Water tells

Location. “Opalchenska”, N 15 (Kv. Sixth section, in front of the Tourist Information Centre and the “Stranoprimnitsa” Restaurant)

This is the oldest preserved fountain in Gabrovo. It was built in 1762. Krustyu Aprilov, a relative of the benefactor Vasil Aprilov, it was a corner fence double-faced fountain, which is now formed as a freestanding. Relatively small, constructed of several slabs of sandstone, the fountain is ornate on its two faces. The main face has two carved arches and two doves placed asymmetrically on the cornice. One five-leaf and three six-leaf rosettes, two recessed rectangles with crosses above the rosettes on either side of the inscription complete the sculptural decoration. Below the cornice is the inscription ‘This fountain was made by Hadji Krustyu Aprilov 1762’. On the lateral face, under the arch, a two-headed eagle is sculpted centrally, with a cross above it, and on the cornice, asymmetrically, a dove spreads its wings.

The hinges are three – two on the main face and one on the side, cast in bronze.

Location. “Pencho Slaveykov Street and Pencho Slaveykov Street. “Marin Drinov

The most famous well in Gabrovo is shaped like a fountain with a towering superstructure of dressed stone, with a hipped roof and a stone platform enclosed by a stone wall for seating. Its face has arched niches and two round openings.The well, which still gives its name to the neighbourhood in which it is located, was capped in 1871. Its name derives from the female name Guna, and a legend of romantic love between the pretty Guna and a gypsy blacksmith was recorded by the local historian Il. Gabrowski. We can see how Gunin’s Well originally looked like in the album by arch. Н. Yamantiev.

Location. “33 Nikolaevska Street (the garden with the monument to Ran Bosilek)

The beautiful stone fountain, built in 1847, still stands on the old Zyten Market. According to some authors, the donor of the fountain was a certain Kircho, who lived in this neighbourhood, and they refer to the inscription on the main face of the fountain, which reads: “In the summer of 1847, June 5, this running water was built with the help of Kircho Mahlesi”. Architecturally, the fountain is the highlight of the square and forms the centre of the neighbourhood. It is freestanding, with three faces with one spout on each. Characteristic of the arches of this fountain is that they have pointed tops, which is an Arab influence. The arches are connected by several spouts, giving an additional decorative effect. On the main face centrally between the arches at either end are three 6-leaf rosettes carved in a circle. Above these, below the cornice, is a carved inscription, symmetrically divided by a large standing cross. In the centre of the cornice, as in other fountains in Gabrovo, a dove spreads its wings. An interesting and perhaps specific element of the Gabrovo fountains is the planting of flowers on their roofs. The side faces have the same layout, but instead of an inscription, there are crosses centrally under the cornice.

The spouts were made of bronze, cast with handles, without additional decorations.

Today, the fountain stands on its original site, and a small garden has been laid out around it, with a monument to the writer Ran Bosilek, whose birthplace was next door.

Location

The monastery fountain is the only preserved element of the architectural complex of the Maiden Monastery “Holy Annunciation”. After its construction, the monastery had no water source of its own and the nuns went for water to the Potter’s Fountain where all kinds of people gathered. The rich merchant and generous donor Dyanko Iliev Vidinliev saw this and said that “it was a very indecent thing that the heiresses went to the fountain to listen to the apprentices swearing. … The best thing would be to bring them water to the monastery. This work I will put in order …. and in no time he fulfilled his word and brought 4 spouts of water to the monastery of the heiresses, for which he rationed no less than 300 pounds.” – wrote in his memoirs Dimitar Donchev Vidinliev, a cousin of the donor and a witness of the event.

The fountain was erected in 1864 by an unknown stonemason and in its size and architecture very much resembles that of the Grain Market. According to some researchers, the shape and sculptural decoration of the fountain in the Virgin’s Convent was brought to perfection.

Location. “Co-curse”

The fountain is located on the north-west corner of the House of Culture. The project for the construction of the fountain with the large sculptural figure of a lion was prepared by arch. Karl Kandulkov and completed in 1968, and the authors were Georgi Kotsev and Boris Kadiiski.

Location. “May Day” 1

The fountain on the clock tower was angular, covering parts of the two adjacent sides – the south and west – of the tower with 2 spouts on each. Dr. Vaptsov writes: “On the south and west sides of the clock tower there were fountains with full flowing spouts and stone troughs, in which the innkeepers and cartmen girt their horses and from which, during the summer droughts, many of the citizens drew water when our mahlen jugs and wells dried up.”

The town clock fountain has been demolished, but a new one has been formed on the west side, low to the pavement, its spout protruding from the mouth of a sculptured lion’s head.