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Description:

The town of Etropole is situated at the northern foothills of Etropolska Mountain (the most eastern part of Western Stara Planina), along the two banks of Malki Iskar River. It is 87 km north-east of Sofia, 25 km south-east of Botevgrad, 28 km south of Yablanitsa, 43 km south-west of Teteven and 27 km north-west of Zlatitsa.

There was a Thracian and later on a Roman settlement in the area of the nowadays town, the main occupation of its inhabitants being ore mining. In the beginning of 9th century the settlement was within the territory of the Bulgarian State. Thanks to the ore mining it turned into a flourishing settlement in 16th and 17th century (iron, silver and gold were mined). The crafts related there to such as blacksmith, goldsmith, manufacture of knives, weapons, agricultural tools, etc., were also well developed. Some ore-miners came to this place from the Saxon area, Serbia and Bosna (the family names of the Alemans, Avramovs and Bohorovs date back to that period). Coins were minted in Etropole during 17th century. The village was destroyed by a devastating earthquake in 1749, but the bright highlanders quickly restored it. Then the year of 1791 came, when the town was ruined 6 times by the kurdzhalii (Turkish brigands). It was once again recovered and took its deserved place in the countrywide cultural and national uplift during the Revival. A manuscript dating back to 1820 named it "The glorious town of Etro-polia". Today's name of the town probably has a Thracian origin - "etr" meaning "water", i.e. a water field ("pole" - field).

Together with the old church in 1710 a town tower (turned into a clock tower in 1821) was erected, while in 1871 a community cultural centre was built. There the famous Etropole's literary school was established and the proximity of the Etropolski Monastery, only 5 km away from the town, contributed to its sustained development. In 1870 Levski founded a secret revolutionary committee, headed by Todor Peev, one of the brightest leaders of the Revival. The natives of Etropole took part in the Rakovski's Legiya (legion), in the detachments of Hadzhi Dimitur and Stefan Karadzha, of Panayot Hitov, Hristo Makedonski, Hristo Botev. Etropole was liberated on 24th November 1877 by the troops of Gen. Gourko. After the Liberation the town declined. It gradually developed as a tourist centre, taking advantage of the favourable natural resources facilitating this development.

Landmarks: The Town Museum of History (107, Rouski Blvd., tel.: 0720 2124, working hours: - 8.30 a.m. - 12.00 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. - 5.00 p.m.). St. Archangel Mihail Church (in the centre of the town, located at Malki Pazar Square) was first mentioned in 1600, but the present building dates back to 1837, famous with its iconostasis of fine walnut woodcarving. Interesting as well are the Jewish Tower dating back to 14th century and the 20 metres high Defence Turret (Rouski Blvd.). St. George Church (10, Hristo Botev Str.) was erected in the middle of 17th century on the foundations of an old medieval church, completely ruined during the attacks of the kurdzhalii. It was completely built of river stones and pebbles. Twenty-five Revival houses attract the visitors' attention. Beautifully scattered along the river of Malki Iskar, they are distinguished for their exuberant and rich wood-carved ceilings, doors, cupboards, hearth places, columns, etc. The walls are whitewashed and colourfully wood-framed. The most typical houses are the Pavelponchov's, the Hadzhi-grigorov's, the Vulchev's, and the Arnaou-dov's houses.
Memorial monument of the soldiers and volunteers killed during the wars, as well as many other monuments.
Etropole is famous with its unique annually held festivities of the men, living in the houses of their parents-in-law.

ETROPOLE MONASTERY is situated at the foot of the Black Peak of the Balkan mountains (not to be confused with the more pupular Black Peak of the Vitosha mountain), about 5km east of the town of Etropole. It is built over a lime rock, wherefrom its nickname of ‘Varovitets' (Lime Monastery) must come. The surrounding area is perfect for an enjoyable holiday in the open air and a good rest.

About the monastery:
The Etropole monastery has its roots down into the years of the second Bulgarian state. According to the legend, St John of Rila settled in a nearby cave in the area of Varovitets in search of peace and solitude. However, shortly afterwards, the proximity to the town of Etropole convinces him to leave the cave and move to the Rila mountain, far away from laymen's vanity. Nevertheless, the local people of Etropole declared the place holy and laid the foundations of the present-day monastery. During the time of the Ottoman rule in Bulgarian lands, the cloister was abandoned by its monks and left uninhabited for centuries. Yet by the end of the 16th century, it was restored and monks again settled in to transform it into one of the biggest cultural centres of the Bulgarian people. To a large degree, the monastery's prosperity was due to the softer regime of control the town of Etropole was subjected to during Ottoman times, due to its role of a strategic mining centre. The monastery's church "St Trinity" has retained its present-day look since 1858 and currently is considered a remarkable monument of Bulgarian architecture from the time of the Renaissance. It was built by Ivan Boyanin from the Bratsigovo architecture school and represents an imposing cross-like building with five domes. The church's wall paintings were made later, in 1907.