Паметник на Рачо ковача, Gabrovo Travel Guide

The Racho Kovacha Monument is a bronze statue located in Gabrovo, Bulgaria, that pays homage to Racho the Blacksmith, a legendary figure credited with founding the town. According to local lore, Racho was a blacksmith from the village of Bozhentsi who set up his smithy by the Yantra River. He would shoe the horses of travelers, and gradually, other craftsmen settled around his workshop, leading to the establishment of Gabrovo. The town's name is said to have originated from the gaber tree that stood over Racho's workshop.The statue, created by sculptor Lyubomir Dalchev, depicts Racho as a strong figure holding a hammer in one hand and tongs with a piece of metal in the other, standing over an anvil. Uniquely, the monument is erected on a large rock in the middle of the Yantra River, making it the only monument in Bulgaria built in a river. Gabrovo residents chose this location to save residential space and avoid spending money on flowers. The monument has become an emblem of Gabrovo, representing the creative and industrious spirit of its people.