Shipka

Shipka is the name of the pass through the Balkan mountains on the road between south an nord part of Bulgaria at an elevation of 1,330 m. One of the greatest battles of the Russo-Turkish Liberation War (1877-1878) took place here. A Bulgarian "Corps of Volunteers" was formed as part of the Russian Army. People's units were in operation at the rear of the Turkish and strove to help the liberating forces in any way they could.

The pass was originally held by a Turkish force but the Russian garrison seized it by surprise in July 1877. In response, Turkish troops attacked Shipka in August. The Russian force, which included 7,500 Bulgarian volunteers, held the position against 30,000 Turkish.

On Shipka Peak there is the "Monument of Freedom" (31.5 m. high). a bone-vault monument of Russian soldiers and Bulgarian volunteers who fell in fierce battles to defend the peak. 894 steps lead to the monument. There is a compound of monuments with replicas of the army positions and the dig-outs; memorial plates, a common grave. The memorial complex was built in 1926-1934. On this monument are buried thousands of Russian and Bulgarian heroes. Memorable deeds of bravery and heroism went down into the history of this defense of the Shipka Pass. 10 km away from Shipka pass is situated a church, built with donation of Bulgarian people as symbol of gratitude to Russian liberators.