Klisura is one of the most significant cities in Bulgaria from a historical perspective. The city is primarily associated with the April Uprising of 1876, in which it played a leading role. The revolutionary Nikola Karadzhov, born in Klisura, personally delivered Todor Kableshkov’s „Bloody Letter“ to the city, announcing the beginning of the April Uprising.
The Klisura area known as „Zli Dol“ (Evil Valley) is a unique cultural monument that preserves the memories of one of the most devastating battles of the April Uprising. During this battle, the city was lost in an unequal fight against the ruthless oppressor and was completely set on fire. On April 26th, a large group of bashi-bazouks, gathered from the Stara Planina Valley and Kazanlak region, led by the feudal lord Tosun Bey from Karlovo, surrounded Klisura. The outnumbered Bulgarian defenders couldn’t withstand the attacks of the Turks. Over 200 peasants who failed to escape were brutally slaughtered. The victims were mainly women, children, and elderly individuals.
