Rural Holiday Bulgaria
The Awesome Shipka Pass
Bulgarian Shipchenski Prokhod
Shipka Pass in the Balkan Mountains, Bulgaria. [Credit: Aleksandr Sergeyevich
Sigachev]pass in the Balkan Mountains, Bulgaria. Situated on the main road from Ruse
on the Danube River through Stara Zagora to Edirne (Adrianople) in Turkey, it was a
strategically important pass and was the scene of fierce fighting during the
Russo-Turkish War (1877–78). The pass was originally held by a Turkish force of 4,000
men, but the Russian general I.V. Gurko seized it by surprise in July 1877. In
response, the Turkish general Süleyman Paşa attacked Shipka in August. The Russian
force there, which included 7,500 Bulgarian volunteers, held the position against
Süleyman’s 30,000
Introducing Shipka Pass
The tiny mountain village of Shipka, impressively set in the foothills of steep mountains, is most famous for its proximity to the famous Shipka Pass. This, the one good route through the Stara Planina, was the site of one of the most decisive battles of the Russo-Turkish War to liberate Bulgaria from Ottoman rule. Aside from the bucolic peacefulness of the very sleepy village, the exquisite Shipka Monastery with its golden dome, and the Freedom Monument (dedicated to the soldiers who died fighting the Turks) makes this a great day trip from Kazanlâk. While this can be accomplished most easily by car, it’s perfectly feasible to use buses – which will bring you up close and personal with amiable village locals, returning from town with their bags bulging with the day’s shopping.
King Seutus III Burial Tomb
Shipka is now also world-famous for some amazing archaeological remains found here. In 2004, a 2400-year-old burial shrine for Thracian King Seutus III was uncovered nearby, containing vast amounts of Thracian gold and a unique golden mask. The site is still being excavated, while at the time of writing the loot had been triumphantly sent on tour to various world museums. While tourists can still see the physical remains of the tomb, the immense value of the gold means that its permanent residence will be in Sofia, where, even Shipka locals admit, it can be better safeguarded and preserved.
Cannons Remembering the Battles
Views from Mount Shipka
Rural Holiday Bulgaria from Bulgarian Adventures
Bulgarian Adventures can provide Holiday Accommodation, Airport Pickup, Welcome packs, guides and information for its Rural Holiday Bulgaria.
It does not arrange flights but every effort is made within this site to help you
find the cheapest flights available from as many locations as possible within the UK.
Every effort will be made to enable you to have a trouble free, relaxing Rural Holiday in Bulgaria
