The town of Shipka is part of the Kazanlak municipality. It lies at a distance of 12 km from the municipal centre on the southern slopes of the Stara Planina Mountains. The town of Shipka has a population of 1 400 inhabitants. The region is specialized in the production of essential oil cultures and grains. During the Russian-Turkish Liberation War of 1877-1878 on the territory of the town are waged fierce fights.

Tourist sights are the temple-monument "Rozhdestvo Hristovo"/Jesus'Birth/ built to commemorate the killed Russian and Bulgarian soldiers, who have taken part in the Russian-Turkish Liberation war, the monument of liberty (in the village of Sheinovo), the remains of a Roman and medieval fortresses.

Tourist sights

The Monument of Liberty is built on the top of the Shipka hill. It is built as a token of gratitude to the deceased Russian and Bulgarian soldiers who took part in the Liberation War. The monument is built in 1934 with money from the Bulgarian people. It is 31,5m high. On the northern wall there is a bronze lion. On the other three walls are written the names of the settlements where the big battles have been waged.

The Shipka Monastery "Rozhdestvo Hristovo"/Jesus Birth/ is built to commemorate the killed soldiers in the Russian-Turkish Liberation War. The architect of the church is Tomishenko. The money for its construction has been gathered by donations from Russia under the initiative of Olga Skobeleva, the mother of the Russian general Skobelev. Active part in the donation campaign also takes prince Ignatiev. The monastery is built in 1902 in the style of the Yaroslav clerical architecture. It is richly decorated and the domes are gold coated. There are 17 bells in the belfry. The church has a remarkable iconostasis and icons made by Russian masters. On the ground floor over 17 sarcophaguses one can read the names of the regiments which have taken part at the battles of Shipka and Sheinovo. Initially the monastery has been Russian ownership but in 1934 it is given as a gift to Bulgaria.