Apriltsi

Aprilzi (also Apriltsi, Bulgarian Априлци ) is a mountain resort and the administrative center of the homonymous municipality in the Oblast Lovech in northern Bulgaria with around 3000 inhabitants.

Location

The place is located 500-600 m ü.d.M. in the northern part of the Kalofer Mountains, rivers Ostreschka ( Novoselska ) Vidima and Sla Reka. The nearest major cities are Trojan in 25 km to the northwest, Sevlievo 41 km to the northeast and Gabrovo 57 km to the east. Aprilzi consists of the villages of Novo Selo, Vidima, Sla Reka and Ostrets that were once separate villages and thus are quite far apart.

History

In Aprilzi 1812 Einklassenschule and a church already built, opened a secular school in 1850. In 1872, Vasil Levski, a secret revolutionary committee, which was directed against Ottoman rule. Also the area around Aprilzi participated in 1876 on April Uprising ( also Novoselker Uprising ). The Novoselsker Republic was proclaimed that could defend himself for nine days against the superior force of the enemy, before it was bloodily suppressed. There were 150 deaths and numerous exiles. 772 buildings were destroyed or burned, including the girl and the monastery church from the year 1812. In this struggle, the Voivode Zanko Düstabanov, who had come with his band of volunteers from Gabrovo to help the rebels fell. Much of the surviving population was forced to leave the place.

In 1976, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the uprising Novoselker the villages of Novo Selo, Vidima, Sla Reka and Ostrets the city Aprilzi together with Novo Selo was the administrative center. The city's name is derived from the April Uprising. The merger also the importance of the city grew up as a winter resort.

Attractions

The Batoschevski monastery located 20 kilometers northeast of Aprilzi, 4 kilometers south of the village Batoschevo. It was founded in the 13th century during the reign of the Bulgarian Tsar Mikhail Assen. In the 14th century it was destroyed by the intrusion of Ottomans. In 1838 it was rebuilt. The wall paintings date from the year 1869. 's Convent School father Matej have Preobrazhensky ( Mitkaloto ) and Bacho Kiro learned. Of particular interest is the church ( 18th/19th century. ), The icons of masters from Tryavna School and the intricately carved iconostasis in the style of the architecture of the Bulgarian Revival.

From the village Batoschevo ( about 25 km northeast of Aprilzi ) came during the April Uprising, the monument recalls, most volunteers. The monument in Ravni Bunar above Ostrets on the northern slope of the mountain Rusalka, also known as Mara Gidik. Here took place the last battles between the rebels under the leadership of Zanko Djüstabanov and the Turkish prosecutors on May 11, 1876. From Ostrets from a marked trail leads past the monument to the mountain and Rusalka to the hut Tascha. Aprilzi is the starting point for hikes in the beautiful central part of the central Balkan Mountains, the Kaloferski Balkans with its highest mountain, the Botev peak ( 2376m ).

Transport links

There are regular bus service for Trojan, Sevlievo, Gabrovo, Pleven, Lovech and in other places. Within the city center run local lines. The bus station is in Novo Selo. The buses from Sevlievo also keep in Batoschevo and on Batoschevski Monastery.