You are currently driving through the geographical center of the country where the roads climb into the clouds. The Gabrovo province is most famous for the **Shipka Pass** which connects the north and south through the Balkan mountains. You can park your car at the base of the peak and climb the stone steps to the massive Liberty Memorial. From the top you get a panoramic view of the rose valleys and the rugged ridges that defined the history of the nation. It is a powerful place to stop and look at the path you have just traveled. Head toward the city of **Gabrovo** to visit the Etar Open Air Museum which is a perfect stop for families. This village is built along a rushing stream and features water-powered workshops from the past centuries. You can watch local craftsmen make wooden bowls and silver jewelry right in front of you. The smells of fresh baked bread and roasted coffee fill the air as you walk along the cobblestone paths. It is a living history book where you can see how people lived before the age of factories. The drive continues to the mountain village of **Bozhentsi** which is an architectural reserve tucked away in the woods. The white houses with stone-slab roofs look like they have not changed in two hundred years. You can leave the car at the entrance and wander through the quiet streets to find a traditional tavern. The area is known for its peaceful atmosphere and the dark forests that surround the valley. This is the best place to end a long day of driving through the central mountains.

Gabrovo (province) highlights

Part of these road trips

Follow the routes that cross this destination

The Scenic Route

The Heritage Drive

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History of Gabrovo (province)

Gabrovo is the industrial forge of Bulgaria. In the 19th century, the province was dubbed the **Manchester of the Balkans** because of its massive production of textiles and leather. The geography of the mountains steep slopes and fast flowing rivers was harnessed at the **Etar**, where waterwheels powered everything from saws to jewelry lathes. This spirit of innovation and **Gabrovo Frugality** became the basis for the country first modern schools and factories. The province history reached a bloody climax at the **Shipka Pass** in 1877. A few thousand Bulgarian volunteers and Russian troops held the ridge against a 30,000 strong Ottoman army in a brutal three day battle. The **Shipka Epic** is the foundational myth of modern Bulgaria; without this defense, the liberation of the country would have likely failed. The 32 meter stone monument at the summit is a site of national pilgrimage. A road trip through Gabrovo leads to **Bozhentsi**, a 600 year old village where time stopped. Founded by a noblewoman fleeing the fall of Veliko Tarnovo, its stone roofed houses are perfectly preserved. Between the wood carving traditions of **Tryavna** and the **Sokolski Monastery** perched on a cliff, the province is a showcase of the National Revival era, where the tenacity of the mountain people built the economic foundation of a new nation.

Gabrovo (province)