Shipka (town)

Shipka Шипка
The Memorial Temple of the Birth of Christ
Shipka Location of Shipka (town)
Coordinates: 42°42′N 25°23′E / 42.700°N 25.383°E / 42.700; 25.383
Country	Bulgaria
Provinces (Oblast)	Stara Zagora
Government
• Mayor	Stoyan Ivanov
Elevation	650 m (2,130 ft)
Population  (2005)
• Total	1,398
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal Code	6150
Area code	04324
License plate	CT

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Shipka (Bulgarian: Шипка [ˈʃipkɐ], "Rosa canina") is a town in central Bulgaria, part of Kazanlak Municipality, Stara Zagora Province. It lies in the Central Balkan Mountains, at 42°42′N 25°23′E / 42.700°N 25.383°E / 42.700; 25.383, 650 metres above sea level. As of 2005, Shipka had a population of 1,398 and the mayor was Stoyan Ivanov.

The town is known for being located near the historic Shipka Pass, the location of several key battles in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78. Local sights include the Shipka Memorial (1934) on Stoletov Peak, the Buzludzha Monument, the Russian-style Shipka Memorial Church (1885–1902) and the recently discovered Thracian tomb Golyamata Kosmatka.

The population is overwhelmingly Eastern Orthodox and ethnically Bulgarian, with a notable minority of Karakachans (a Greek-speaking transhumant people of obscure origin).