The town of Sevlievo is situated in the Central Balkan Range, on the two banks of the Rositsa River. It’s located 28 km away from Gabrovo, 45 km from Veliko Tarnovo, 175 km from Sofia.

 

It arose as a settlement on a naturally protected area at a distance of 3 km from the current town. In the 10th century a defense fortress was built. This medieval town, called Hotalich, had survived for 7 centuries. In the end of the 17th century was conquered by the Turks. It became a regional center, called Selvi, and later was renamed Sevlievo. In the middle of the 19th century, the population increased and crafts and building of churches and schools rapidly developed.

 

The population joined the April uprising in 1876. Many villages were burnt to ashes, women and children were killed and the leaders were hanged in the City Square.

 

Sevlievo keeps numerous architectural monuments from the period of the Bulgarian national revival. Most famous among them are: the Clock tower, built up in 1777, the "St. Prorok Ilya" (Prophet Elijah) church built by masters from Tryavna in 1835, the bridge above the Rositsa river, built by Kolyu Ficheto in 1858, the church St. Troitsa (The holy trinity) built by Usta (Master) Gencho in 1870, the "Tabahana"leather workshop - the only preserved workshop from 1873, the Dandolovi houses, consisting of three buildings and a big workshop from 1870, etc.

 

South of Sevlievo is situated the "Uspenie na Presveta Bogoroditsa" Monastery of Batoshevo. The woodcarvings and the icons in it have been preserved since the period of Bulgarian national revival.

 

At 4 km northwest is situated the medieval town- fortress, called Hotalich, that keeps a small church, Resident of a Boyar, and rooms.

 

The Sennik village, close to Sevlievo, is the birthplace of the famous Bulgarian wrestler Dan Kolov.

 

Near Gorna Rositsa village, there is a motor track, hosted the world motor championship in 2002.