big market for cattle, agricultural production, timber, and charcoal. As early as 1822, a monastery school was opened here and in 1827 a private school that became public in 1835 began functioning. In 1850, the first girls' school opened gates and in 1859 the first intermediate high school was founded. A chitalishte (library and community centre) was opened in 1869. Gorna Oryahovitsa was proclaimed a town in 1870, when it numbered 4,700 inhabitants and had 1,200 houses and 5 churches. Revolutionary struggles The population of the town took part in the struggle for national liberation. Vasil Levski organised a revolutionary committee in Gorna Oryahovitsa during the first half of 1869 and later visited the town two more times. During the preparation of the April uprising Gorna Oryahovitsa was designated as a centre of the First Revolutionary District with Stefan Stambolov as Chief Apostle. After the failure of the April Uprising, Georgi Izmirliev "Makedoncheto" (the Macedonian), one of the local leaders, was hanged in the centre of Gorna Oryahovitsa. His last words were: "How good it is to die for the freedom of the Fatherland!" Three citizens of Gorna Oryahovitsa fought in Hristo Botev's detachment of armed volunteers and 132 people joined the Bulgarian volunteer forces during the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation. The Imperial Russian Army liberated Gorna Oryahovitsa from Ottoman rule on 26 June 1877. Liberated Bulgaria After the Liberation, the town developed as a significant transport (predominantly railway) centre as it is nowadays. Its proximity with the old metropolitan town of Veliko Tarnovo, tourist centre Arbanasi, the monasteries around and a great number of other sites of interest makes it a known tourist destination. Population Education OU "Ivan Vazov" OU "Saint Kiril and Metodii" OU "Paisii Hilendarski" SOU "Vicho Grancharov" SOU "Georgi Izmirliev" M. V. Lomonosov School of Electrotechnics and Electronics PGT "Vasil Levski" (mechanics) PGLPI "Atanas Burov" PGHT "Prof d-r Asen Zlatarov" (food) PGJPT "N. J. Vapcarov" Religion Around 85% of the citizens are Christians. Orthodox Church "Sveti Atanas" (Saint Atanas) Orthodox Church "Sveti Georgi" (Saint Georgi) Orthodox Church "Sveti Ivan Rilski" (Saint Ivan Rilski) Orthodox Church "Sveti Nikola" (Saint Nikola) Orthodox Church "Sveta Troitza" (Trinity) Orthodox Church "Uspenie Bogorodichno" Orthodox Church "Sveti Prorok Iliya" (St. Prophet Iliya) Sights Hill Kamaka ("Hill the rock" in English) hut Bojur (place in the area around the town good for rest and walks) Economy Gorna Oryahovitsa is an important producer of