ABOUT THE MONUMENT
One of the sightseeing in the town of Gotse Delchev is the monument of Vasil Levski – one of the most remarkable persons in the history of Bulgaria. The monument is situated in front of the Historical Museum in the town.
Vassil Ivanov Kunchev - Levski, whom the present-day Bulgarians consider their greatest national hero of all times and epochs, was born in Karlovo, a prosperous center of craft-industry in 1837.
He was a leader of the national revolutionary movement against the Ottoman yoke. All Bulgarians have loved and love him unconditionally. The doors of every Bulgarian house were open for him at all times. He had no close friends, no family, no home, and no personal life. His only thought his only love, his only passion was Bulgaria.
Vasil had got the nickname Levski during his service in the First Bulgarian legion organized by Rakovski in 1862 in Belgrad. "Levski" in 19-century Bulgarian means "like a lion". One day during a trainning, the young legionnaires were jumping over a deep ditch. Like a lion, Vassil had jumped the farthest. Rakosvski exclaimed, "That is a Levskii jump!" Since that day everyone has called him Vassil Levskii.
In the period 1868 - 1872 Levski had built the so called Internal revolutionary organization. Levski had toured the Bulgarian towns and villages with tireless vigor and enthusiasm forming a network of revolutionary committees. These committees had to equip the men in their regions, usually peasants and craftsmen, with weapons, and train them to fight.
Unfortunately, he himself fell in the hands of the Turkish authorities who put him on trial and sentenced him to death by hanging. Levski was sent to the gallows in Sofia in February 1873.
Levski was buried secretly. The Ottoman authorities knew too well that even dead Levski was dangerous for the Ottoman Empire. They knew that his grave would become a place of worship and inspiration for the national liberation movement. Thus, until present day we do not know for certain where the Levski's grave is. Ironically, Levski had said, "If they hang me, at least my grave will remain in Bulgarian land and everyone will know it."
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