Panagyurishte town

In the district of Panagyurishte and the vicinity there have been uncovered remains of Thracian settlements with mound necropolises. In one necropolis there has been found a stone tomb with rich burial furnishing containing 50 objects worked in gold, silver, bronze, iron and clay.

South of the town the golden treasure of Panagyurishte has been uncovered, dating back to the end of 4 c. and the beginning of 3 c. B.C.; it comprises 9 vessels to an overall weight of 6.146 kg. These are remarkable for their relief ornamentation. The treasure is kept in the National historical museum in Sofia.

In 18-19 c. the town is in efflorescence - crafts and trade flourish. At the time of the April uprising against Ottoman yoke Panagyurishte is a center of a revolutionary district. Georgi Benkovski - one of the revolutionaries who organized the uprising formed here a numerous cavalry, the so-called Flying detachment of Benkovski that tours the towns and villages in the locality, proclaims the uprising, engages in battle. When the uprising is defeated the whole town is burned down.

After the Liberation of 1878 lumbering and carpet industry develop. The following churches dating back to the Bulgarian National Revival have been preserved: "Sveti Todor", "Vuvedenie Bogorodichno" (with icons and mural paintings by Ivan Zografski and N. Obrazopisov) and "Sveti Georgi (with icons painted by N. Dospevski).

Panagyurishte houses are standing amidst spacious garden yards, surrounded by high stone walls. Typical are the big wooden gates with wood-carved decoration. One would find interesting Foutekova, Doudeva, Lekova, Landzheva houses, Findzhekovi shops, Hadzhideyanovi yards, etc. "April uprising" memorial complex has been raised here.

11 km north of the town one can find mountain resort Panagyurski Colony (altitude of 1050).

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