Discover Sevlievo: Hotalich, Museums and Heritage

Hotalich lies in the western part of the Sevlievo Mountains near Krushevski Bair, where the Rositsa enters a picturesque gorge. The historic site brings together this striking landscape and the traces of a large medieval Bulgarian city.

Hotalich: Citadel and Lower Town

The citadel covers 15 decares and has fortification walls several hundred metres long, five gates and defensive towers. It also includes a boyar church and a boyar residence. The lower town extended over approximately 45 decares and had three churches. These figures give a sense of the layout of the site: the lower part of the city was about three times the size of the citadel. Hotalich has held national cultural monument status since 1994 and was added to Bulgaria’s list of 100 National Tourist Sites in 2024.

Visitor facilities include picnic areas, nature trails and viewing platforms. From the platforms, you can look out across the Sevlievo Plain towards Botev Peak. This lets you take in the fortified site along with the surrounding landscape. The viewpoints and trails complement the historic visit with different ways to spend time outdoors.

Museums and Craft Traditions

The Sevlievo Historical Museum preserves nearly 50,000 objects relating to archaeology, the Bulgarian National Revival, recent history, ethnography and art. The permanent exhibitions at the Hadzhistoyanovo School offer another perspective on regional history: “Archaeology” and “The Sevlievo Region during the Bulgarian National Revival.” Visitor arrangements may change; check them before your visit.

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Sevlievo was established in 2017 in a listed school building dating from 1885. It displays works by contemporary Bulgarian artists. The Dandolovi Houses consist of three interconnected houses built in 1870. Each house has its own shop and access to a shared courtyard. The exhibition includes Sevlievo costumes, Bulgarian National Revival-era interiors, urban furnishings and clothing worn by affluent local families.

At the Tabahana Museum, visitors can learn about the Tabashki craft and the stages involved in processing raw hides. The Dan Kolov House Museum is located in the house that Dan Kolov built in his home village of Sennik. The two sites focus on different subjects: one centres on a craft process, while the other is a house connected to a particular place and its history.

Churches and Monasteries

The Holy Trinity Church in Sevlievo was commissioned from the Tryavna master builder Usta Gencho Kunev in 1870, after the end of the Bulgarian Church Struggle. An inscription dated 19 October 1870 is on its facade. The church grounds also 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 Batoshevo Men’s Monastery was restored in 1836 near the site of a medieval monastery dating from the time of Tsar Michael Asen. The Batoshevo Women’s Monastery is in the centre of Batoshevo, within Sevlievo Municipality. A third-class paved road connects it to Sevlievo; road conditions may change, so it is advisable to check them before setting out.

Cycling Route, Festival and Further Information

A 5,533-metre cycling route runs from Chernichkite Park along the road to Gabrovo, towards the Rositsa. Check current route conditions before setting out. A motocross facility is located 6 km from Sevlievo. It includes a motocross track, visitor parking and a grandstand with seating for 10,000 spectators. Operating hours and event dates may change; check specific dates before visiting.

The Pumpkin Festival has been held since 2006. Its programme includes pumpkin-themed competitions, culinary contests, parades and concerts. Dates and programme may vary. The Tourist Information Centre is located at 12 Vasil Levski Street in Sevlievo; check the contact details before your trip.

A Wider Regional Perspective: Gabrovo Province

In the wider destination of Gabrovo Province, the Etar Open-Air Museum offers a unique insight into craft culture. It is Bulgaria’s only ethnographic open-air museum. Visitors can watch craftspeople use traditional techniques with metal, leather, wood, clay, wool, goat hair and other natural materials, and take their products home. The museum also houses Bulgaria’s only collection of working water-powered technical installations. The International Crafts Fair is held there annually and includes craft demonstrations, a master craftspeople’s competition and an international scientific conference. Dates vary.

Discover more destinations: Lovnidol, Sennik, Valevtsi, Tabashka, Sevlievo, Kravenik, Berievo, Boazat, Kormyansko.

Return to the regional travel guide: Gabrovo Province.