Sevlievo is a municipality in Gabrovo Province, Bulgaria. Among its notable historical sites is Hotalich: the medieval town stood in the western part of the Sevlievo Mountains at Krushevski Bair, where the Rositsa River enters a picturesque gorge. Here, landscapes meet the traces of a fortified town.
Hotalich: Citadel and Lower Town
Hotalich developed into a large medieval Bulgarian town, divided into a heavily fortified citadel and a lower town of approximately 45 decares with three churches. The citadel itself covers 15 decares. Several hundred metres of defensive walls, five gates, defensive towers, a boyar church and a boyar residence are part of its layout. The comparison in size makes the town’s layout clear: the lower town covered a larger area than the fortified core.
The landscape is also part of the site’s appeal. Visitors can make use of picnic areas, ecological trails and viewing platforms. From the platforms, the view stretches across the Sevlievo Plain towards Botev Peak. Hotalich has been designated a national cultural monument since 1994; in 2024, it was added to Bulgaria’s list of 100 National Tourist Sites.
Museums and Houses Tell Different Stories
The permanent exhibitions at Hadzhistoyanovo School focus on archaeology and the Sevlievo region during the Bulgarian National Revival. The Sevlievo History Museum brings together nearly 50,000 objects in departments covering archaeology, the National Revival, modern history, ethnography and art. Check current opening hours and visitor arrangements before your visit.
At the Museum of Contemporary Art, historic architecture meets contemporary art: established in 2017 in a protected school building dating from 1885, the museum displays works by contemporary Bulgarian artists. Dandolovi Houses offers a different view of local life. The exhibition features Sevlievo costumes, National Revival interiors, urban furniture and clothing belonging to affluent local families. The three interconnected houses were built in 1870; each had its own shop and access to a shared courtyard.
The Tabahana Museum focuses on the Tabashki craft and shows the individual stages involved in processing raw hides. In Dan Kolov’s native village of Sennik, the Dan Kolov House Museum is housed in the home he built there himself. Together, these houses and exhibitions offer different ways to explore crafts, domestic culture and the region’s collections.
Churches, Memorial Sites and Monasteries
After the end of the Bulgarian Church Struggle in 1870, the construction of the Holy Trinity Church in Sevlievo was commissioned from Usta Gencho Kunev, a master builder from Tryavna. The facade bears an inscription dated 19 October 1870. The church grounds contain the graves of Russian soldiers who died during Bulgaria’s liberation, as well as leaders of the April Uprising in the Sevlievo area, including Stefan Peshev, chairman of the revolutionary committee. The Sevlievo Freedom Monument also commemorates the victims of the April Uprising and the Liberation War, and is one of Bulgaria’s early monumental memorials of this kind.
Batoshevo is home to two monasteries with different historical associations. The men’s monastery was restored in 1836 and stands near the site of a medieval monastery from the time of Tsar Michael Asen. The women’s monastery is in the centre of Batoshevo, within Sevlievo Municipality, and is connected to Sevlievo by a paved third-class road. Check current road conditions before setting out.
Cycling Route, Pumpkin Festival and More
A 5,533-metre cycling route runs from Chernichkite Park along the road to Gabrovo and the Rositsa River. Motorsport enthusiasts will find a motocross track six kilometres from Sevlievo. It includes a track, visitor parking, a grandstand and seating for 10,000 spectators. Operating hours may change; check the latest information before planning a visit.
The Pumpkin Festival is also part of the local events tradition and has been held since 2006. The programme includes pumpkin competitions, culinary contests, parades and concerts. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check the specific dates and programme for that year.
Practical Information
The Sevlievo Tourist Information Centre is located at 12 Vasil Levski Street. As contact details may change, it is advisable to check them before your trip. Whether you are interested in the citadel, museum collections, churches and monasteries or outdoor activities, the different places and themes offer varied perspectives on Sevlievo and its history.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Sevlievo, Kravenik, Valevtsi, Tabashka, Berievo, Lovnidol, Boazat, Sennik, Kormyansko
Return to the main travel overview: Gabrovo Province.
