Koprivshtitsa is a nestled in recesses of Central Sredna Gora Mountain, in the middle of a little valley at 1060 m altitude. Both with Smolian, they are the highest cities in Bulgaria. The small town lies on the both sides of river Topolnitsa, locally known as Topolka. The mountain outlines are soft and round. Fields and meadows, separated by young pine-tree forests, which penetrate into the real town and complement the townscape around.

Koprivshtitsa does not have an ancient history. It is a comparatively young town, founded by herdsmen. Later intelligent, bright people came here and found shelter in the inaccessible mountain recesses, running away from Turkish invaders. In the end of XVII century Koprivshtitsa was already wealthy town with developed cattle breading and craftsmanship. The homespun tailoring was particularly prosperous. The town rapidly become thriving. All privileges, given to it by sultan’s firmans were another contribution to its status. The rich town was three times sacked and fired in the end of XVIII century and in the beginning of XIX century, but it revived again. Cattle-drovers from Koprivshtitsa were famous through the whole Ottoman Empire. More than 400 tradesmen delivered craftsman’s products from Koprivshtitsa to Constantinople and Alexandria. In year 1837 Neophyte Rilski founded common school and in 1847 Naiden Gerov founded class school. Among the rich people in Koprivshtitsa started a real competition in building as lovely as could be houses, thereby trying to show their prosperity. Thus an original town grew up - unique with its architecture. 

There are kept in Koprivshtitsa the best achievements in building art of the Bulgarian Renaissance in XIX century. Koprivshtitsa turned to be real national Town-museum. 

The greatest impressions make the houses with high stonewalls, wide eaves and gates, verandas and balconies. The simpler of them have been built by the local craftsmen, such as the Bankovski’s, Diado Liben’s, Dushkov’s house, etc. The biggest house that have emblazonry and fretworks, such as Oslekov’s, Liutovs’s, Markov’s, Garkov’s, Mlachkov’s house, etc. have been owned by rich cattle-drovers, tax-collectors and tradesmen.