In the heart of South-Central Bulgaria, Karlovo is a town that unfolds at the southern foothills of the majestic Stara Planina mountain range, within the bounds of Plovdiv Province. The town lies just 5 kilometers east of Sopot, and the bustling city of Plovdiv is 52 kilometers to the south. Karlovo is the third-largest town in the region, following Plovdiv and Asenovgrad, serving as the administrative center of the Karlovo Municipality.
A Town Amidst the Mountains
Perched between 392 and 612 meters above sea level, Karlovo is cradled in the northern part of the Karlovo Plain. This plain is a geographical marvel, formed to the southwest by the Stara Planina mountains, bordered to the north by the Sŭshtinska Sredna Gora, and to the northeast by the Sŭrnena Gora. The mountainous Koznitsa area, stretching near Klisura, divides the Struma Valley from the neighboring sub-Balkan valleys to the west, while the Krŭstets (Strazhata) range separates it to the east. This unique geographical positioning plays a pivotal role in shaping Karlovo’s climate, extending its influence over the renowned Rose Valley that sprawls around it.
The climate here is transitional-continental, heavily influenced by Stara Planina, which acts as a barrier to the cold northern air masses. The average temperature in January hovers around 0°C, while July brings warmer climes of 22–24°C. Precipitation levels are fairly standard for the country, with snow being an increasingly rare sight. When snow does fall, it rarely exceeds 10-15 cm and melts quickly, thanks to the tempering influence of the nearby Struma River.
Proximity and Legacy
Situated 145 kilometers east of Sofia, the capital, and 54 kilometers north of Plovdiv, Karlovo holds a strategic position. Its history is as rich as its landscape.
Around 1482-1485, the village of Sushitsa, nestled in the sub-Balkan region, was granted as a mulk (landholding) by Sultan Bayezid II to Karlŭzade Lala Ali Bey. By 1496, Ali Bey transformed this estate into a vakıf, an Islamic charitable endowment. According to the founding document of the vakıf, Sushitsa’s territory stretched north to the Stara Planina, east to the village of Arabli, south to the Gyopsu (Struma) River, and west to the village of Akcha Kilise (Sopot). Over the next century, Sushitsa rapidly expanded: Ottoman records from 1516 note seven Muslim and 42 Christian households, a number that ballooned to 117 Muslim and 162 Christian households by 1596. The vakıf’s income also saw a significant increase, from 5997 akçes in 1516 to 23596 akçes in 1596. Thus, the village grew into a town, taking the name Karlova (Karlovo) in honor of Karlŭzade Ali Bey.
Architectural Heritage and Cultural Flourish
Karlŭzade Ali Bey left an indelible mark on the town by erecting its oldest surviving building, the Kurshum Mosque (1485), named after its distinctive lead-covered dome. This mosque was sustained through the funds of the vakıf established by Ali Bey, and today, it stands as a monument of cultural significance.
By the 17th century, Karlovo had become a hub of literary activity, with the renowned scribe Avram Erey being a notable figure. In July 1660, he completed a Menaion (liturgical book) and in 1669, he transcribed a Gospel, which is now preserved in the Zograf Monastery. In May 1674, he completed a compendium (including a psalter, a monthly calendar, and more), highlighting the town’s role in preserving and disseminating knowledge.
Around 1807, the town’s educational landscape was enriched by the presence of Atanas Vlados, a teacher of Aromanian descent from Veles. He was succeeded by educators like Nikola Bitolec and Neno Keles. However, Karlovo’s educational renaissance truly blossomed when Rayno Popovich became a teacher in 1828, dedicating 25 continuous years to the town’s intellectual growth.
In 1859, the future revolutionary hero Vasil Levski was ordained as a hierodeacon by Metropolitan Paisiy of Plovdiv in the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (St. Bogoroditsa).
By 1869, the town witnessed the founding of Bulgaria’s second women’s association by Anastasia Raynova and Anitsa Puleva, marking a significant step in the empowerment of women.
Between 1953 and 1962, Karlovo bore the name Levski-grad in honor of the revolutionary icon Vasil Levski, further embedding its historical significance in the national consciousness.
