Location: 15 Opalchenska St. (6th District, in front of the Tourist Information Center and the “Stranopriemnitsata” Restaurant)

This is the oldest surviving fountain in Gabrovo today. Built in 1762 by Krustyu Aprilov, a relative of the philanthropist Vasil Aprilov, it was originally a corner, double-faced fountain integrated into a fence, but has since been converted into a freestanding structure. Relatively small and constructed from several sandstone slabs, the fountain is richly decorated on both sides. On the main side, two arches and two doves are carved and placed asymmetrically on the cornice. One five-petaled and three six-petaled rosettes, along with two recessed rectangles bearing crosses above the rosettes on either side of the inscription, complete the sculptural decoration. Beneath the cornice is the inscription “This fountain was built by Hadji Krustyu Aprilov in 1762.” On the side face, beneath the arch, a double-headed eagle is sculpted centrally, with a cross above it; on the cornice, a dove spreads its wings asymmetrically.

There are three spouts—two on the main face and one on the side face—all cast in bronze.

Location: at the corner of Pencho Slaveykov Street and Marin Drinov Street

The most famous well in Gabrovo is shaped like a fountain with a towering superstructure of dressed stone, featuring a hipped roof and a stone platform surrounded by a stone wall for seating. Its facade features arched niches and two round openings. The well, which to this day gives its name to the neighborhood where it is located, was dug in 1871. Its name derives from the female name Guna, and a legend about a romantic love story between the beautiful Guna and a Romani blacksmith was recorded by local historian Il. Gabrovski. We can see what Gunin’s Well originally looked like in the album by architect N. Yamantiev.

Location: 33 Nikolaevska St. (the small park with the monument to Ran Bosilek)

The beautiful stone fountain, built in 1847, still stands today in the old Grain Market. According to some authors, the fountain was donated by a certain Kircho, who lived in this neighborhood, as indicated by the inscription on the fountain’s main face, which reads: “On the 5th day of June in the summer of 1847, this fountain was built at the expense of Kircho of this neighborhood.” Architecturally, the fountain serves as a focal point of the square and defines the center of the neighborhood. It is freestanding, with three facades, each featuring a single spout. A distinctive feature of this fountain’s arches is their pointed tops, which reflect Arab influence. The arches are connected by several curves, which adds an additional decorative effect. On the main facade, three six-petaled rosettes are carved in a circle, centered between the arches at both ends. Above them, beneath the cornice, is a carved inscription, symmetrically divided by a large standing cross. In the center of the cornice, as with other fountains in Gabrovo, a dove spreads its wings. An interesting and perhaps unique feature of Gabrovo’s fountains is the planting of flowers on their roofs. The side panels have the same design, but instead of an inscription, there are crosses centered beneath the cornice.

The spouts were made of bronze, cast with handles and without additional decorations.

Today, the fountain stands in its original location, and a small garden has been laid out around it, featuring a monument to the writer Ran Bosilek, whose birthplace was nearby.

Location: the garden between the “Aprlov-Palauzov” Regional Library and the “Aprlov-Palauzov” Community Center

The convent fountain is the only surviving element of the architectural complex of the “Holy Annunciation” Convent. After its construction, the convent had no water source of its own, and the nuns had to fetch water from the Gruncharska Fountain, where all sorts of people gathered. The wealthy merchant and generous benefactor Dianko Iliev Vidinliev saw this and remarked that “it was very improper for the nuns to go to the fountain and hear the apprentices cursing each other. … The best thing would be to bring water to the convent. I will take care of this matter…. And in no time at all, he kept his word and installed four water spouts at the nuns’ monastery, at a cost of no less than 300 lira.” —writes Dimitar Donchev Vidinliev, the donor’s cousin and a witness to the event, in his memoirs.

The fountain was erected in 1864 by an unknown stonemason and, in terms of its dimensions and architecture, closely resembles the one at the Grain Market. According to some researchers, the form and sculptural decoration of the fountain at the Convent of the Virgin Mary have been brought to perfection.

Location: “Sazaklyatie” Street

The fountain is located on “Sazaklyatie” Street, at the northwest corner of the House of Culture. The design for the fountain, featuring a large sculptural lion figure, was created by architect Karl Kandulkov and completed in 1968; the sculptors were Georgi Kotsov and Boris Kadiyski.

Location: 1 “First of May” Square

The fountain at the clock tower was corner-shaped, extending across parts of the tower’s two adjacent sides—the south and west—with two spouts on each side. Dr. K. Vaptsov writes: “On the south and west sides of the clock tower there were fountains with fully functioning spouts and stone troughs, in which the coachmen from the inns and the cart drivers watered their horses, and from which, during the summer droughts, a large portion of the citizens drew water when our neighborhood spouts and wells ran dry.”

The fountain at the city clock has been demolished, but on the western side, low to the road surface, a new one has been built—its spout emerges from the mouth of a sculpted lion’s head.

Start your walk from the heart of Gabrovo – the “Igo” Bridge, often called “Racho Kovacha”. This is the site of the oldest stone bridge in Gabrovo – the Konashka Bridge, built before the end of the 18th century at the Gramadata rocks, it has survived fires, floods and explosions… and still it has stood! It is an important part of modern life with the annual throwing of the cross on St. Jordan’s Day and the baptism of water in Gabrovo.

Construction of the new Igo Bridge began in 1935 and was necessitated by the need to replace the old bridge, which was inconvenient for modern transport.

Halfway across the river, you’ll see the monument to Racho Kovacs, the founder of Gabrovo – one of the city’s most photographed and beloved oddities. The locals adorn him with wreaths, a red sash and a cap on holidays because he, too, must “understand that it is a holiday.”

The founder’s monument is part of a sculptural composition decorating three sides of the bridge. The sculptural figures “Bulgaria in Chains” (female figure), “The Chain is Broken” (male figure) and “The Invincible Bulgarian Spirit” (lion figure) from the bridge “The Igo” were created by prof. Lyubomir Dalchev, brother of the famous Bulgarian poet Atanas Dalchev.

You can read more about the history of the Konashka Bridge in the article by Ivan Postompirov – Chief Curator at the Gabrovo Regional Museum.

It was built right at the confluence of the r. It is located right on the confluence of the Sinkevitsa River and the Lion River. Yantra. High on its columns of white Vratsa stone stand four lions holding shields with one of the symbols of the town – the sign of water with the water wheel driven by it, the anvil of Racho Kovacha and the book indicating Gabrovo as the cradle of Bulgarian education. Because of the columns with the lions it was named “The Bridge with the Lions”.

Two bridges rise a metre from each other over the river Baev. Yantra – the old and the new Baev Bridge, also called “the double bridge”. Baev Bridge is one of the few preserved Renaissance architectural monuments in Gabrovo. Its name comes from the personal name of the owner of a mill that existed in the past – Bayo Dermendzhijata. The story of the construction of the old bridge with money donated by the Sultan Abdul Majid himself in 1846 is also interesting. He authorized and financed the construction of a stone bridge in the settlement, which is reminded today by the marble inscription in the middle of the southern railing of the bridge.

In 1962-1963 a new bridge was built parallel to the old Baev Bridge. Designs were made for four sculptural compositions on the theme of the Revival. In 1968, three of them were placed on the bridge – these are the figures “Apriltsi” (participants in the April Uprising), “The Wounded Insurgent” and “The Schoolwork in Gabrovo”.

Today, pedestrians enjoy the authentic beauty of the bridge while cars pass over the new one. The two bridges thus not only connect, but also coexist in harmony between past and present.

If you continue north you will reach the Shivarov Bridge, which leads to the Balkan. It bears the name of the once existing tavern of the fighter Dimitar Shivarov, but it is also linked to the heroic figure of Captain Grandfather Nikola, who raised the standard against the Ottoman rule right next to this bridge.

On August 1, every year, a celebration was held here in his memory, and every hostess cooked “captain chushnik” – lean stuffed peppers, which became a symbolic dish of the day.

The old Shivarov Bridge no longer exists. A new one was built in its place in 1967. Due to its proximity to the Hristo Botev Stadium, it was architecturally shaped as a bridge of sports by the sculptures of prof. Ilia Iliev, Dimitar Dimitrov and Boris Gondov.

The third bridge over the r. Sinkevitsa, which deserves to be mentioned, is the Borovskiy or “Bridge of Arts”. It has been connecting the Borovo neighbourhood with the centre of Gabrovo for ages. This place used to be the cemetery during the plague epidemic and camps for the sick. Several Russian officers and soldiers were buried there during the Liberation War, a modest monument was made to Nikola Voinovski – the standard bearer of Hristo Botev’s Chetta and a monumental monument to Chardaphon the Great.

Later, when the new bridge was built, it was christened “Bridge of Arts” because of its proximity to the House of Culture and the Summer Theatre. The sculptor Velichko Minekov made the four white stone figures – the Muse of Music, the Actor with Mask in Hand (Theatre), the Two Dancing Maidens (Handmaiden) and the Fertility.

The walk will take you to a bridge that tells stories through the sculptural compositions Textile Workers, Leather Workers, Potters and Builders – these are the crafts that built old Gabrovo. It is located above the r. Sinkevitsa, not on the r. In its older form it was.

the “Bridge of Crafts” in its present form was built in 1963 and is located next to the Drama Theatre. It is a wonderful place for photographs and reflection on the industriousness of the people of this region.

The latest addition to Gabrovo’s famous bridges was completed in 2018 and jokingly named by Gabrovo residents – the Curly Bridge, because of its specific shape. The bridge is a pedestrian bridge and is located between the Igo Bridge and the Humour Bridge. It connects the two riverside areas, which offer places for recreation and playgrounds for outdoor sports. Its modern look is enhanced by the decorative LED lighting that impresses visitors and residents in the evening.

Next to the famous Museum of Humour and Satire is the Bridge of Humour, known to older Gabrovians as the Padalas Bridge. Sultan Abdul Majid again gave permission for its construction, but Gabrovo residents built it with their own funds.

After the big flood in the 1990s the old bridge was damaged, which led to the construction of a new one. Today it continues the tradition of welcoming everyone with a smile, especially in May when the town celebrates with carnival, laughter and fun.