Gabrovo with consuls Vasil Karagyozov (1926
– 1933) and Kolyo Karagyozov (1934 – 1935).
At the end of the
12th century, crafts and trade developed here, as well as industries
related to the service and protection of the passes through the
Balkans - blacksmithing, gunsmithing, etc. During the years of
Ottoman rule, Gabrovo was a large craft and trade center. In the
19th century, 26 trades were practiced here - blacksmithing
(Nalbant), cutlery, chakrakki, pottery, pipe-making,
leather-working, blacksmithing and much more. The first textile
factory (1882) was founded by Ivan Kolchev Kalpazanov with the help
of Vasil Karagyozov in partnership with Petko Tsokev.
Most likely, the initial settlements were around "Toplica" - a spring
on the road to Stara Planina, at the foot of the "Petkova Niva" hill.
They probably happened about 600-700 years ago, and maybe even earlier.
One of the first written documents in which Gabrovo is mentioned is from
1704. In it, permission is requested for the repair of the church "St.
Petka" and it is said that "it is ours from the conquest to this day".
From these words, it can be judged that Gabrovo existed when Bulgaria
fell under Ottoman rule (1396) and long before that, to have a church.
The remains of the Gradishte fortress can still be seen today, although
they are in need of restoration. Excavations were last made there in the
nineties of the 20th century.
In 1622, Evliya Celebi passed
through the Shipchen Pass with an armed detachment of 500 men on his way
to the Ottoman campaign against Austria. According to his travelogue:
the people of Gabrovi, who are obliged to guard the pass, do not
hesitate to attack Turkish couriers, small groups of soldiers and other
travelers passing through it. On the way down to Gabrovo, "in a narrow,
wild and stony place, suitable for ambushes", Evliya Celebi's detachment
was attacked and the Turks fought twice. About Gabrovo, Evliya Celebi
writes: God, forgive me, but the village is rebellious, it is not
suitable for five or ten people to stay there... In a word, these
villagers commit robberies in the Shipchen mountain, they do not
accommodate even 150-200 people in their village souls of horsemen, and
those who lodge there with strength do not send with health. The prudent
should not go to these mountains, because both winter and summer there
are many robbers.
In 1860, Gabrovo was declared a city. Felix
Kanitz says of it that in the 1870s "it was one big workshop" and that
it was "a city that lives on water", referring to the massively used
water power. The fame of Gabrovo products spread throughout the Ottoman
Empire and beyond. In Bucharest there is still a street named Gabroveni.
Bulgarian revival
The rapid economic rise and the national
awakening are the reason why the first Bulgarian secular school was
opened here in 1835. In 1872, it grew into a secondary school, and from
1889 - into the Aprilov High School, named so in honor of its founder
Vasil Aprilov, a prominent Renaissance figure. Beautiful Renaissance
houses, churches, bridges, fountains, a clock tower (1835) were built.
The inhabitants of the city took an active part in the uprising of
Captain Grandfather Nikola in 1856, in the Tarnovo uprising of 1862, in
the detachments of Hadji Dimitar and Stefan Karadzha (1868), of Hristo
Botev (1876), of Tsanko Dyustabanov (1876 .- entirely formed in
Gabrovo). In 1868, Levski established a revolutionary committee here.
The city is the birthplace of Vasil Aprilov, Tsanko Dyustabanov, Pop
Khariton, the composer Emanuil Manolov, Todor Burmov and many others.
After the Liberation
And after the Liberation in 1878, Gabrovo
developed as the largest textile center of Bulgaria, which was not
accidentally nicknamed the "Bulgarian Manchester". The city has long
been famous for the frugality and wit of its inhabitants, which is why
the world's only House of Humor and Satire is located here.
In
1906, electric lighting was installed on part of the central streets,
powered by the "Usteto" hydroelectric power plant built by Ivan
Hadjiberov.
Between the Balkan and World Wars
During the
Balkan War in 1912, 13 people from Gabrovo joined the Macedonian-Odrina
militia as volunteers.
The town of Gabrovo is located at the foot of Stara Planina, near the
Shipka Pass. It stretches along the river Yantra. The city is located 44
km from Veliko Tarnovo, 204 km from the capital Sofia, 137 km from
Plovdiv, 263 km from Varna and 247 km from Burgas.
Gabrovo is
connected to railway transport in Bulgaria via the Gabrovo-Tsareva
livada line. Through Gabrovo passes one of the most important road
connections crossing Bulgaria in the north-south direction, which is
part of the Pan-European Transport Corridor IX (Helsinki - St.
Petersburg - Kyiv - Bucharest - Ruse - Veliko Tarnovo - Gabrovo - Stara
Zagora - Dimitrovgrad with deviations to Greece and Turkey).
Near
the city is the locality "Uzana", where the geographical center of
Bulgaria is located.
In the land of the town of Gabrovo there are
also 19 villages that do not have their own land: Baevtsi, Boynovtsi,
Vrabtsi, Genovtsi, Gornova mogila, Dumnitsi, Zeleno dreko, Malusha,
Mechkovitsi, Morovetsi, Prodanovtsi, Pertevtsi, Ruychovtsi, Ryazovtsi,
Stoykovtsi, Stomanetsi, Todorovtsi, Trnito and Chukilite.
The territorial development of the district and the priority
development of certain economic branches are favored by its varied
semi-mountainous and mountainous relief and favorable climate.
The climate in the region is temperate continental, characterized by
cold winters and relatively warm summers. Precipitation is markedly
continental in nature. On average, about 900 l/m² fall annually. In the
autumn and winter months, the north and north-west winds prevail, and in
the spring and summer - the south. The region is characterized by a high
annual duration of sunshine. Average annual temperatures are around 10
°C. On the high mountain parts, the snow cover lasts for about 110 days.
Terrain and waters
The Yantra River and its two main tributaries
– the Sinkevitsa River and the Panicharka River – flow through the city.
The Siviak River flows through Etr Open-Air Ethnographic Museum and
immediately afterwards flows into the Yantra. Yellow River is a right
tributary that flows into Yantra near Bichkinia district. Other water
streams on the territory of the city: Ruychov and Turski dol, Belilska
and Kozya reka (tributaries of the Panicherka), Yelovitsa and Strashka
reka (tributaries of the Siviak), Maimun Dere (tributary of the Yantra
River at the former "Captain Djado Nikola" plant), Lopushnitsa river
(Sheinini quarter, a tributary of the Rositsa river), Svinarski dol and
Repivitsa (tributaries of the Yantra river near Boykata quarter).
Flora and fauna
The wood species are mainly beech, hornbeam and
oak. On the meadows there are many rose bushes and blackberry bushes.
During the rainy summer days, most common types of mushrooms can be
found in the forests of Gabrovo (mushroom, duck's foot, roe deer,
boletus, milkweed, powdery mildew, mushroom, etc.). There are barbel and
mullet in the numerous rivers flowing through the city.
The first modern school - the Gabrovo school in 1835, founded by
Vasil Aprilov and Nikolay St. Palauzov;
The first modern factory with
only Bulgarian capital in the newly liberated Principality of Bulgaria
was the "Ivan Kolchev Kalpazanov" factory in 1882, founded by Ivan
Kalpazanov in partnership with Petko Tsokev and the invaluable help of
Vasil Karagyozov, who was also its long-term director;
The first
moving model - Ivan Nedkov's 1892 moving model of a boiler steam engine,
owner of the steel factory "Ivan Nedkov"
The first cast iron
radiators in Bulgaria - designed by Engineer Simeon Nedkov and produced
in the "Ivan Nedkov" factory
The first cotton textile loom in
Bulgaria - designed by engineer Tsvetan Nedkov and produced in the "Ivan
Nedkov" factory
Prof. Dr. Nikola Nedkov - plastic surgeon, one of the
founders of the Department of Plastic Surgery at ISUL /Institute for the
Advancement of Doctors/, today Tsaritsa Joanna University Hospital -
Sofia
Engineer Tsvetan Nedkov – one of the founders of the organized
sports activity in Gabrovo
The first credit cooperative - "Poor Work"
1889.
The first knitting factory – founded by Hristak Momerin in 1890
The first consumer cooperative - "Savings-Consumer Tobacco Workers'
Company" 1895.
The first productive cooperative - Napreduk Workers'
and Tailors' Society 1895.
The first machine tannery cooperative -
Shtastie factory
The first circular knitting machines – brought by
Yordana Kavalova
The first brush factory - 1925 Stefan P. Kedev. The
factory produces all types of brushes: paint, barber, painting, horse,
shoe, industrial shafts, and their quality successfully competes with
German ones.[14]
The first molding factory - "Panicharka" factory
1910.
The first pigeon mail - Hristo Bruchkov - 1877
The first
Society of the "Red Cross" in the Principality of Bulgaria - November 1,
1883.
The first weather station – January 1, 1887.
The first
meteorologist – Hristofor Angelov
The first psychological laboratory
in Bulgaria - Assoc. Dr. Nikola Hristov Alexiev
The first orchestra
in Bulgaria - 1845, the orchestra of the violinists Tsviatko and Pencho
Karakolevi
The first secular New Bulgarian school - 1835, founded by Vasil
Aprilov and Nikolay St. Palauzov
The first student library - 1840
The first application of the sonorous method for pronouncing letters -
1868.
The first physics classroom - 1872.
First civilian post
office in the country - January 1878 (together with those from Svishtov
and Tarnovo)
The first fabric supply factory for the Princely Court -
Ivan Kolchev Kalpazanov's factory - 1882, built by Ivan Kalpazanov,
Petko Tsokev and Vasil Karagyozov
The first light bulb in Bulgaria -
1882
The first performance of the current anthem "Dear Homeland" in
the Aprilov High School
The first Red Cross Society in the
Principality of Bulgaria - founded on November 1, 1883, earlier in time
was the Red Cross Society in Sliven - October 25, 1878, but then Sliven
was within the borders of Eastern Rumelia
The first experimental
agricultural station
The first weather station – January 1, 1887.
The first Bulgarian banknote with serial number 000001 from 1881 is
stored in the Historical Museum - Gabrovo.
The first governor of
Sofia and the first prime minister of Bulgaria was Todor Burmov from
Gabrovo in 1880. He was born in the village of Nova Mahala, now Nova
Mahala district.
1882 Ivan Kolchev Kalpazanov, with the help of Petko
Tsokev and Vasil Nikolov Karagyozov, founded the first modern factory
for the production of textiles, shayats and gaitans in Gabrovo and in
the newly liberated Principality of Bulgaria
The first court princely
factory in Bulgaria since 1884 was the factory of Ivan Kalpazanov.
The first 35 hp water turbine driven (1885) and with coal (1901) - the
factory of Ivan Kalpazanov, under the management of Vasil Karagyozov.
The first factory in Gabrovo with its own office in the city center -
Ivan Kalpazanov's factory, under the management of Vasil Karagyozov.
The first factory in Gabrovo with its own flag, sewn in Vienna - the
factory of Ivan Kalpazanov, under the management of Vasil Karagyozov.
The first factory to open a steam power plant in 1911 – the factory of
Ivan Kalpazanov, under the management of Vasil Karagyozov.
The first
factory to deliver a special pavilion from Vienna for the First
Bulgarian Exhibition (1892) - Ivan Kalpazanov's factory under the
leadership of Vasil Karagyozov.
The first factory that granted
pensions to its workers on its own initiative in 1922 - Ivan
Kalpazanov's factory under the management of Vasil Karagyozov.
The
first factory that opened a workers' bathroom in 1939 – the factory of
Ivan Kalpazanov, led by Kolyo Karagyozov and Ivan Dobrev Kalpazanov.
One of the first factories whose owners insured their workers at the
beginning of the 20th century, when the insurance market began to
develop actively - Ivan Kalpazanov's factory under the leadership of
Vasil Karagyozov, later led by Kolyo Karagyozov and Ivan Dobrev
Kalpazanov.
A German consulate was opened in 1926 with consuls Vasil
Karagyozov (1926 – 1933) and Kolyo Karagyozov (1934 – 1935). The
consulate was moved to Varna at the end of 1935.
The most
industrialized city in Bulgaria in the period 1905-1978 was Gabrovo.
This is the reason why the city became known as the "Bulgarian
Manchester"
Pencho Ivanov Semov - industrialist from Gabrovo from the
beginning to the middle of the 20th century, known for his charitable
work in supporting many public undertakings.
The first factory for
the production of gunpowder, explosives and cartridges - gunpowder
factory "Elovitsa"
The first shoe mold factory - 1918.
The first
tennis court and ice rink – 1922 in Ivan Hadjiberov's park, now workshop
1 of the Fintex company
The first and all 11 soap factories until
1936.
The first factory for coke and derivatives.
The tallest
building in the Gabrovo region – the 20-story Cosmos building
First
street radio broadcast in the country - 1946.
1954 radio technicians
Iv. Gatev and T. Bochukov constructed the first portable tape recorder
in Bulgaria
The bell of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
church - the first bell brought from abroad to Gabrovo
There was a
German consulate in Gabrovo. In the period 1926 - 1933, the honorary
German vice consul was Vasil Karagyozov. In 1934, the honorary German
vice consul was Kolyo Karagyozov. After 1934, it was moved to Varna.
Gabrovo was declared a creditor of Bulgaria in 1942.
The first modern
concert hall – opened on October 21, 1962.
The first full-time
variety orchestra outside the capital - "KO", created at the then
enterprise "Cultural recreation" - Gabrovo /1960/. First at the
"All-Bulgarian Competition for Pop Art Masters" for Northern Bulgaria -
Pleven /1962/.
A baritone saxophone bought for the first time in
Bulgaria after the war. Hristo Mitev from Gabrovo was the first to play
it /1962/.
Awarded with a gold medal and the title "Laureate of the
Second Republican Festival and Sports Games" STUDENT ORCHESTRA at the
Textile Technical College, Gabrovo - Sofia /1964/.
The first post-war
jazz club in Bulgaria - HOT CLUB GABROVO /1965/.
First attempt in the
country to create a big-band formation in Gabrovo within the framework
of a full-time brass orchestra, based on the idea of Ivan Andreev
/1967/. Concert held in Veliko Tarnovo.
The first workers' jazz club
in Bulgaria in ETZ "Podem", Gabrovo /1978 - 1979/. Supported by the
local jazz club and the factory Komsomol organization.
The first
Bulgarian orchestra to participate in the XI International Dixieland
Festival in Dresden - SWING DIXIE BAND GABROVO /1981/.
First
international jazz meeting in Bulgaria - Gabrovo /1982/.
The first
specialized jazz festival in Bulgaria with international participation,
under the name DIXYLAND PARADE GABROVO /1983/.
For the first time, a
Bulgarian orchestra participated in the Traditional Jazz Salon - Prague,
Czechoslovakia. SWING DIXIE BAND GABROVO /1985/.
The Bulgarian
orchestra SWING DIXIE BAND GABROVO was the first from the socialist
countries to take part in the major jazz festivals Jazz Band Ball in
Paris, France /1986/ and Dixieland Jubile - Sacramento, USA /1990/.
SWING DIXY BAND GABROVO was the first in Bulgaria to record its own
long-playing gramophone record with Dixie music - "Folk Dixie" /1986/.
Mayor
The 2007 local elections were won by Tomislav Donchev
(GERB). He defeated Nikolay Grigorov (Bulgarian Socialist Party) in the
second round. In 2010, Tomislav Donchev was elected Minister of European
Money Management in Boyko Borisov's cabinet. This necessitates new local
elections in Gabrovo, which were won by Nikolay Sirakov (GERB). In the
regular local elections in 2011, Tanya Hristova (GERB) was elected mayor
of Gabrovo Municipality, in the first round, with 57.67%. The local
elections in 2015 were won by the previous mayor of the city, Tanya
Hristova (GERB) with 68.38% of the votes in the first round.
Coat
of arms and flag
The coat of arms of the city of Gabrovo consists of
the traditional official signs of this kind: a heraldic shield, on which
stands a wall crown - a stylized fortress wall with towers - an old city
symbol, revealing the urban form of development and the antiquity of its
origin. A motto ribbon with the text "Work and perseverance" is wrapped
around it - part of the motto of the first Gabrovo industrialist Ivan
Kalpazanov. The heraldic shield on a red background symbolically depicts
the main factors that contributed to Gabrovo's prosperity.
In the
middle, wavy lines mark the river Yantra, around which the settlement
developed from the deepest antiquity. Above it is depicted a stylized
gear wheel - a symbol of industrial production, which brought fame to
Gabrovo; on the left, there is a hammer on it, which represents one of
the oldest crafts in Gabrovo - blacksmithing, associated with the
legendary founder of the city - Racho Kovača. On the right side of the
shield is a stylized caduceus - the tip of the staff of the ancient
Greek god Hermes, which symbolizes the development of trade. Under the
image of the Yantra River is an open book, symbolizing the aspiration of
the people of Gabrovo towards education and science, which found
expression in the foundation of the first New Bulgarian school in the
settlement in 1835.
Economic characteristic
In the past, Gabrovo was known as the
Bulgarian Manchester due to its highly developed industry. The beginning
was made by Ivan Kolchev Kalpazanov and Vasil Karagyozov, who created
the first modern textile factory in Gabrovo and in the newly liberated
Principality of Bulgaria (1882). In the first years of the 19th century,
the first Gaitan chark was brought from the Transylvanian city of Brasov
to Gabrovo.
From the existing small productions arose a huge
industry for its time. The textile (wool and cotton), leather and iron
industries are developing.
Production is concentrated in the
following directions:
cotton and woolen textiles;
cotton and
woolen knitwear;
sewing industry;
mechanical engineering;
production of plastic products;
processing of hides and production of
leather goods;
shoe manufacturing;
production of knives and
household utensils;
furniture manufacturing;
production of bread
and bakery products;
production of milk and milk products;
chocolate products;
construction.
On November 26, 2009, the first
mall type shopping complex - Terra Mall Gabrovo - opened its doors in
the city.
On March 26, 2010, Mall Gabrovo also opened its doors.
In Gabrovo, there are large trade chains for appliances and food
products: "Billa", "Liddle", "KAM Market", "CBA", "Technomarket",
"Zora", "Technopolis" and "Kaufland".
Media
Regional
newspapers
"100 vesti" newspaper, daily newspaper - regional private
printed and online edition
The newspaper "Gabrovo today" is a private
newspaper and is published three times a week.
"Dialog" newspaper -
information bulletin.
Gabrovo Info What, where... in Gabrovo
Gnews
Gabrovo
Media for urban culture.
Newspaper "Istinata" - printed
edition of PP "Ataka" - Gabrovo.
information site for Central
Northern Bulgaria Sever
Schools
In 1835, the first Bulgarian mutual (grade) school was
opened in Gabrovo. Many people at that time wanted to introduce it, but
the idea came from Vasil Aprilov and Nikolay St. Palauzov, Bulgarian
merchants, originally from Gabrovo, resettled in Odessa. The National
Museum of Education is located directly next to the April High School
(in the same building).
Gabrovo has one higher school - Technical
University - Gabrovo. Today, training in it is carried out in three
faculties with 24 departments.
Municipal schools
Vasil Levski
National University
1 "Ran Bosilek" Elementary School
2nd
Elementary School "Neofit Rilski"
3rd Elementary School "Tsanko
Dyustabanov"
4 "Hristo Botev" Elementary School
6 "Ivan Vazov"
elementary school
8 Elementary School "St. St. Cyril and Methodius"
11 RAICHO KAROLEV PRIVATE VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
12SU "Father Paisius"
PMG "Acad. Iv. Guzelev"
Elementary school "Nayden Gerov" - Yavorets
village
Public schools
National April High School
PTG "Dr.
Nikola Vasiliadi"
PG on Tourism "Pencho Semov"
Auxiliary school
"Nikolay St. Palauzov"
Vocational high school for construction
Libraries and archives
Regional Library "Aprilov - Palauzov" -
Gabrovo,
Territorial State Archive - Gabrovo,
Saints of Gabrovo
Saint Damascene of Gabrovsky - is honored on
January 16 according to the BOC calendar
Saint Lazar of Bulgaria
(Debeldyalski) - is honored on April 23 according to the BOC calendar
Saint Onufrius of Gabrovsky - is honored on January 4 according to the
BOC calendar
Holy relics and miraculous icons
In the 13th
century, the holy relics of Saint Paraskeva (Petka) of Epivatska passed
through Gabrovo on their way to Tarnovo, to stay in the Tsarevets temple
specially built for them by Tsar Ivan Asen II in the old capital until
it fell under Ottoman rule.
On November 24 every year, the Holy
Relics of Saint Catherine, Saint Anna and Saint Onuphrius of Gabrovo are
exposed for worship in the Church of the Assumption of the Most Holy
Theotokos.
On September 21 and 22, 2009, the Miraculous icon of the
Most Holy Mother of God Troeruchitsa from the Troyan Monastery visited
the "Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary" church in Gabrovo.
On
October 19, 2009, a part of the relics of Saint Ivan Rila the
Wonderworker, which are kept in Veliko Tarnovo, visited the church "St.
Ivan Rila", Bichkinia district.
Famous people from Gabrovo
Gabrovo is the birthplace of many notable personalities - 26 professors,
17 generals, 12 ministers, 2 voivodes, 2 vice-voivodes, 15 Chetniks, 138
militiamen, 5 first engineers in Bulgaria (mechanical, electrical,
shipbuilding, textile and knitwear).
Vasil Aprilov (1789 – 1847)
and Nikolay Palauzov – founders of the first New Bulgarian school. Vasil
Aprilov was the first ethnographer and numismatist, as well as the first
Bulgarian to study medicine (due to health reasons he interrupted his
studies).
Anastas Stoyanov (1865 – 1898) – Bulgarian public figure
and enlightened activist.
Ivan Kolchev Kalpazanov – founder of modern
industry in Gabrovo and in the newly liberated Principality of Bulgaria
from 1857 to 1882.
Ivan Kolchev Kalpazanov, Petko Tsokev and Vasil
Karagyozov - the creators of the first modern factory in Gabrovo - 1882.
Todor Burmov (1834 – 1906) – the first Prime Minister of Bulgaria.
gen. Konstantin Nikiforov Popkonstantinov (1856 – 1891) – Minister of
War from September 1885 to August 1886.
Major General Nikola Ryaskov
(1856 – 1917) – the creator of the Bulgarian artillery.
Lieutenant
General Hristo Burmov (1869 – 1936) – the first chairman of the Military
Research Institute.
Bogdana Guzeleva-Vulpe - one of the founders of
the Bulgarian opera.
Academician Nikola Mihov - the first and
greatest Bulgarian bibliographer.
Ivan Rodev (1874 – 1934) – the
first Bulgarian shipbuilding engineer and the creator of the Varna
Shipyard.
Dr. Georgi Payakov, (1871 – 1935) – the first Bulgarian
psychiatrist-neurologist.
Lazar Payakov (1860 – 1910), financier,
deputy and minister.
Dr. Andrey Sakhatchiev (1883 – 1947) – the first
radiologist.
Dr. Tota Venkova (1855 – 1921) – the first female doctor
in Bulgaria.
Maria Patruncheva (1874 – 1964) – the first midwife.
Dr. Vera Todorova Pavlova (1912 – 2003) – the first professor of the
history of medicine.
Ivan Gyuzelev (1844 – 1916) – the first
secretary of the Constituent National Assembly, the first mathematician,
physicist and philosopher.
Ivan Metev (1889 – 1913) – the first
textile engineer.
Ivan Manafov (1863 – 1937) – the first mechanical
engineer.
Atanas Ivanov Vasilev (1910 – ?) – the first knitwear
engineer.
Teofana Krill (1931 – 1955) – the first female aviator.
Hristo Vasilev Enev (1868 – 1947) – the first graduate architect who
designed the majority of Bulgarian railway stations.
Racho Genchev
(1873 – 1956) – the first Minister of Public Health.
Emanuil Manolov
(1860 – 1912) – The progenitor of Bulgarian art music.
Bogdana
Guzeleva (1878 - 1932) - the first woman composer.
Elena
Doskova-Ricardi (1898 - 1987) - the first Bulgarian opera singer who
sang in Milan's "Skala".
Neda Fticheva (1881 – 1960) – the first
female violinist.
Hristo Tsokev (1847 – 1883) – the first painter.
Eng. Simeon Nedkov - designed the first cast iron radiators produced in
the "Ivan Nedkov" factory - 1932.
Engineer Tsvetan Nedkov –
constructed the first cotton textile loom produced in the "Ivan Nedkov"
factory.
Kolyu Nenov Kolev (b. 1934) – mining engineer, 20 years
director of "Minproekt" and 6 years deputy. Minister of Energy.
Angel
Rachev Hristov (1889 - 1980) - a famous manufacturer of leather goods in
the 1930s.
Prof. Dimitar Rachev (1930 – 2020) – leading engineer for
implementing the production of electric hoists in Bulgaria.