Nestled in the Vitosha Mountain, just above the bustling city of Sofia, lies a place of unique charm and historical significance—Kopitoto. This location, easily visible from almost every corner of the city, is named after its distinctively shaped peak that has captivated onlookers for decades.
The Iconic Kopitoto TV Tower
Perched at an elevation of 1,345 meters, the Kopitoto TV Tower stands as a monumental structure, a silent sentinel over Sofia since 1985. This towering 186-meter-high construction isn’t just a landmark; it’s a vital piece of infrastructure, ensuring that the city and the surrounding Sofia region stay connected with the world. Interestingly, this isn’t just a functional edifice; it’s a beacon of modern architecture, envisioned by the talented architects Lyuben Popdonev and Stefan Tilev.
Right next to this towering giant is the Kopitoto Hotel, offering visitors not just a place to stay but an opportunity to wake up to breathtaking views, where the city sprawls beneath the majesty of the Vitosha Mountain.
The Forgotten Lift of Kopitoto
However, the story of Kopitoto isn’t complete without mentioning the legendary cable car that once connected it to the suburb of Knyazhevo. From 1962 until the early 1990s, this was more than just a mode of transportation; it was a journey in itself. Crafted by the Austrian company “Brothers Girak/Girak,” this was Bulgaria’s first-ever cable car. It spanned a length of 1,920 meters, overcoming a height difference of 600 meters, with 53 cabins, each seating four people. With a capacity to transport 600 people per hour in each direction at a speed of 3 meters per second, it was a marvel of engineering in its time.
The Rise of the Kopitoto TV Tower
The TV Tower at Kopitoto, towering over Sofia from its southern perch on the Vitosha Mountain, is not merely a structure; it’s one of the tallest buildings in Bulgaria. Completed in 1986, it replaced the old television tower in Sofia, solidifying its role in broadcasting across the capital and the vast Sofia Valley. With its impressive height and strategic location at 1,345 meters above sea level, the tower is a defining feature of the Vitosha landscape.
Kopitoto is more than just a mountain peak or a television tower; it’s a place where history, architecture, and nature converge, offering a unique glimpse into the past and present of Sofia.
