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| Shipka is the name of the pass through the Balkan mountains on the road between Russe, on the Danube River, Stara Zgora and Edirne, Turkey 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. Following the capitulation of Turkey in December, the Russians began a general advance, and, in January 1878, the Russians again attacked the Turks at Shipka Pass and on January 9, Turkey surrendered. | 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 battery positions and the dig-outs; memorial plates, a common grave. The memorial complex was built in 1926-1934. Memorable deeds of bravery and heroism went down into the history of this defense of the Shipka Pass. | |
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 We first see the imposing Shipka monument from a distance and follow the highway into the mountains. |
 The Shipka Monument of Freedom up close. 894 steps lead to the monument. |
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An inscription describing the victory is found at the base of the monument on the famous Shipka Pass in the Balkan Range, where in the summer of 1877 the Russian troops and Bulgarian volunteers achieved the break-through which brought about the victorious outcome of the war. The means for its construction, which began in 1896 and was completed six years later, were provided as a joint effort between the Russian and the Bulgarian people. Preceeding the description of the battle for Shipka Pass is a quotation from Bulgarian writer and poet Ivan Vazov which immortalized the Bulgarian volunteer. Vazov is best remembered for his translated masterpiece work "Under the Yoke". |
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| The Russians lost 5,500 men in the battle for Shipka Pass. It is easy to understand why there is such a strong Russian connection. Not only are the Bulgarians and Russians both Slavs, but they are also both Eastern Orthodox. In 1878 it was Russia who rescued the Bulgarians from 500 years of Turkish rule. And, again, it was the Russians who rescued Bulgaria from the Nazis in the 1940's. But the Bulgarians know there is a very strong delineation between "Russia" and "Soviet Union". |
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The Shipka area is famous for the wonderfully-rich, buttery-tasting "Bivolsko mylako" produced here from the milk of water buffalo. This yoghurt is most commonly found in the mountain areas around Shipka village and the town of Gabrovo. Bulgaria is home to long - established herds of water buffalo, where the buffaloes are now mainly raised in mountain village areas. Because the buffaloes are not pretentious toward feeding, their raising is comparatively cheap. | |
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