Central Southern Bulgaria
The town of Peroushtitsa (5565 inhabitants, 205 metres above sea level) is situated in the fertile Gornotrakiiska (Upper Thracian) Lowland, immediately below the most northern slopes of the Vurhovrushki hills of the Western Rhodopes.
History, Transport & Information
The citizens of Peroushtitsa took an active part in the April Uprising (1876). They courageously stood at defence against the numerous ba-shi-bozouk (Turkish armed volunteers) hordes and the regular army of Rashid Pasha for five days. They brought their resistance to an end only when the cannon grenades destroyed the roof of the revolutionary fortress - the church “St. Archangels Gavrail and Mihail”, in which about 600 old people, women and children were gathered. The Turks plundered the settlement and burned down 350 houses. 348 people headed by Peter Bonev - a companion and associate of Rakovski and Levski in the Belgrade Legion and leader of the Uprising in the town died there. His associate Kocho Chestimenski demonstrated an unparalleled heroism and self-sacrifice. Seeing that there was no salvation whatsoever in the church already defenceless from the attacking bashibozouks (Turkish armed volunteers), he killed his wife and children and committed suicide himself. Others followed his example, too. The remaining leaders of the Uprising died heroically as well _ Spas Ginev, Father Tikev, Dr. Vassil Sokolski. The bones of those martyrs were gathered and buried in the same church so that people could remember them. The citizens of Peroushtitsa were of the first who stood for the union of the Principality of Bulgaria with Eastern Roumelia in 1885.
Transport: The sole transport of the town is bus transport. The town has regular bus connections with Plovdiv (every 30 minutes), Stamboliiski, Krichim and several other smaller settlements within the region.
Tourist’s information: at the tourist hostel, in the Vurhovruh Tourist Association, located in the tourist hostel, at the town-hall.
