The town of Kalofer lies at a distance of 17 km southeast of Karlovo and has a population of 4 000 inhabitants. The town is situated at the southern foot of the Stara Planina Mountains along the Tundzha River. The region is specialized in the growing of oil-bearing rose and lavender.

The town is mentioned under the same name in the Ottoman registry books in 1576. During the Revival period the settlement is a craftsman's centre. Travelers point out that at the beginning of XIX c. Kalofer has had more than 1 000 workshops. The settlement is known under its nick-name of Golden Kalofer. Kalofer is the home town of Hristo Botev, Ekzarh Yosiv I, the first Bulgarian poetess Elena Muteva and others.

The tourist sights of the town are: the stone Revival period bridges, the church "St. Atanas" from XIX c., the nunnery, the house-museum of Hristo Botev, the reserves "Dzhendema" and "Kalferskoto praskalo".

Tourist sights

The house-museum of Hristo Botev is an exact replica of the burned down house of the great Bulgarian poet. It has been restored in 1944 with the help of the poet's brother - Kiril Botev. Hristo Botev is a Bulgarian revolutionary, a poet and a publicist. His works mark a whole stage in the development of the Bulgarian literature. He dies at a battle in the Vratza part of the Stara Planina Mountains.

The Botev's school in Kalofer has been built in 1848. The building has been restored and now houses the art gallery and the museum of education.

The Monastery "Sveta Bogoroditza" /Holy Virgin/ lies at a distance of 6 km northwest of Kalofer. It has been founded in 1640 and has been demolished several times during the Ottoman yoke. The church in the monastery is built in 1880.

Panitzite is a mountainous resort situated along both banks of the Tundzha River. It lies at a distance of 6 km north of the town.