In my previous posting I covered some new and really off the beaten track places in Bulgaria – where you can find good opportunities for true mountain biking — after all the Balkan range offers great nature views and pretty challenging or mellow roads for your biking adventures.
In this posting I will bring you — via some photos — to the town (or may be village — it is a very small town) of Koprivshtitsa — in the Sredna Gora (Middle Forrest – literal translation) mountain near the Balkan range as well. The town was founded a few years after Bulgaria fell under the Ottoman empire rule – as the legend goes by rebelious Bulgarians who determined that its location will give them some level of minimal independence.
The local folks continued to strive for independence and became strong supporters of a movement to start a rebelion which culminated in the Aprilsko Vqstanie (April Rebelion) of April 1876 which started in Koprivshtitsa and continued in a number of towns in South / Central B ulgaria. The uprising was put down severely which in turn gave the impetus for the Russian – Turkish war of 1877-1878 which ultimately brought to the independence of Bulgaria.
Koprivshtitsa with its tradition of wealth and independence managed to maintain a nice mix of old Bulgarian architecture. Thus a visit to the town can both allow you to do some nice bicycling in the hills around the town as well as visit many old / traditional houses and learn more about the architecture.
Here are some photos from our trip there earlier in August this year:
A Nice Small Town in Sredna Gora Koprivshtitsa – worth visiting
Old Bridge in Koprivshtitsa град Копривщица
град Копривщица – Church град Копривщица – old Church
град Копривщица – Church град Копривщица
If you come here in the summer, just a bike ride through the cobbled streets of the town will be enough of an exercise — I would think…. Next time we are doing that !
A quick map courtesy of Google Maps:
Enjoy the trip!