Old clock tower in the town of Gabrovo

Overview

March 11 marks the anniversary of the construction of the old clock tower in Gabrovo. It is one of the few preserved buildings in the city since the Renaissance. The local historian Iliya Gabrovski defines it as "the pearl of the Revival" and "the most valuable architectural monument bequeathed to Gabrovo, as an expensive gift from our national revivalists".

The clock tower was built with the donated funds and voluntary work of the people of Gabrovo in only 6 months. The master builder is unknown, but he leaves his art, skill and work in the beauty of the form and strength of the construction - with the most common tools and old construction equipment, without cement, concrete or other modern materials. The exact date when the clock tower was built is indicated on a built-in stone slab, high above on its western side, with the inscription:

“March 1835. 11. This pillar was built with the insistence and work of the village of Gabrovo. "

In the same year, in June, the clock chark (mechanism) with stone maces was placed. It was forged by Ivan Sahatchiyata for the existing old clock tower, located to the south, where today is Bezistena. The small bell was replaced with a larger one, made in Vienna. Her strong and melodic voice could be heard to the last house of the sprawling craft village. At that time, Gabrovo was in an economic boom. The watch is a vital necessity for the population, especially for the craftsmen - to measure the time and determine the beginning and the end of the working day, to regulate the competition between the guilds.

Until 1882, the time was marked only by the ringing of a bell. The dial of the tower and the balcony below it were placed after the Liberation, which can be seen from the inscription on its mechanism: "1882 Mar 18 Dimitar Stefanov is the master of kalavuzitiy" (Turkish kalavuz = signpost).

In 1902, in connection with the 25th anniversary of the Shipka epic and the consecration of the temple-monument in the village of Shipka, a new, larger dial was made, charka repair and painting. On this occasion, Mayor Hristo Konkilev issued an order appointing a city watchmaker (an employee to maintain the watch).