Stoletov Bulgaria tours to remember
‘And today, every time there’s a storm in the mountain,
The summit recalls this grim day and, recounting
The story, its echoing glory relays
From valley to valley, from age unto age!’ (Ivan Vazov)
Stoletov Bulgaria tours introduces a monument that stays proudly on a peak and reminds the Bulgarians of their glorious past. This monument is Shipka Monument and it is a symbol of the Russo-Turkish War. It speaks of the Liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Empire. The war follows the April Uprising from April 1876. It broke out prematurely and was quickly put down. That didn’t the least discourage the Bulgarians who were, against their will, part of the Ottoman Empire for 500 years. On the contrary, that increased their desire for independence. After the sultan refuses to implement a series of reforms in European Turkey, that were proposed to him, Russia declares a war to the Ottomans.
A hope reborn
That is a hope reborn for the Bulgarians. Stoletov Bulgaria tours, Stoletov Peak remembers the heroism of the Bulgarian and Russian people. Bulgarian volunteers were spies for the Russian fighting forces. They were interpreters, assistants, as well as builders of road army devices. Bulgarians also fought alongside the Russian army. They were part of the epic battle for Shipka Pass, as well.
The battle at Shipka Pass, just like the pass itself, was very strategic and important. It was as well the scene of fierce fighting during that war, Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878).
”….. Our men have no bullets, with bravery girded,
Their bayonets broken, their breasts ever sturdy,
They’re all to a man ready gladly to die ……. Our men have no bullets, with bravery girded, Their bayonets broken, their breasts ever sturdy,
They’re all to a man ready gladly to die ……….. Each stone is a bomb and each tree-trunk a sword is. Each object – a blow, and each soul – flame that sears……….”
The man behind Shipka Monument
Stoletov Bulgaria tours doesn’t forget the man who feared no bad conditions on the peak. The man who was not an engineer but one of the few for the time that could read drawings. The man, Penyo Atanasov – Bombeto (bombe – bowler hat) is the one who gathered a team and built the monument, Shipka Monument. The entrance of the monyment is guarded by a big, bronz and proud lion.
There are interesting stories related to the building of the monument. First of all, the peak is a very cold place. One that hasn’t been on the peak doesn’t know how severe and cold the wind can be there, even in the summer. The construction of Shipka Monument took three years. People worked from early April until the end of October in the years 1928, 1929 and 1930. However, it officially opened in 1934.
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