In 2001 Etropole won "Prize for Rapprochement of the Towns with the European Council - 2001" awarded by the European Committee and the Regional Centre for Central and Eastern Europe, "Information, Ecologic Education and Steady Development" sector.
     The town of Etropole is located at the north foot of the Etrpolska Planina Mountain which is part of the Stara Planina Mountain. The town is stretched out on the two shores of the Malki Iskar River. It is situated 87 km away from Sofia.

     History

     There was a Thracian and later on a Roman settlement in the area of the nowadays town, the main occupation of its inhabitants being ore mining. In the beginning of 9th century the settlement was within the territory of the Bulgarian State. Thanks to the ore mining it turned into a flourishing settlement in 16th and 17th century (iron, silver and gold were mined). The crafts related thereto such as blacksmith, goldsmith, manufacture of knives, weapons, agricultural tools, etc., were also well developed. Some ore-miners came to this place from the Saxon area, Serbia and Bosna (the family names of the Alemans, Avramovs and Bohorovs date back to that period). Coins were minted in Etropole during 17th century. The village was destroyed by a devastating earthquake in 1749, but the bright highlanders quickly restored it. Then the year of 1791 came, when the town was ruined 6 times by the kurdzhalii (Turkish brigands). It was once again recovered and took its deserved place in the countrywide cultural and national uplift during the Revival. A manuscript dating back to 1820 named it "The glorious town of Etropolia". Today's name of the town probably has a Thracian origin - "etr" meaning "water", i.e. a water field ("pole" - field).
     Together with the old church in 1710 a town tower (turned into a clock tower in 1821) was erected, while in 1871 a community cultural centre was built. There the famous Etropole's literary school was established and the proximity of the Etropolski Monastery, only 5 km away from the town, contributed to its sustained development. In 1870 Levski founded a secret revolutionary committee, headed by Todor Peev, one of the brightest leaders of the Revival. The natives of Etropole took part in the Rakovski's Legiya (legion), in the detachments of Hadzhi Dimitur and Stefan Karadzha, of Panayot Hitov, Hristo Makedonski, Hristo Botev. Etropole was liberated on 24th November 1877 by the troops of Gen. Gourko. After the Liberation the town declined. It gradually developed as a tourist centre, taking advantage of the favourable natural resources facilitating this development.

     Landmarks

     Some of the numerous sightseeing objects are the Museum of History and the church Sveti Archangel Mihail. Of great interest is the Jewish Tower, the town Tower of Defense with height of 20 m, the church Sveti Georgi-built entirely of river stones. The attention of tourists is also attracted by the 24 houses of the Bulgarian national revival and the Casualties of the War Monument.
     Other places of interest are:

• The Varovitets area with the monastery "Sveta Troitsa" (Holy Trinity) and age-old maple trees.
• Benkovska Peshtera - a historical area
• The Chertigrad area - rock complexes with a forest vegetation, inhabited by rare and endangered mammals and birds of prey, a historical area
• Orlov Kamak - Chervena Stena (village of Lopyan) - a rock complex, inhabited by numerous endangered birds of prey

     The Etropole municipality belongs to a mountain geographical area with rich forest vegetation.The mammal species that live in the Etropole forests are the red deer, the roe, the wild boar, the ground squirrel, the wood vole, the squirrel, the bear, the wolf, the jackal, the wild cat, the weasel, etc. The representatives of the birds are the pheasant, the partridge, the woodcock, the feather-footed owlet, the three-fingered woodpecker, the wood pigeon, the turtle-dove, the kite, the finch, the titmouse. The protected species are the imperial eagle and the hawk. The representatives of the amphibians and reptiles are the water frog, the Greek tortoise, the grass snake and the adder. The fish that live in the rivers Malki Iskar, Stara Reka, Melna and Svinska Reka are the mountain barbel, the trout and the chub.
     The Etropole region offers excellent conditions for recreation - majestic and beautiful nature, interesting tourist routes, ancient monuments and wonderful conditions for skiing, village and ecological tourism.
     The strategy for the development of the Etropole municipality envisages the affirmation of the municipality as a centre for the development of village, mountain and ski-tourism, sports, recreation and entertainment.
     Republican road E-37 - Zlatitsa - Etropole - Jourovo passes through the municipality's territory. All roads of the republican road network are asphalted and in a good state. The existing transport network provides connections to all settlements. The closing of the road section Etropole - Zlatitsa broke off the shortest way between North and South Bulgaria and displaced the traffic of heavy-freight lorries.
     A reconstruction of the road connection E-37, connecting Etropole and Zlatitsa, is planned. The application of the project will considerably improve the communication between North Bulgaria and the Sub-Balkan, and will connect the Hemus and Trakia motorways. The project is of regional and national importance. It will apply for financing by the Republican Road Network Fund and the PHARE program.