This central Bulgarian town along the Yantra River is known for its humor and cultural landmarks, including the 13th-century Dryanovo Monastery and the Etara artisan village.
Gabrovo stretches for 25 kilometers along the Yantra River in central Bulgaria, making it the country's longest city. Walk through the Etar Ethnographic Complex to watch craftsmen forge metal tools and shape clay pots, visit the House of Humour and Satire to learn why locals cut their cats' tails to save on heating, or hike the beech forests of Central Balkan National Park where marked trails lead to mountain peaks and centuries-old monasteries.
Getting to Gabrovo
The city lies at the intersection of two major Bulgarian highways, including the E-85 European transport corridor. Buses run daily between Gabrovo and Sofia (4 hours), Plovdiv (3 hours), and Varna (5 hours). To reach Gabrovo from abroad, take a bus or train from Sofia, Plovdiv, or Varna airports. In the city, you'll find 11 bus lines, four trolley lines, and five minibus routes connecting all neighborhoods.
The City's Humor Museums and Festivals
The House of Humour and Satire opened on April Fool's Day 1972, filling its halls with art collections and exhibits about local comedy. You'll find cartoons and artworks poking fun at Gabrovo residents' famous penny-pinching ways, like cutting their cats' tails so they can close doors faster and save on heating. During the May Carnival of Humor and Satire, masked performers fill the streets while folk musicians play traditional songs throughout the city center.
Craftsmen at Work in Etar
At the Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex, 8 kilometers from downtown, craftsmen work as they did 200 years ago. You can watch blacksmiths hammer red-hot metal into tools, potters shape clay on wooden wheels, and woodcarvers create spoons and bowls using traditional techniques. Stop for Bulgarian coffee at the complex's café or try fresh-baked local pastries and Turkish delight at the on-site bakery.
Hiking and Winter Sports
Central Balkan National Park's trails start right from Gabrovo, winding through beech forests and mountain meadows. The Uzana area, 25 kilometers away, has several ski runs operating from December to March, while summer brings hikers to its mountain paths. In Bulgarka Nature Park, walking routes connect the stone-built Sokolski Monastery to the Dryanovo Monastery by the Yantra River.
Historical Monuments and Villages
The 31.5-meter-high Shipka Memorial stands at Shipka Pass, marking battles from the 1877-78 Russo-Turkish War. In Bozhentsi village, stone houses from the 1800s line narrow cobblestone streets, preserved exactly as they were when merchant families lived here during the Bulgarian Revival period. The Sokolski Monastery, perched on a cliff above Voditsi village, became a meeting point for revolutionaries during the 1876 uprising against Ottoman rule.
