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Koprivshtitsa is a small village with just 2,600 inhabitants situated 1060 metres above sea level near to the Topolnitsa river. It is 110 km. southeast of Sofia, 80 km. northwest of Plovdiv and 27 km. southeast of Pirdop.
Koprivshtitsa started up as a settlement during the fourteenth century with its main trades being cattle breeding, furriers, dyeing and related crafts which were sold as far away as Istanbul and Alexandria. It was plundered by the Turks and destroyed by fire three times and rebuilt to reach its greatest prosperity levels during the nineteenth century when it had a population of nearly 12,000. Large houses, schools, churches fountains and bridges were built during that period. Today it is one of the rare well preserved architectural towns of the Revival Period.
Koprivshtitsa is on the principal Sofia-Karlovo-Bourgas railway line. There is a regular bus service to Plovdiv, Panagyurishte, Strelcha and Pirdop.
The town is a starting point for numerous marked walking trails through Real Sredna Gora which range in distance from a half hour stroll to an eight hour hike.
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