Town of Shivachevo
Shivachevo (pop. 4,000) is a small town located at the foot of the Balkan Mountains in eastern Bulgaria. The area in and around the town has been inhabited since ancient times. Numerous archeological artifacts have been found nearby: Thracian earthenware used during funeral ceremonies were found in the yard of the present-day school. Other discoveries include a Thracian bronze helmet, Roman coins, and Byzantine coins bearing the images of the emperors Justinian I and Nikiforos Foka.
During the 500 years of Turkish rule in Bulgaria, the inhabitants of Shivachevo were known for their patriotic spirit. They aided the volunteer detachments (the “haidushki chet”) who rebelled against Turkish rule during the 19th century. In 1859, a Bulgarian Orthodox Church, St. Dimitar’s, was completed above ground despite Turkish law requiring Orthodox churches to be built slightly below ground. At a town meeting in 1909, thirty years after the end of the Turkish Yoke, the name of the village was changed from Terzobas (from the Turkish word for "tailor") to Shivachevo (from the Bulgarian word for "tailor"). On September 5th, 1984, the village of Shivachevo officially became a town.
Today, the area surrounding Shivachevo is a well-known agricultural center for the production of peaches, grapes, cherries, and apples. Vini-Sliven, a vineyard based in the nearby city of Sliven (pop. 147,000), has a production facility in Shivachevo and produces an award-winning cabernet sauvignon called Chateau Shivachevo. A re-vitalized green space graces the center of town with the local cultural center (the “chitalishte”) serving as a center-piece. A project to restore the town football stadium is currently underway. A national poetry festival is held there each year, along with all school theatre and dance productions.