Shipka

Shipka National Park is is being declared as a national park on the same area where the bloody battles of the Russian-Turkish Liberation War took place during the 1870's. It represents a complex of memorial tablets, monuments, trenches, and bunkers being themselves as a reminder of the battle.

On the top of the mountain at Shipka was erected the Monument of Freedom. In order to be build a considerable amount of money were donated by the Bulgarian people and built after the design of both Atanas Donkov, an architect and Alexander Andreev, a sculptor. The monument was opened officially in 1934. The located on the monument's levels expositions are connected to the story of the Russian soldiers' and the Bulgarian volunteers' heroism and bravery during the five-month defence of the pass. From the last ground there is a panorama of the restored details of the battle field, monuments and common graves strongly reminding of the self-sacrifice of the Russian and Bulgarian heroes and soldiers.
The locality offers excellent conditions for relaxation and tourism. Several shops, cafes with well stocked wet-bar, camping, a comfortable hotel-restaurant and a petrol station are available for the visitors. The conditions are perfect for biking, mountaineering, hiking, etc.