Botevgrad

Location: Botevgrad is located 350 mabove the sea level in Botevgrad valley (the western aprt of the Blakan mountain range), on the banks of the Stara river. The town is situated just 63 km northwest of Sofia and 53 km southeast of Vratsa.
Botevgard spreads on an important crossroad, nearby te Vitinya pass, conecting North and Southern Bulgaria.

Botevgrad is named after the revolutionary poet Hristo Botev.

Relief: The relief in Botevgrad region is distinct with exceptional diversity. The municipality is located throughout parts of the Botevgrad valley, the Botevgrad Balkans and а part of the Stara Planina mountain range, which includes Ruzhana, Goliama Planina, Myrgaw and Bilo.

History: The first historical data regarding the settlement in the region of Botevgrad dates back to the 1st-3rd century. Traces of Roman and Thraecian artifacts suggest a Greek past, which, until now, remained a great mystery. During medieval centuries, a settlement arose with the name “Zelin” which was found 3 km south of the present day location of the city.
The last stronghold of the 2nd Bulgarian kingdom was found not far from Botevgrad-“Stronghold Urvitch”, in which the only preserved medieval Bulgarian inscription devoted to the last battle of the czar Ivan Shishman exists.

Later, during the 2nd half of the 8th century, the settlement of Zelin declined and the people migrated towards the valley where they established another settlement called Samyndjieto. And on 3/23/1866, an announcement was made and an administrative settlement for the district was created with the new name of Orhanie.

Tourism sites:
Historical Museum: The museum has been in operation in Botevgrad dating back to 1927 when the first archaeological collection was displayed at Hristo Botev Reading Club (“chitalishteh”). The so-called Chitalishtes sprang up in nearly every town in the early 1800’s and provided a communal forum for cultural and social activities. The museum was opened to the public on the 13th of Feb., 1952. Its prize exhibit was a fourteenth-century Bulgarian inscription found among the ruins of the Bodjenitsa Urvich fortress. The museum photos, documents, exhibits have been collected for decades and are presented in several displays. The last one includes archaeological, ethnographic and history pieces. Except for the museum the building houses the Town Art Gallery, which has more than 12, 000 units, some of which are of national importance.

Culture House “Hristo Botev": Founded more than 120 years ago, the culture house in Botevgrad has experienced and endured prosperous as well as hard times throughout its history. Now its activities are plentiful and various: traditional work, children’s music school with classes for piano, accordion and wind instruments. In addition, the culture house has: mixed choir, children’s choir, student’s instrument orchestra, 5 folklore dance formations. During the last year, the dance groups were guests in a number of European countries. During the 1930’s, a favorite theater was created, which allows for the creation of artistic and delightful productions.