We as Bulgarians, are people who are proud of their history. And as every Bulgarian carries a part of history within himself, every city is full of places that have experienced glorious and stormy periods and bear the memories of the past in itself. And while many places in our country have been established since antiquity, today we will introduce you to the most interesting places in Gabrovo, which have left their mark in more recent history.
 
House of humor and satire

The mandatory entry condition is a wide smile. The House of Humor and Satire is a unique cultural institute. It has a huge artistic fund of humorous and satirical works. Inside, you can learn a lot about the arts, the literature and carnival traditions around the world. Its history is no less interesting. The building was erected on the foundations of an old leather factory on the "lying date" of April 1, 1972, and over the years underwent stormy changes so that today it can proudly carry the traditions of the Bulgarian capital of humor and satire. And since we know you've always wanted to takе a photo with the unique metal figure of a cat with a cut tale, first in our tour of the sights of Gabrovo, we take you to the House of Humor and Satire.

Aprilov High School

The first Bulgarian secular school was opened in Gabrovo and was named after its founder Vasil Aprilov. For the needs of the school, after its opening in 1835, the first textbooks, aids and tools were created, which were considered as a reference by the later Bulgarian schools. In 1872 the Gabrovo school grew into First Bulgarian High School. Today, the high school is still very prestigious and shares its building with the Museum of Education. Its fund preserves the memory of Bulgarian education - about 200,000 documents, photos and materials related to the educational work from the X century to present day. If you want to feel the spirit of the revival, you can also walk among the reenactment of a 19th-century cellar school and kindergarten.

Racho Kovacha Monument

The only monument erected in a river in Bulgaria is that of Racho Kovacha. The legends say that his livelihood has come from Gabrovo, and the town's name comes from the hornbeam tree above his workshop. The bronze statue of Racho is the work of Lyubomir Dalchev. The monument is one of the city's pride and is perceived as a symbol of the struggling and enterprising spirit of the local people.

Church of the Assumption

This masterpiece of revival church architecture is the work of the most famous revival period master Usta Gencho Kanev. He is also the author of the Aprilov High School and several churches in Hungary and Romania. The church was sanctified in 1866 and is one of the first temples in the country with a dome. There are interesting stories about the church, such as the mounting of a bell, forbidden by law in the Turkish time. The natives used the trick and put the bell during the celebrations for Sultan Azis admission to power. The Gabrovians managed to persuade the Ottomans that this was the most solemn way of honoring the new sultan, and so the bell remained in place. The iconostasis is made of lime tree for only 3 years and is a remarkable pattern of post-liberation woodcarving. In the garden next to the church is the chapel of Saint Petka Gabrovska - the spiritual patron of the town, of which the first church in Gabrovo was dedicated.

Dechkova house

And when we talk about places with history, Dechkova House is surely in the top of the list. Built in 1835, it was originally a home of a wealthy Gabrovian, but soon it became a school for half a century. For 36 years, it housed the City Hall, for decades it was a city ambulatory and nearly as much a museum administration. Meanwhile, it is a refugee hospital during the Russo-Turkish Liberation War and the place where one of the country's first Committees of the Bulgarian Red Cross is based. Today is the only preserved residential building, a model of Revival architecture. It hosts the permanent exhibition "Urban life from the end of the 19th century - 40 years of XX century".

Clocktower

The 28-meter high tower is one of the brilliant cultural sights in Gabrovo and measures the time from 1835. Its clock mechanism is handmade by the local master, Ivan Sahatchiyata. And the bell of the majestic tower was made in Vienna. Built near the market place, it now adds a special presence in the central part of the city. At the base of the tower, just below the city's coat of arms, there is a working drinking fountain.