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36-681: The Aprilov National High School (Национална Априловска гимназия) in Gabrovo is the first modern secular school in Bulgaria . It was opened on 2 January 1835, when Bulgaria was still part of the Ottoman Empire , with the financial help of Vasil Aprilov , Nikolay Palauzov , Vasil Rasheev and other wealthy Bulgarians and was based on the Bell-Lancaster method . Formed as the Gabrovo School , it took

72-400: A collection of short stories, Bay Ganyo (translating to uncle Ganyo), describes the travels of an itinerant peddler of rose oil and rugs through Western Europe. Though impertinent and clumsy, Bay Ganyo proves to be ingenious and is considered by some scholars to be a mirror for a modernizing Bulgaria. The character is believed to be based on a Karlovo tradesman, Ganyo Somov. Konstantinov,

108-614: A cosmopolitan traveler, was the first Bulgarian to write about his visits to Western Europe and America. His visits to the World Exhibitions in Paris in 1889, Prague in 1891 and Chicago in 1893 – including a visit to Niagara Falls – provided Bulgarian readers, who had recently gained independence from nearly 500 years of Turkish Ottoman oppression, with a portrait of the developed world. To Chicago and Back (where Bay Ganyo appears again), his travel notes from his American trip, spurred

144-612: A cultural institute, a centre, museum and gallery to popularise comic art. There is a cinema, Aleko Cinema, and museums and memorial houses in the town and around it, most notably the Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex and the National Museum of Education at the Aprilov National High School . On a Saturday around the week of May 21, Gabrovo hosts an annual Carnival of Humor and Satire with

180-704: A lasting interest in Chicago, which today boasts the largest concentration of Bulgarian immigrants in the United States. There is a bust of the writer in the University of Chicago 's Regenstein Library and a section of Irving Park Road in Chicago is named after him. He was assassinated in 1897 near Radilovo while traveling to Peshtera , most likely by mistake with the intended target being his friend (a local politician), with whom he had changed places in their coach shortly before

216-633: Is in operation. Places of interest in Gabrovo include the House of Humour and Satire and Aprilov National High School . In Gabrovo Province sites include architectural reserve Bozhentsi . Hiking is widely available in the Central Balkan National Park and in the Bulgarka Nature Park , itself home to Ethnographic Complex Etara , Dryanovo Monastery , Sokolski Monastery , Shipka Pass , and

252-510: Is located near the town. According to the most widespread legend , Gabrovo was founded by a blacksmith named Racho, close to whose fireplace a hornbeam rose, so the settlement acquired its name, from the Slavic word gabar (" hornbeam ") + the Slavic suffix -ovo . The area around Gabrovo, inhabited since the Neolithic , gained economic importance after Veliko Tarnovo became capital of

288-493: Is ranked among the most elite secondary schools in Bulgaria. Currently, it enrolls students in 3 language and 2 humanitarian classes. The main foreign languages studied are English and German , and in addition to them, French and Spanish are taught as second languages. The humanitarian profiles are Bulgarian language and literature and history . Many specialized and extracurricular forms of education are also offered. Over

324-511: The Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878, Gabrovo developed as a centre of industry on the basis of its economic traditions. Joint-stock companies emerged, factories were constructed and connections to the large stock exchanges were created, prompting some to label the town "The Bulgarian Manchester ". Gabrovo saw its most rapid growth in the post- World War II years, when its population was doubled. Following general population trends in Bulgaria,

360-419: The Liberation of Bulgaria in 1880–1881, when its middle part was finished and a number of structural improvements were made. However, on August 26, 1873 the high school moved to a new place and thus became the first school to have its own, specially built building. The class of 1873 was the first complete class to graduate from the school. The inherited tradition, the good teachers and the material base enabled

396-682: The Second Bulgarian Empire in the 12th century. Craftsmanship and trade prospered due to the proximity to both the capital and the Balkan passes. Medieval Gabrovo was a small pass village of about 100 houses. After the Ottoman invasion of the Balkans in the 14th century, the demographic position of Gabrovo changed significantly, as it was the only settlement in a considerably large geographic area and an attractive place for Bulgarians fleeing from

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432-599: The Uzana area. For admirers of historical tourism Shipka Memorial is a must-see. Gabrovo is member of the Creative Tourism Network ®. A minor planet 2206 Gabrova discovered on April 1, 1976, by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh is named in honor of the town. Gabrovo Knoll on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands , Antarctica is named after Gabrovo. Gabrovo has one of

468-528: The biggest technical universities in Bulgaria , the Technical University of Gabrovo . The technical university in Gabrovo opened in 1964. The idea for the university came from the 1840s. Today the university has about 5400 students; around 60 of them are from other countries. Gabrovo is twinned with: Aleko Konstantinov Aleko Konstantinov ( Bulgarian : Алеко Константинов ) (1 January 1863 – 11 May 1897) ( NS : 13 January 1863 – 23 May 1897)

504-538: The central Balkan Mountains , in the valley of the Yantra River , and is known as an international capital of humour and satire (see Gabrovo humour ), as well as noted for its Bulgarian National Revival architecture . Gabrovo is also known as the longest town in Bulgaria, stretching over 25 km along the Yantra, yet reaching only 1 km (0.6 mi) in width at places. The geographic center of Bulgaria - Uzana -

540-559: The city center, which for the previous few decades housed the National Museum of Education, founded in 1973. On February 9, 1998, the President Petar Stoyanov together with the mayor Nikolay Dachev inaugurated the renovated historical building of the Aprilov High School. This happened after a 25-year interruption of school activities in this building. From 1992 to 1996 the two institutions were administratively merged under

576-448: The conquered capital and neighbouring fortresses. It turned from a village into a small town ( palanka ) and began to develop as an economic, cultural and spiritual centre. During Ottoman rule , the rich tradesmen spent plenty of resources for the small town's public planning. The first Bulgarian secular school, the Aprilov National High School , was founded in Gabrovo in 1835 with the aid of Vasil Aprilov and Nikolay Palauzov . Gabrovo

612-401: The days of culture end with the graduation of 12th grade students. The initiative "Aprilovtsi return" is a continuation of the idea that arose on the occasion of the 180th anniversary of the Aprilov High School, to organize an annual Alumni Ball, which will meet the past and present of the high school through informal, festive, creative and working meetings of graduates from different grades of

648-418: The fatal shot. However, there exists also a version that his essays, exposing the hidden insidious intentions of the rulers of his day, led to his assassination. Aleko Konstantinov is believed to have initiated the tourist movement in Bulgaria. Two of Vitosha 's hotels are named after him – "Aleko" and "Shtastlivetsa" ("The Happy Man", the nickname he gave to himself in one of his short stories). Konstantinov

684-676: The ideologue of modern Bulgarian education Vasil Aprilov . The high school grew on the basis of the Gabrovo Mutual School, opened on the initiative of Aprilov and the Odessa circle of Bulgarians in 1835. The school is the first modern Bulgarian secular school and gave impetus to the opening of similar schools in other cities in the Bulgarian lands. Its graduates are some of the most prominent Revival educators such as Neofit Rilski , Joseph Kovachev, Kalist Lukov, Tsvetan Semerdzhiev, etc. The school

720-494: The latest 2011 census data, the individuals declared their ethnic identity were distributed as follows: Total: 58,950 The ethnic composition of Gabrovo Municipality is 60,207 Bulgarians, 504 Turks and 367 Roma among others. Internationally known as a centre of humour and satire , Gabrovo has two theatres, the Racho Stoyanov Drama Theatre and the puppet theatre, a House of Humour and Satire that serves as

756-402: The leading Bulgarian intellectuals and public figures such as Aleko Konstantinov , Nikola Mihov , Stoyan Romanski , Anastas Ishirkov , Petko Staynov and others. As early as September, 1916, the high school became mixed. In the years after September 9, 1944, the school retained its leading place in the Bulgarian educational system. It changed its educational profile several times. In 1988,

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792-470: The masonry on the first floor was made by an unknown master; in 1872–1873, the building was completed by Usta Gencho Kanev from Tryavna . It was built in a way that was similar to the building of the Richelieu Lyceum in Odessa . It was located, according to the then framework of the city, on its outskirts, in one of the "most wholesome" and "most hygienic” places. The building was finally completed after

828-501: The name National Aprilov High School with a museum of education. This merger has been terminated. The museum is still housed in the west wing of the same building. On the occasion of the 175th anniversary of its founding in 2010, the school received the badge of honor of the President Georgi Parvanov "for the continuation of the national educational tradition and for remarkable achievements in modern education". The school

864-474: The name of its primary benefactor, Vasil Aprilov, in 1889. The school still exists today, having returned to its historic building in 1992 and it is one of the most prestigious high schools in Bulgaria. The April High School was established during the Bulgarian Renaissance as the first Bulgarian high school. Its origins and development are inextricably linked with the ideas, activities and generosity of

900-428: The next educational level - a class school. Only 10 years later, in 1867, the teacher Yosif Kovachev introduced the teaching of the "sound method" for the first time. Meanwhile, the construction of a special school building was in progress. During his visit to Gabrovo in the summer of 1847, Vasil Aprilov opened a subscription list to raise funds for the construction. The building was built in several stages: in 1847–1851,

936-416: The number of citizens started declining after the fall of Communism in the country. People started emigrating abroad or to the capital of Sofia . Currently, Gabrovo is more than 30,000 people short of its peak, achieved in the period 1985-1991 when the number of the residents exceeded 80,000. According to Census 2011, as of February 2011 , the population of the town was 58,950 inhabitants. According to

972-610: The program with the aim that the foreign language profile is strengthened. In 1992, after its transformation into a state school, it received its current name, the National Aprilov High School. At that time the Aprilov High School was housed in the building of the Mathematical High School. In 1996, a decision was made by the Gabrovo Municipal Council to return the school to its historic building in

1008-400: The school acquired a new status, becoming a high school with a humanitarian profile, which studies subjects such as literature , history , philosophy and arts . Initially, the program contained elements of classical education such as the study of Old Bulgarian and Latin , the history of culture and the history of philosophy. A few years later, the study of ancient languages dropped out of

1044-571: The school they expand their pedagogical experience and had the opportunity to implement new educational ideas. Some of them were authors and translators of text- and handbooks. The high school drew students from all over Bulgaria. According to data for the first four school years after the Liberation, it was the largest secondary school in the country. More than 183 of the students came from lands outside of Bulgaria's borders, from Macedonia and Western Thrace to Romania . Among its graduates are some of

1080-560: The school to keep its position as one of the most elite in the country even after the Liberation. On August 12, 1878, the high school was declared state-owned . A little later, on July 20, 1889, on the occasion of the solemn celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Vasil Aprilov, it adopted the name "State Men's Aprilov High School". The school's staff consisted of prominent pedagogues, specialists and public figures such as Trayko Kitanchev , Tsvetan Radoslavov , Evtim Dabev, Ivan Urumov, Stanimir Stanimirov, Sava Sirmanov and others. At

1116-399: The school. Successful and accomplished students of the Aprilov High School return to tell about their path, the meaning of what they have achieved and the effort they have put into their careers. Gabrovo Gabrovo ( Bulgarian : Габрово [ˈɡabrovo] ) is a city in central northern Bulgaria , the administrative centre of Gabrovo Province . It is situated at the foot of

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1152-424: The slogan in Bulgarian “Da izkukurigame ot smyah” (translating to "Let`s go nuts from laughter"). On the day of the carnival, the streets of Gabrovo town are overflowing with fun characters like masked musketeers, bullfighters, shamans, gypsies, and much more. The carnival is also popular for its use of traditional Balkan songs, folklore choreography, and a rich display of Gabrovo humour and culture. A planetarium

1188-495: The years, graduates of the school have been winners of national and international student competitions. According to data, 95% of the school's graduates continue their education in universities. Since the early 1990s, the school has been the organizer of the April Days of Culture, which are held annually in the second half of May. The event includes student seminars, theater performances, concerts and literary readings. Traditionally,

1224-645: Was a Bulgarian writer, best known for his character Bay Ganyo , one of the most popular characters in Bulgarian fiction. Born to an affluent trader in the Danube River town of Svishtov , he attended the Faculty of Law of Odessa University (formerly the Imperial Novorossiya University), graduating in 1885. He worked as a lawyer in Sofia before embarking on a career as a writer. His first novel, organized as

1260-619: Was officially proclaimed a town by the Ottoman authority in May 1860. In the 1870s Felix Kanitz said that Gabrovo is "a big workshop" and that it is a "city that lives from the water," referring to widely used water power. The glory of the goods of Gabrovo became known throughout the Ottoman Empire, and beyond that, in Bucharest even nowadays there is a street named "Gabroveni". Shortly before and after

1296-401: Was public and free for children from all over the country. With the help and donation of Vasil Aprilov and his closest associate and supporter Nikolay Palauzov , on April 24, 1840, the first public school library was established. In 1857, another prominent Revival activist, a graduate of the school and an Aprilov scholarship holder, Todor Burmov , reformed the curricula and the school moved into

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