Guide to the tourist region VELIKO TARNOVO, GORNA ORYAHOVITSA, DRYANOVO
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Contents General Information for the Region Veliko Tarnovo then and now
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Gorna Oryahovitsa then and now Dryanovo then and now
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Remains of antiquity
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Glorious Middle Ages
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The magnificence of the Bulgarian Renaissance Protectors of Faith
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Eco and Hobby Tourism Sports and adventure
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Recreation and Hospitality
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Local flavours and aromas
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Emotions and Festivals All Year Round Tourist Packages
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Map of the tourist region
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General Information for the Region The region of the Veliko Tarnovo - Gorna Oryahovitsa - Dryanovo touristic region is situated in the central part of Northern Bulgaria and encompasses the territories of the three municipalities. Access to the destination is relatively fast and easy. European route E772, which connects Sofia and Varna, passes through Veliko Tarnovo, as well as the E85 European transport corridor, connecting - on Bulgarian soil - Rousse and Svilengrad. The Hainboaz pass (also known as the Pass of the Republic) over the Balkans is also located in the Veliko Tarnovo municipality and connects Northern and Southern Bulgaria. In close
proximity is another Balkan passage, Shipka. The asphalt roads are in good condition and provide access to all populated areas in the region - towns and villages. The international river port of Rousse - as well as the Danube bridge, which connects Bulgaria and Romania - is located only 100 km to the North. Railroad transport in the area is also well-developed; all of the cities of Veliko Tarnovo, Dryanovo and Gorna Oryahovitsa have a station, the latter of which boasts the largest railroad connection in Northern Bulgaria. Coach transport is also well developed and provides daily access to the lesser populated areas of the three municipalities’ territories.
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One of the five Bulgarian international airports is located in Gorna Oryahovitsa. The relief of the region is various mostly plains and hills, but also mountainous, while the climate is moderate continental with warm summers and winters with heavy snowfall. The city of Dryanovo is surrounded by mountain rises, which is the reason for few winds. The nature of the region is diverse and is plentiful in beautiful places, sights and protected territories. Veliko Tarnovo is the largest of the three cities, with a population of almost 80 thousand.
Apart from an attractive tourist destination, the city is also a centre of university education. The Veliko Tarnovo University St. St. Kiril and Methodius is the second largest in the country with its 9 departments; another is the National Military University with its 7 faculties. The 20 thousand students and graduates liven up the city and make it an attractive place for young people with its many opportunities for fun and an active nightlife. Every one of the three cities has access to specialised healthcare, pharmacies and dental services. All densely populated areas provide bank branches and exchange bureaus, the largest number of which are located in Veliko Tarnovo. Accommodations cover a wide range from luxurious 4-star hotels with all amenities to guest houses and family hotels. Accommodation is offered in all cities and some of the villages of the region. Detailed information of the sights - as well as assistance in booking transport and hotels - can be found at the tourist information centres in Veliko Tarnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa and Dryanovo.
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Veliko Tarnovo then and now The c i t y of Veliko Tarnovo is located in Central Northern Bulgaria, 220 km to the East of the capital of Sofia, the same distance from Varna and 105 km South of the Danube port city of Rousse. In close proximity- only 8 km away - is Gorna Oryahovitsa with its international airport. Also not far away is Dryanovo 24 km from Veliko Tarnovo. The founding of the city dates back to seven thousand years ago, making it one of the oldest cities in Bulgaria. Artefacts from its long history are on display at the Archaeological museum in the city. The flourishing of Veliko Tarnovo is connected to the Middle Ages, when the city was announced the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1185 - 1393). Upon the consecration of the temple St. Dimitar Solunski in 1185, the two brother boyars Peter and Assen announced the end of the 167-year Byzantine rule
over the Bulgarians and lead their fellows in revolt. This set the beginning of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom; the city was announced its capital and it remained thus to the Ottoman occupation in 1393. Exceptional cultural monuments have been retained from this period. The Tsarevets fortress was the main stronghold of the capital. Here were the tzar’s castle and church, patriarchal residence and numerous public buildings. The Trapezitsa hill was the place of the aristocrats’ homes and many Christian temples. Exquisite examples of Medieval Christian art and architecture have been preserved, among which the temples St. 40 Martyrs, St. Dimitar Solunski, St. St. Peter and Paul and St. Ivan Rilski. From the beginning of the Bulgarian Renaissance (1819th century), extraordinary examples of Bulgarian architecture and art have been preserved. Several of the magnificent Renaissance buildings that have been
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retained to date are the work of the self-taught, but genial master builder Kolyu Ficheto: the House with the Monkey, Hadzhi Nikoli’s Inn, the Turkish administrative building, etc. The city boasts two ensembles which retain the authentic Renaissance spirit to present the Samovodska charshia and Gurko street. The Ethnographic museum is in another beautiful building from this period - the Sarafkin House.
After the overthrowing of Ottoman rule in 1878, Veliko Tarnovo became the capital of the Third Bulgarian Nation for a short period. This is the place of the Foundation Meeting and the first Great National Assembly; this is also where the first Bulgarian Constitution was passed. The grandeur of this new apogee has been captured in some of the most interesting museums in the city - the museum Renaissance and Foundation Meeting, the Prison museum, etc. Present-day Veliko Tarnovo is a modern city livened by the thousands of students studying at the local universities. The city is a place that draws in Bulgarian and foreign tourists for its many historical sights and its exceptional cultural calendar, which includes attractive events and festivals: the Sound and Light audio-visual show, the Stage of the Ages opera festival, the international church music festival, the international folklore festival and many others. Veliko Tarnovo is also the home of the only Multimedia Visitors’ Centre on the Balkan peninsula, which greatest attraction is the exposition of sculpted figures of Bulgarian rulers and everyday people from the epoch of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.
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Gorna Oryahovitsa then and now The city of Gorna Oryahovitsa is situated 8 km to the NorthEast of Veliko Tarnovo in the foothills of the Arbanasi mountain, on the border between the Pre-Balkans and the Danube valley. The city is the successor of the ancient Roman fortress Ryahovets, founded in 3-4th Century as a defensive facility on the road connecting the two large Roman cities, Nicopolis ad Istrum (present-day Nikopol) and Augusta Trayana (present-day Stara Zagora). Later, during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1185 - 1393), the Ryahovets fortress was one of the bastions protecting the old capital of Veliko Tarnovo and soon became one of the largest Medieval Bulgarian cities. Destroyed in 1444 by the Crusaders of Vladislav III Yagelo, the fortress’ existence was expended; however, its population moved and settled in the location of present-day Gorna Oryahovitsa. During Ottoman rule, the city developed as a centre of the crafts, while during the struggle for national freedom it was the centre of the First Revolutionary Region. Some of the most prominent revolutionaries and public figures emerged from Gorna Oryahovitsa’s ranks. One of them was Atanas Burov - a banker, politician and
state figure. The history of the city and the region is shown in detail in the exhibition of the City Historical Museum. For tourists interested in the life of locals in the past, there is an interesting ethnographic exhibition in the town of Dolna Oryahovitsa. Present-day Gorna Oryahovitsa is a modern and lively city, a centre of transport with a large railway station and international airport. The city is also an attractive destination for the fans of the gourmĂŠ experience - the local cuisine is specific and has several prominent and interesting meat specialities.
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Dryanovo then and now The town of Dryanovo is located in the central part of the Pre-Balkans, 24 km to the SouthWest of Veliko Tarnovo. The highly rugged terrain and the preserved mountainous nature which surround the city are extremely attractive for those in favour of calm rest and hiking tourism. The picturesque town holds a long history, while the area has been inhabited since antiquity. In the Bacho Kiro cave, located close to Dryanovo, archaeological expeditions have uncovered remnants - tools and weapons - from 40-70 thousand years BC. The shallower layers provided remains of primitive homes dating from 4,000 BC. In more recent times, the history of the region left its mark in the remains of the Roman fortress and market, Discoduratera, constructed during the rule of Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD), located 10 km from Dryanovo, near the village of Gostilnitsa. The name of Dryanovo appears for the first time in 1470 in Ottoman tax registers. During the Renaissance, the city - then
a village - developed as a centre of craft and commerce. The greatest Bulgarian architect and builder - Kolyu Ficheto - was born in Dryanovo. His work and creations are visible to this day over the country, but they are most retained and preserved in the regions of Veliko Tarnovo and Dryanovo. Among them are the Butler’s House, which houses one of the exhibitions of the Historic Museum of the city dedicated to medieval painting art from the Dryanovo area. A special exposition is dedicated to the life and work of Kolyu Ficheto at the Lafchieva House museum, which is the place of the exposition of the end of the 19th Century. The history of the region from antiquity to the Renaissance is presented at the historical museum towards the Dryanovo monastery St. Archangel Mihail, which by itself is one of the most important sights in the region. There are many other interesting places in Dryanovo, while the charming nature surrounding the city offers arduos mountaineers multiple routes and eco trails to various natural and historical sights.
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Remains of antiquity The region of Veliko Tarnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa and Dryanovo has been inhabited from antiquity and proof of this is all around the remains of ancient fortresses and the rich exhibitions of the historical museums of the three cities. The period from unknown times to antiquity has left behind several very valuable monuments that provide us information about the past. Veliko Tarnovo is the inheritor of an ancient Thracian village from 3,000 BC on Tsarevets hill. Discovered and studied are village burial mounds from different historical epochs in the region around the city - Samovodene, Hotnitsa, etc. Layers of history uncover their secrets of life in the region thousands of years ago in the exhibition of the Archeological Museum in the city. Among the most valuable discoveries are the bottom of a ceramic vessel from
the Paleolithic with signs of a prewriting system; a gold Chalcolithic treasure from the cave at the Emen village, tools and weapons from the Bronze Age, the funeral of a Thracian dynasty at the village of Golemanite, etc. During a series of archaeological excavations at the Bacho Kiro cave located near Dryanovo, findings were made involving the mid-Paleolithic (40-70,000 BC), as well as remains of a cave dwelling dating from the Cave-Bronze Age (4,000 BC). For the lovers of ancient remains, something interesting will be the Neolithic village near the village of Pravda, located around 6 km to the North of Gorna Oryahovitsa.
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One of the most significant monuments of Antiquity is the Roman city Nicopolis ad Istrum, located approximately 20 km North of Veliko Tarnovo. It was established by Roman emperor Mark Ulpii Trajan (98-117 AD) in honour of his victory over the Dacians (106 AD) and its name in translation means City of the Victory towards the Danube. Today, among the city ruins we can make out the agora (the city square), the main street arteries - cardo maximus (North-South) and decumanus maximus (EastWest), public buildings, a market, and residential areas. Near Gorna
Oryahovitsa, 3 km East of the city, is the remains of the fortress of Ryahovets, constructed in 3-4 AD during emperor Aurelius III for the protection of one of the main Roman roads from Nicopolis ad Istrum to Augusta Trayana. The fortress existed in the 13-15th Century and is last mentioned in sources in 1444. Approximately 10 km NorthEast of Dryanovo, between the villages of Gostilitsa and Slaveikovo, are the remains of the Roman fortress marketplace Discoduratera. Founded in the 2nd Century AD as a market on the route between Nove (present-day Svishtov), Nicopolis ad Istrum and Augusta Trayana, it was later on destroyed and brought back to life in the Middle Ages during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom as a road station. The name of the fortress in translation means “a double strength fortress�. The region is also the keeper of other ancient wealth, much of which can be discovered at the Archaeological Museum in Veliko Tarnovo, the archaeological exhibition at the History Museum in Gorna Orhyahovitsa and the exhibition Archaeology and Renaissance at the Dryanovo monastery St. Archangel Mihail.
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Glorious Middle Ages The glorious history of Bulgaria, the pinnacle of which is connected to the glory of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1185 - 1393) left Veliko Tarnovo a rich heritage. The city has been the capital of the Bulgarian country, home to kings and queens, patriarchs, aristocrats, military leaders, great people whose name to the present day generate emotions of respect and admiration. The preserved and restored remnants of this epoch provide the opportunity one to acquire
an idea of the scale and magnificence of the old capital city. The walk back in time starts from Tsarevets hill, where the fortress bearing the same name is located: the greatest sight of the city, the main fortress of Tsarevgrad Тurnov (“The Tarnov Tzar’s City”). The facility is naturally protected by the waters of the wild Yantra river, which surrounds it on three sides. The Tsarevets fortress was a protective crown around the fortified medieval Bulgarian
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capital with its sound fortress walls, three entrances and two side tower-gates into the adjacent neighbourhoods. The main entrance of the fort, located on the SouthWest side on a narrow and rocky isthmus, was organised with three gates and a drawbridge in succession. The second entrance is known as the Assenov gate and is located on the NorthWestern fortress wall. The third entrance, located on the SouthEastern end of the fortress, is called the Frenhisar gate and was guarded by a battle tower named the Baldwin tower after the latin emperor
Baldwin of Flanders, who was captured by Tzar Kaloyan in the battle of Odrin in 1205. As an old legend has it, Baldwin was locked up in the tower and died there later on. In the central part of the citadel rises the fortified with walls and towers Tzar’s Complex, with an area of 4,872 square metres. In it was the residence of the ruler with all its commercial and residential spaces, the small and large throne room and the palace church St. Petka of Tarnovo. Within the Tsarevets limits are also the buildings of the Patriarchy, constructed during the time of Tzar Ivan Assen II in 1235. The complex is a traditional representative of Bulgarian medieval construction. The uncovered remnants of the Patriarchy present it as a complete, independently fortified architectural ensemble with its own internal courtyard, patriarchal residence, servants’ buildings and the church St.
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Vaznesenie Gospodne (St. Spas) with a bell tower on the South side. The temple St. Forty Martyrs is located at the foot of the Tsarevets hill and was constructed and painted by order of the Bulgarian Tzar Ivan Assen II in honour of his victory over the Epirus despot Theodore Komnin in 1230. Here were discovered some of the most emblematic monuments of Bulgarian history - the columns of Khan Omurtag (815 - 831) and Tzar Ivan Assen II with inscriptions on them, the tombs of the Bulgarian Tzar Kaloyan, St. Sava Srabski, etc. It was at this temple on 22nd September, 1908 that the Bulgarian prince Ferdinand announced Bulgaria independent of the Ottoman empire and himself as king of Bulgarians.
There are two other medieval temples at the foot of the Tsarevets hill: St. St. Peter and Paul and St. Ivan Rilski, which were both part of a large monasterial complex. After the falling of Veliko Tarnovo to the Ottomans, the monastery performed the functions first of a patriarchal, then a metropolitan residence. Trapezitsa is the second most important fortress in the capital city and is still being surveyed. To present, archaeological excavations have uncovered 19 churches, a heavily built-up quarter around the Southern fortress wall and the SouthEastern Gate, the West gate, the large monasterial complex St. Ivan Rilski, a Northern entrance with a tower and the remains of a
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fe o d a l citadel of the Trapezitsa fortress. The temple of St. Dimitar, which bears the status of a museum, is located on the Southern foot of the Trapezitsa fortress. Historical information connects the church with the announcement of the revolt of brothers Assen and Peter against the Byzantine empire which led to the restoration of the Bulgarian state in 1186. The archaeological surveys in the area surrounding the church uncovered parts of a monastery, the remains of another Christian temple, a large necropolis and Thracian sanctuary. Another temple and museum is St. Georgi,
located on the Southern side of the Trapezitsa fortress and elevated on the base of a church from the capital period of the city’s existence. The temple was painted in the 17th Century and its narthex has retained the remains of two colourful layers. The third medieval fortress Momina krepost, or Devingrad, is located East of Tsarevets. It was inhabited by the poorer population, confirmed by the discovery of two small, medieval churches, several semi-dug homes and a pottery stove. To gain better insight into the scale and meaning of the medieval Veliko Tarnovo and its role as Bulgarian capital, you should visit the Archaeological Museum
15 in town. Its wealth of exhibits contains many important artefacts uncovered in the surveys of the fortresses and the region. Among them are gold and lead tzar seals, gold ring seals of highranking Bulgarian dignitaries, coins, accessories, weapons, craft items, ceramic vessels, literary monuments, examples of the Tarnovo school of painting and miniatures, etc. A new approach to history and to the present day is provided by the unique for the country Multimedia Visitors’ Centre Tzarevgrad Tarnov, which is located near the Tsarevets hill. The multimedia centre is on two floors and contains 29 sculpted figures of people from history - tzar Ivan Assen II and his wife, Irina Komnina, tzar Kaloyan in two historical recreations the coronation of the ruler by the Pope’s cardinal Leo and the battle of Adrianopolis in 1205, Baldwin of Flanders in a scene recreating his imprisonment, noblemen boyars in their homes, patriarchs, craftsmen in their workshops. The lifestyle of the epoch is authentically recreated in the exposition of the pottery workshop, mint, arsenal, vent,
etc., while the throne room of the Bulgarian tzars has been decorated with beautiful murals. The concept of the multimedia centre is to present the tzar and military glory, spirituality and literature, painting and crafts through modern and attractive means. Five sensory screens in the visitors’ centre provide information about the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, while the multimedia room offers films regarding the history of the old capital.
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The magnificence of the Bulgarian Renaissance
The tourist region of Veliko Tarnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa and Dryanovo is extremely attractive for visitors interested in history, ethnography, architecture and the arts. There are few other places in Bulgaria which have so successfully retained their age and interwoven it with the dynamics of modern life, transforming them into living participants in the daily routine of the city. Veliko Tarnovo is a wonderful example of how the past can continue living with its own rhythm in the modernday city and charm with its architectural image, specific spirit of continuity and respect towards history. The Renaissance - the great period of gaining awareness, the rising of the star of Bulgarian
spirit, literature and the strive for freedom and knowledge - has left marvellous architectural and art monuments around the entire region. Public and residential buildings, bridges, temples, works of art and life, books, craftsmen’s creations remind us even today of the mastery, love, labour and the strive for aesthetics and practicality so distinctive for this period of Bulgaria’s history. It is completely natural for this walk back in time and the submersion into the age of the Renaissance to begin from the Museum of the Bulgarian Revival and Constituent Assembly in Veliko Tarnovo. The museum exhibition is located in the building of the old Turkish administration constructed in 1872 by the great Renaissance master builder, Kolyu Ficheto. The building itself is a true work of art,
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with an interesting architectural plan adapted to the sloping terrain: two floors on the North side and four on the South. The first floor of the museum presents the development of Christian art - here one can see icons of the Tryavna school of art, of painters Stanislav Dospevski and Nikolai Pavlovich, works of master carvers, etc. Also exposed are items, documents and photographs from the age of the Renaissance connected to the crafts practiced in the city, the development of architecture and construction, with a special place dedicated to the
architectural monuments created by Kolyu Ficheto. The second floor of the museum presents the most important moments of the struggle for national liberation by the population in the Veliko Tarnovo region during the age of Ottoman rule, with a special accent on the struggle for an independent Bulgarian church, the development of education and library activities. The third floor is restored to the hall in which the Foundation Meeting in Veliko Tarnovo in 1879 was held to place the foundation of the development of modern-day Bulgaria.
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Another interesting museum dedicated to the age of struggle for national liberation is the Prison. Its exhibits are positioned on the ground and first floor of the original building of the city prison constructed in the mid19th Century. It offers a complete restored interior of three of the cells and the black hole, which functioned through the second half of the 19th Century. Here lay great Bulgarian revolutionaries, such as Philip Totyu, Stefan Karadzha, Vassil Levski, Todor Kableshkov, Bacho Kiro, Georgi Izmirliev, Todor Kirkov, etc.
In close proximity to the Prison museum in Veliko Tarnovo is the Museum of Contemporary History, which aim is to introduce visitors to the history of Bulgaria and the role of the Veliko Tarnovo region following the Liberation (1878), when the city was briefly the capital of the Bulgarian nation once more. One of the halls of the museum is home to the temporary exhibition Veliko Tarnovo and the Bulgarian State. The age of the Renaissance is alive and breathing in two emblematic places in Veliko Tarnovo - the ensembles on Gurko Str. and the Samovodene bazaar. Gurko Str. is a beautiful and romantic jump into the past with its many old houses built in the 19th Century, today restored
19 and coquettishly perched one next to another down the steep street with their whitewashed façades facing the river. One of these buildings, known as the Sarafov House, was built in 1861 as the home and workplace of Dimo Sarafov. Today, the museum house of city life in the 19th Century presents ethnographic exhibitions with various accents. The Samovodene bazaar is one of the few places in the country which have not allowed modern dynamics to break the calmness and rhythm of the old, workmen’s street. The architecturalethnographic complex includes shops, craftsmen’s workshops, a bakery and souvenir shops. Before the Liberation and after, the Samovodene bazaar was the centre of commerce in the city, and in present day is a favourite place of tourists seeking authentic experiences. Among the restored houses at the Samovodene bazaar is a museum dedicated to writer Emilian Stanev. The house is built in place of his home in which he lived from his birth in 1907 to 1922, when his family moved to the town of Elena. Among the interesting exhibits is a Remington typewriter on which he wrote all of his works and which was before
used by another great Bulgarian writer, Svetoslav Minkov. Neighbouring the Samovodene bazaar is one of the emblematic buildings of Veliko Tarnovo - the Hadzhi Nikoli Inn, constructed in 1858 by Kolyu Ficheto. The stunning architecture and execution, as well as the size of the building, arouse amazement to this day - built on steep terrain, on one side it is a one-storey building, while on the other, its has three floors. The beautiful façade is decorated with an open gallery of columns, capitals and arches. Another magnificent manifestation of the genius of the master Kolyu Ficheto is the house built in 1848 for the trader
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Nikola Koyuv located between the market and the Samovodene bazaar. Apart from its architectural plan, the house is also interesting due to its faรงade ornamented with decorative bricks. It is considered to have placed the beginning of such decoration around the country. It is called The House with the Monkey due to the sculpture of a sitting monkey placed over the entrance. An interesting ethnographic exhibition located in the historical building of the Saraliev House in the town of Kilifarevo, (approximately 11 km to the South of Veliko Tarnovo) will introduce you not only to the history of the town, but also with additional information of the region and its past. The city of Dryanovo, as the birthplace of master Kolyu
Ficheto (1800 - 1881), considered the first Bulgarian architect, possesses a valuable architectural and historic heritage. The central part of the exhibition of the city historical museum is dedicated to the personality and work of master Kolyu Ficheto: photographs, documents and models of his buildings follow his life and demonstrate his achievements. One of the buildings created here by the master - the Ikonomov house - combines his mastery and the magnificence of painting art through its exposition of medieval and renaissance icons (end of 17th - 19th Century). The collection derives from one of the temples of the Dryanovo municipality and is mostly made up of works of the Tryavna school of art from the 19th Century. You can become acquainted to the life of rich Dryanovo people
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f r o m Renaissance times, as well as several domestic crafts, thanks to the wonderful exhibitions in the two old houses, the Lafchiev house and Perev house. The houses are built with a common roof - the so-called ‘twin houses’ built by master Kolyu Gaidardzhiata for traders Lavchev and Perev in 1840. The ensemble is also called “The House with No Nails”. The genius master builder created the three-storey building by using only wooden assemblies, without a single metal element. Dryanovo boasts other beautiful old buildings retained from the Renaissance - the Afazov, Romunov and Tavanov houses. The Clock Tower is emblematic for Dryanovo. The old tower was built in 1778 and measured time for Dryanovo residents for 167 years. In 1945, seriously damaged by earthquakes and old age, it was demolished, only to be constructed again in 1984 with its old clock mechanism. Another masterpiece by master Kolyu Ficheto serves Dryanovo residents to this day
- the bridge over the Dryanovska river. It was built in the middle of the 19th Century in the traditional Renaissance style of a “humpback” (Roman) bridge. Its length is 38.50 metres and the width of the road and small pavements is 5 metres. Gorna Oryahovitsa also zealously protects its historical memories. The exhibition of the city historical museum has an accent on the active participation of Gorna Oryahovitsa people in the struggles for national liberation and most prominently the April Revolt. The life of the people in the region from the age of the 19th Centuryis authentically represented in the ethnographic exhibition set up in the house of the famous local family of Kozlevi in Dolna Oryahovitsa, around 7 km to the NorthEast of Gorna Oryahovitsa.
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Protectors of Faith In the long and dark ages of Ottoman rule, the challenged Bulgarian spirit and self-awareness succeeded to be preserved, sheltered and supported by the Orthodox church. Monasteries and temples were not only shelter for people’s threatened faith, but a motor for renaissance processes, the initiator of new initiatives and a guardian of Bulgarians’ historical memory. The region of the old capital Tarnovgrad was the centre of Christian faith, home to the Bulgarian patriarchy. Here, during the age of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, were built a number of monasteries and temples, many of which were destroyed during the Ottoman invasion; however, many others continued to exist to present day, becoming pillars of faith and guardians of our thousands of years of history.
The St. Troitsa monastery, better known with its holy name Patriarsheski, is located in a beautiful and inaccessible area in the ravine of the Yantra river, around 6 km to the North of Veliko Tarnovo. It was built in the 11th Century and is the oldest in the region. The remnants of the first building have been discovered at approximately a kilometer away from the current building. In the 14th Century, Patriarch Evtimii founded the famous Tarnovo Literary School there which then set new, unified Slavic writing rules and language norms. The currentday monastery church was built by master Kolyu Ficheto in 1874 on the foundation of an older, Medieval building. On 1913, the monastery was destroyed by an earthquake. It was restored to its present form in 1927. The Preobrazhenie Monastery
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Preobrazhenie Gospodne, which is the largest of the Veliko Tarnovo monasteries, was founded around 1360 by queen TeodoraSara and her son, Ivan Shishman (14th Century). This is why the monastery is also known as Sarin or Shishmanov. It is located 7 km from Veliko Tarnovo across from the Patriarsheski, on the other side of the Yantra ravine, near the village of Samovodene. The remains of the old, Medieval temple are found 500 m away from the present-day building. The holy cloister played an important role in the struggle of the Bulgarian nation for church and national independence. During the Ottoman rule, it was raided and set fire to by Kardzhali people several times and later on destroyed completely. It was restored to its current location in 1825 with the permission of Sultan Mahmud Khan by the patriotic monk, father Zotik. The church is the work of master Kolyu Ficheto and painted in the period 1849 1851 by Zahari Zograf - the most renowned Renaissance painter. Here are the monumental murals Judgement Day and The Wheel of Life, The Birth of Christ, The Conception by The Holy Mother, The Last Supper. The bell tower from 1856 is also the work of Kolyu Ficheto. The library houses valuable Bulgarian Medieval
books and icons. South of Veliko Tarnovo is another Medieval monastery, St. Nikola, also known as Kapinovski. It is believed to have been founded by tzar Konstantin Assen the Quiet in 1272. Upon the fall of the Tarnovo kingdom to Ottoman rule, it was devastated and its existence halted for several centuries. In the 17th Century, it was raised again from the ashes by the residents of the neighbouring villages. Legend says that they restored the monastery in secret, working by night and blackening the walls with smoke for it to look old. After its restoration, the monastery was devastated several times again from Kardzhali raids. It was last built in 1835 by Dryanovo masters. The large icons of the iconostasis were painted in 1811-1891 by Tryavna master, Papa Vitan the Young. Not far from the Kapinovski monastery - only 2 km away - is
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the Plakovski monastery St. Prorok Ilia. In the past, the two cloisters were called the twin monasteries. Founded in the 13th Century during the reign of Ivan Assen II, it was destroyed and restored a total of six times during the Ottoman empire. The church guards very old icons. The only mural of the church - St. Prorok Ilia in a Chariot - is the work of the painter, Zahari Zograf. It is known that the Velchova Zavera revolution was planned
within the monastery’s walls in 1835. In 1856, master Kolyu Ficheto constructed a massive bell tower at the monastery. One of the most beautiful monasteries in the country the Kilifarevo St. Rozdhenie Bogorodichno, is approximately 5 km to the South of Veliko Tarnovo on the bank of the Belitsa river. It was founded in the mid-14th Century by St. Teodosii of Tarnovo (a Bulgarian churchman and hermit, canonised as a saint) in support of tzar Ivan Alexander. Before it was destroyed by the Ottoman invaders in 1393, the monastery was engaged in literary activity. The present-day Kilifarevo monastery was built in 1718 near the remains of the Medieval cloister. The St. Dimitar temple and the residential buildings were the work of master Kolyu Ficheto. The monastery is an active women’s monastery and provides accommodation. Only 5 km to the SouthWest of Dryanovo, on the way to the city of Gabrovo, is one of the most famous monasteries in the country, the Dryanovo monastery St. Archangel
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Mihail. Pla ced among the beautiful nature of the preBalkan, it is a favoured destination not only for pilgrims, but also people seeking a more natural experience. The monastery was founded in the 12th Century 2 km away from its current location. It was burnt down in the invasion of the Ottoman Turks in 1393. Restored and destroyed several more times over the centuries, the cloister was relocated to its current place in the end of the 17th Century. In the past, the monastery developed serious literary activity during the Renaissance. The monks of St. Archangel Mihail were among the most prolific participants in the preparation for the April Revolt (1876) and the battle for freedom from Ottoman rule. The cloister was again destroyed during the suppression of the rebellion, but partially restored only a year later. The monastery has a hotel portion which provides accommodation. Only a kilometre SouthWest of Gorna Oryahovitsa is another Medieval monastery, St. Prorok
Ilia, which beginning was also placed during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. Legends have it that this is where the exiled tzar Boris I passed away. The unique monastery bell tower was announced Bell for Life on Earth in 1995 by the UN. Since then, the bell tolls every year on 24th October (Earth Day) to warn of the pending threat to the environmental balance of the planet. Between Gorna Oryahovitsa and Veliko Tarnovo, in the ancient village of Arbanasi, there are two active monasteries - for men and for women. The women’s monastery St. Bogoroditsa is in the beginning of the village. This is the place of the miracle icon of the Three-Handed Mary, named also The Weeping Mary. An old legend states that when the Ottomans gained control of Tsarevets, the nuns abandoned the monastery and buried the icon in a secret place. After many years, a shepherd boy who was grazing his sheep nearby fell asleep and in a dream heard a moaning coming from underground. Thus, the icon was recovered and returned to the monastery. At the other end of the village is the men’s monastery St. Nikola.
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It is known to have been founded in the end of the 12th Century and destroyed during the Ottoman invasion. It was restored in 1680, which is when the current church was constructed. At the same time was the construction of the St. Ilia chapel, which murals have been preserved to this day. There is another miracle icon of the Holy Mother here as well. Legends say that it helps women who cannot conceive to become mothers. To achieve her dream, a woman must follow the following ritual: after prayer, she should place a coin on the icon. If it sticks, the Virgin will give an answer to her prayers, if not, the answer is negative. Apart from the monastery
cloisters, the region of Veliko Tarnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa and Dryanovo retained a number of Christian temples in populated areas as well. Many of them are cultural monuments due to their architecture and history. Apart from the historic temples of the hills Tsarevets and Trapezitsa, Veliko Tarnovo boasts other churches which impress with their magnificent architecture. Among them are St. St. Konstantin and Elena, built by
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master K o l y u Ficheto in 1873 and is considered the most beautiful temple in Veliko Tarnovo; St. St. Kiril and Methodius in the quarter of Varusha, whose donor was once again Kolyu Ficheto, the Cathedral “Rozhdestvo Hristovo�, whose narthex provides the final resting place for three metropolitans, the temple of St. Nikola, also in the quarter of Varusha. At the architectural-museum reserve in the village of Arbanasi, there are several temples which rightly bear the title of cultural monuments. Rozhdestvo Hristovo is the oldest temple in Arbanasi and has been the residence of the largest metropolitan of the Balkan peninsula - the Tarnovo metropolitan. The church St. Archangels Gavrail and Mihail is the largest in Arbanasi. Also interesting are the churches St. Atanas, St. Georgi and St. Dimitar. The temple St. Nikola in Gorna Oryahovitsa is the work of master Kolyu Ficheto and the murals were created by the painter Zahari Zograf. St. Troitsa in Gorna Oryahovitsa is another old temple constructed in the 16th Century bearing the name St. Twelve Apostles. The church St. Ivan Rilski in the village of
Gorski, G o r e n Trumbezh region, is the newest Orthodox temple in the Gorna Oryahovista municipality, preserving the holy remains of St. Ivan Rilski, St. Mina and St. Haralampii. The temple St. Nikola in Dryanovo was constructed by master Kolyu Ficheto in 1851 and the murals were made in 1926. The beautiful building is considered the first successful attempt of the master builder to introduce his own style into the architecture of Orthodox temples and the formation of their facades.
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Eco and Hobby Tourism The region of Veliko Tarnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa and Dryanovo is blessed with beautiful and diverse nature, plentiful biodiversity and a multitude of natural landmarks. Many of them are accessible for tourists thanks to the eco trails and routes all over the region. Only several kilometres from Dryanovo is the Bacho Kiro cave, which is the first landscaped cave in Bulgaria. It is reached
by a short trail leading from the Dryanovo monastery. The cave is a complex labyrinth of galleries on four levels with a total length of 3,600 m, of which approximately 700 m are accessible to tourists. In close proximity is another cave that could be of interest to amateur speleologists - Andaka. One of the most poplar eco trails in the region is Via Ferrata. It also begins from the Dryanovo monastery and the two-hour trek will take you past the railroad, down the bank of the Dryanovska river past Sini Vir, up stone and iron steps to the edge of the rocky ring East of the monastery, down a stony track to the Strinava plateau (fortresses Gradut and Chukata), through the forest and back in front of the monastery. Another eco trail acquaints tourists with the remains of the Discoduratera fortress and the richness of the mountain’s nature. There is also a tourist route leading through picturesque places and villages to the architectural-historical reserve, the village of Bozhentsi.
29 The Hotnishki waterfall is a beautiful natural landmark in the region of the village of Hotnitsa, 15 km to the North of Veliko Tarnovo. A good asphalt road ends at the meadow in front of the waterfall. The region has a route of steps and bridges providing the opportunity to approach the waterfall and walk around the area surrounding the river. 26 km to the NorthEast of Veliko Tarnovo, near the village of Emen, is another attractive eco path - Emenska (or Negovanska). It passes through landmarks such as the Emen cave, the breathtaking Emen canyon and ends at the magnificent waterfall, Momin Skok. Near Gorna Oryahovitsa is the protected area Bozhur Polyana, which is the
place of preservation of the rare plant, the peony. This is also the location of the Bozhur cabin - a pleasant place for an excursion in nature. In the region of Gorna Oryahovitsa, the eco trail Kamaka offers the opportunity to see interesting natural formations, as well as rare plant and animal wildlife. There is also an eco path in the area of the village of Pravda. The route passes along the bank of the Yantra river and includes the picturesque riverside areas of Vartopa, Blatoto and Ashava.
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Sports and adventure If you have decided that you have been to all interesting historical and natural landmarks in the region of Veliko Tarnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa and Dryanovo and you have expended all opportunities to have fun, you may be wrong. To be a tourist does not mean simply touring interesting places and museums with a camera, but foremost seeking new horizons, challenges and emotions. The destination Veliko Tarnovo - Gorna Oryahovitsa - Dryanovo offers many more and diverse opportunities to challenge yourself, practice your favourite hobby or experience
something new. Fishing is a hobby that never grows tedious for those who practice it, on the contrary it demands a constant search for new, untried rivers and waters and new records. Here, the opportunity for fishing is provided by the waters of the rivers Yantra, Dryanovska and Rositsa. Hunters may try their aim at the Bolyarka hunting reserve - its hunting area amounts to 16,279 hectares divided into ten independent hunting regions. Here the hunt is on for deer, roe and wild boar. The lovers of cycling adventure will be impressed by
31 the challenges of the cycle paths of the Dryanovo region. They pass through various difficulties of terrain, picturesque villages, beautiful locations and have various lengths. Next to the Dryanovo monastery is one of the greatest attractions in the country - a rope garden with multiple bridges and facilities connecting the trees. The height of the equipment varies between 1 and 7 metres and depends on the difficulty of the stage. Different stages have been planned out for children and adults. Again in the Dryanovo region, there are many unexplored caves that are still awaiting their explorers. Experienced guides offer extreme exploration of unlit caves in small groups or individually and ensure the necessary safety equipment. The rocks above Dryanovo and Veliko Tarnovo often challenge beginners and experienced climbers. There are several rock climbing clubs in the region
offering training and equipment as well. At Arbanasi, there is stable which provide riding trainings as well as horseback rides to nearby landmarks via specially developed routes. If adventure gets the better of you and the day passes without notice, or if you simply love spending the night in nature, you can make use of the services and good conditions the campsites in the region offer - at the Kapinovski monastery, Emen village and the Dryanovo monastery.
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Recreation and Hospitality
To break away from the everyday, to find a new place, different and cosy, a place that offers you quiet, calm and much desired rest, is something every person has dreamed of. The monotony of a seaside vacation at the beach or winter on the ski slopes has found a pleasant alternative in the opportunities for village tourism and recreation the region of Veliko Tarnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa and Dryanovo provides. The mountainous relief around Dryanovo nestles picturesque villages providing warm hospitality in cosy hotels, guest houses and individual rooms. Accommodation and pleasant moments can be found in the hotels and complexes around the
Dryanovo monastery, the city of Dryanovo, as well as in the villages of Tsareva Livada, Ganchovets, Gostilitsa, Kereka, Gesha and the neighbourhood of Krachunka. Some of the houses are offered in their entirety and can be rented for a longer period, for the entire family or a company. There are hotel complexes which offer swimming pools, bungalows and children’s facilities. The village of Tsareva Livada, located 5 km South of Dryanovo, has the status of a climate resort. The climate here is appropriate for the treatment and prophylactics of lung disease. The village has a well-developed tourist infrastructure, several hotels and guest houses which all provide excellent conditions for a rest for regeneration or a holiday. 30 km South of Veliko Tarnovo, at the entrance of the Hainboaz pass, is another resort - the village of Voneshta Voda. Its name comes
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from the mineral springs, which water full of sulphur has a specific odour. However, the water is healing and has a positive effect on numerous diseases. There is also several hotels and a vacation station in the village. Speaking of village tourism, one of the first associations is the village of Arbanasi. Located only 6 km from Veliko Tarnovo on the road to Gorna Oryahovitsa, it offers various options for accommodation, including luxury hotels. Due to its excellently preserved buildings (140 cultural monuments), Arbanasi has been announced an architectural and museum reserve. The village appeared during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, but its apogee was in the period 17th-19th Century. The local population dealt with
livestock, silk cultures and trade and Arbanasi traders were rich and prosperous. Due to the frequent Kardzhali raids, the Arbanasi houses have a specific architecture - they look like unapproachable fortresses on the outside, yet within, they are lavishly decorated in reflection of the wealth of the owner. Today, the most famous cultural monument is the Konstantsaliev house, built in the 17th Century. The village also has several old temples and two monasteries. There are also opportunities for a pleasant village holiday in the Veliko Tarnovo region as well. Accommodation and good Bulgarian cuisine is offered in the villages of Emen, Ledenik, Kapinovo, Velchevo, Mindya, Samovodene, as well as in the city of Kilifarevo.
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Local flavours and aromas One of the most pleasant sides to travelling is meeting new people and the taste of local specialities. This is one of the ways to let the atmosphere of a new place sink in and touch upon its essence. And so, the region of Veliko Tarnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa and Dryanovo has something to provide its guests with. For those who seek new flavours and aromas, it is essential they try some of the local specialities. One of them is the famous Gorna Oryahovitsa sudzhuk. Centuries ago, the people of Gorna Oryahovitsa succeeded to invent the recipe to preserve
beef thanks to local spices and the favourable climate, which ensured the preservation of the delicatessens with slight, dry draughts. Today, the fame of the Gorna Oryahovitsa sudzhuk is spread over the country and is synonymous to tasty and high-quality food. Another interesting local dish is the Gorna Oryahovitsa pot, prepared from beef neck threads, vegetables and spices. Vine massifs can be found in the outskirts of the village of Gorski Dolen Trumbezh. The ideal climate and soil of the region, as well as its close proximity to the Yantra river, make it exceptionally appropriate for the growing of high-quality wine grapes and producing wine. Veliko Tarnovo and Dryanovo also have something to boast about. At the taverns and restaurants, you may try local variations of many recipes from the Bulgarian traditional cuisine - banitsa, hot-pots, stuffed vine and cabbage leaves, soups and stews and many more. Local beverages are essential for the authenticity of the atmosphere. Veliko Tarnovo is one of the many cities which produces Bulgarian beer. Several breweries produce beer under various brands, all of them with high international quality.
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Emotions and Festivals All Year Round January: • Bogoyavlenie (Yordanovden), the christening of the battle flags - V.Tarnovo; Sancimony, throwing the holy cross into the waters of the Yantra river - V.Tarnovo, Dryanovo and Parvomaitsi village • Holiday of the Ragged Banitsa in Varbitsa village, G.Oryahovitsa municipality February: • 14th February - Archaeologist’s Day, V.Tarnovo • Martenitsi workshop, Veliko Tarnovo municipality • Recreation of the tradition Bachelor’s Wedding, city of Kilifarevo • Municipal contest for martenitsa creation, V.Tarnovo • Workshop for crafts and virtus, G. Orhyahovitsa • 19th February - honour of anniversary of death of Vassil Levski - Dryanovo March: • 3rd March - National holiday of Republic of Bulgaria, V.Tarnovo, G.Oryahovitsa, Dryanovo • 8th March - Women’s automobile rally in honour of International Women’s Day, G.Oryahovitsa • Shrove • 22nd March - Day of Veliko Tarnovo • Blagoveshtenie, V.Tarnovo April: • Municipal festival of folklore dance arts, V.Tarnovo • International Exhibition of Cultural Tourism, V.Tarnovo • Sofia Film Fest in Veliko Tarnovo - week of film • Sofia Film Fest in Gorna Oryahovitsa • 23rd April - International Book Day - V.Tarnovo, G.Oryahovitsa
Emotions and Festivals All Year Round
36 • Che se e prolet puknala - Municipal celebration of national creative work, Ledenik village • Tzvetnica (Flower Day) - Municipal celebration of arts and amateur performances by the pensioners’ club, V.Tarnovo • Lazarovden - Recreation of the national tradition Lazaruvane, Kilifarevo • National folklore Dance Festival Bolyarsko Nadigravane, V.Tarnovo • 27th April - Municipal Folklore Celebration of Folk Choirs and Source Folklore groups in Parvomai village, Gorna Oryahovitsa municipality • 28th April - Tzvetnitsa in Veliko Tarnovo - celebratory open-air concert, V.Tarnovo • Colourful Easter Week, V.Tarnovo • Exhibition of painted eggs, Veliko Tarnovo • Recreation of Easter traditions and rites, V.Tarnovo • Workshop Write yourself an egg, V.Tarnovo • Day of amateur performances at national libraries in Dryanovo municipality • April/May - Balkan Gathering Balkan Folk and National Folklore Championship Euro Folk, V.Tarnovo • April/May - Ascension of Christ - Easter, V.Tarnovo, G.Oryahovitsa, Dryanovo May: • Little Prince 2013 - National contest for Children’s Theatrical Art, V.Tarnovo • 6th May - Gergiovden, Day of Bravery and the Bulgarian Army, V.Tarnovo, G.Oryahovitsa, Dryanovo • 9th May - Day of Europe, celebratory ritual and parade of the EU nations’ flags - EU members, V.Tarnovo, G.Oryahovitsa • May Days of Culture - by programme, V.Tarnovo, Dryanovo • Miss Gorna Oryahovitsa - G.Oryahovitsa
Emotions and Festivals All Year Round
37 • Tourist Song Celebration of the Peony, with the participation of groups for tourist songs from around the country, G.Oryahovitsa • Art and Satire Workshop, G.Oryahovitsa • Municipal Celebration of Amateur Theatrical Art, Samovodene village • Anniversary of April revolt and Epic of Dryanovo monastery • 24th May - Day of Bulgarian Education and Culture of Slavic Alphabet, V.Tarnovo, G.Oryahovitsa, Dryanovo • 29th May - Day of Gorna Oryahovitsa • Holiday of the Gorna Oryahovitsa sudzhuk, G.Oryahovitsa • May/June - International Competition for popular music New Music, G.Oryahovitsa • May - September - Programme with concerts and openair stage performances, Veliko Tarnovo Council brass band charity concerts in the parks of the city June: • 1st June - Children’s Day, V.Tarnovo, G.Oryahovitsa, Dryanovo • National Festival of Folklore Clubs and Groups Folklore Chaplet, G.Oryahovitsa, • International Folklore Festival Rahovche, G.Oryahovitsa • Municipal celebration for groups for source folklore From the source, Yantra village, G.Oryahovitsa municipality • Celebration of Balkan cities Balkan Sings and Tells, Dryanovo • National Pensioners’ Congregation From Word to Word, From Song to Song, Dryanovo • National Folklore festival At the Centre of Arbanasi, Arbanasi village • 2nd June - Day of Hristo Botev and those who died for the freedom and independence of Bulgaria. Celebratory ritual and placing flower wreaths at Mother Bulgaria monument and the plaques of those who died in the wars, V.Tarnovo and Dryanovo • International Children’s Romani Festival Open Heart,
Emotions and Festivals All Year Round
38 V.Tarnovo • Holy Path, beginning of Pilgrimage on the route of the holy remains of St. Ivan Rilski to Rila Monastery, V.Tarnovo • National Petropavlovski Congregation of National Art Work, V.Tarnovo and G.Oryahovitsa - is held every evennumbered year • 24th June - Eniovden - celebratory concert programme Samovodska Charshia, V.Tarnovo • From the sky may it drop, from the ground may it grow” - Recreation of rituals for rain and against hail: Peperuda and Obrok • Eniova Omaya - Regional Cultural Festival - Gesha village (turkish Village Gesha View) - Dryanovo July: • Opera Festival Stage of the Ages, V.Tarnovo • International Folklore Festival, V.Tarnovo • Moto Rock Fest, V.Tarnovo • International Jazz Fest, V.Tarnovo • Children’s Academy of the Arts, Kilifarevo August: • Summer Festival of Classical Chamber Music Arbanasi Summer Music, Arbanasi village • International Festival of Youth Amateur Theatres, G.Oryahovitsa • Holiday of Authentic Folklore On the Square - Pisarevo village, for groups for authentic folklore • Motorbike gathering, V.Tarnovo • Mid-August - Summer Painting Workshop, Kilifarevo • Mindya Rock Fest, Mindya village • National Woodworking Workshop September:
Emotions and Festivals All Year Round
39 • International Festival of Plastic Arts, V.Tarnovo • 6th September - Union of Bulgaria, V.Tarnovo, G.Oryahovitsa, Dryanovo • Night of Samovodska Charshia, V.Tarnovo • International Festival of Military Brass Bands, V.Tarnovo • Municipal Celebration of Fertility A Day Feeds a Year Exhibition of agricultural produce, folklore programme, sports games, Polikraishte village • Gardener’s Holiday at the village of Draganovo • 22nd September - National Independence Day - recreation of historical event and celebratory programmes, V.Tarnovo, G.Oryahovitsa, Dryanovo • International Competition for Young Popular songs Silver Yalta, V.Tarnovo • Regional Review of old city songs, Peonies, G.Oryahovitsa • International Crafts Exhibition, V.Tarnovo October: • Biennial of Church Arts, V.Tarnovo • Holiday of Dryanovo and Traditional Dryanovo Festival • National Cultural Holidays, Poetry and Song of the Balkan, Dryanovo • October/November: International Festival The Art of Baroque, V.Tarnovo November: • 1st November - Day of the National Educators • Biennial of the Drawing, V.Tarnovo • Archangel Shrove, V.Tarnovo December: • 6-23 December - Christmas programmes, V.Tarnovo, G.Oryahovitsa, Dryanovo • 31st December - Holiday programme, welcoming 2014, V.Tarnovo, G.Oryahovitsa
Emotions and Festivals All Year Round
Tourist Packages themed Cultural Tourism
Tourist Package 1:
BACK IN TIME
*Target groups abroad
Gorna Oryahovitsa - Arbanasi village - Veliko Tarnovo Dryanovo DAY 1 8 - 11 am 11 am - 12 pm 12 - 12.30 pm 12.30 - 1.30 pm 1.30 - 2.30 pm 2.30 - 3 pm 3.00 - 4.30 4.30 - 6 pm 7.30 DAY 2 9 - 10 am 10 - 11.30 am 11.30 am - 12 pm 12.30 - 1.30 pm 1.30 - 2.30 pm 2.30 - 6 pm
7 - 8 pm 8 pm
Transfer from Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas, Varna, or other city to Gorna Oryahovitsa Visit to City Historical Museum Visit to temple St. Nikola (created by master Kolyu Ficheto) Lunch Visit to monastery St. Prorok Ilia Trip to Arbanasi Accommodation at hotel Pedestrian tour and visit to museum Konstantsalievata House, the churches St. Georgi, Rozhdestvo Hristovo or St. Archangels Mihail and Gavrail Dinner at traditional Bulgarian restaurant Breakfast Visit to monastery St. Nikola and monastery St. Bogoroditsa in Arbanasi Trip to Veliko Tarnovo Lunch Accommodation at hotel Visit to Architecture-Museum reserve Tsarevets, Medieval churches in the Assenov neighbourhood: St. Ivan Rilski, St. St. Peter I Pavel, St. Georgi, St. Forty Martyrs and the Vladishki bridge Dinner Watch audiovisual show Sound and Light or visit to event from city cultural calendar
DAY 3 8.30 - 9.30 am Breakfast 9.30 am - 12.30 pm Visit to Multimedia Visitors’ Centre Tsarevgrad Tarnov and the museums in Veliko Tarnovo (depending on wish of participants): Restoration and Foundation Meeting, the Prison, Archaeological Museum 12 - 12.30 pm Departure from hotel 12 - 1.30 pm Lunch 1.30 - 4 pm Walk around old city 4 - 4.30 pm Trip to Dryanovo 4.30 - 7 pm Accommodation and rest 7 pm Dinner DAY 4 8.30 - 9.30 am 9.30 - 11 am 11 am - 12.30 pm 12.30 - 1.30 pm 1.30 - 2 pm 2 - 3.30 pm 3.30 pm -
Breakfast Visit to Dryanovo monastery and the exhibition Archeology and Renaissance Visit to Bacho Kiro cave Lunch Departure from hotel Tour of Dryanovo sights: the museum Kolyu Ficheto, Lafchieva house and Pereva house, the relief map, Ikonomova house, Kolyu Ficheto’s bridge, etc. Departure
Tourist Packages themed Cultural Tourism
Tourist Package 2:
BACK TO ANTIQUITY
*Target groups from Bulgaria
Gorna Oryahovitsa - Veliko Tarnovo - Dryanovo
DAY 1 7 - 10 am 10 - 11 am 11 am - 12 pm 12 - 1 pm 1 - 1.30 pm 1.30 - 2.30 pm 2.30 - 3 pm 3 - 7 pm 7 - 8 pm 8 pm DAY 2 8.30 - 9.30 am 9.30 - 10.30 am 10.30 - 11.30 am
11.30 am - 1 pm 1 - 2 pm 2 - 2.30 2.30 - 4 pm 4 - 5 pm 5 - 7 pm 7 pm
Transfer from Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas, Varna or other city to Gorna Oryahovitsa Visit to Historical museum in Gorna Oryahovitsa Free time, visit to Art Gallery N. Karaneshev Lunch Trip to Archeological reserve Nicopolis ad Istrum Visit of Archeological reserve Nicopolis ad Istrum Trip to Veliko Tarnovo Accommodation and free time Dinner Watch audiovisual show Sound and Light or visit event from city cultural calendar Breakfast Visit to Archaeological Museum Visit to Multimedia Visitors’ Centre Tsarevgrad Tarnov and the museums in Veliko Tarnovo: Restoration and Foundation Meeting, the Prison, Contemporary History Walk in old city to Gurko Street and Samovodska Charshia with opportunity to buy souvenirs, etc. Lunch Trip to Dryanovo Accommodation and rest Visit to Bacho Kiro cave Pedestrian tour of Dryanovo Dinner
DAY 3 8.30 - 9.30 am Breakfast 9.30 am - 12.30 pm Walk of eco trail From Discoduratera to present day 12.30 - 1.30 pm Lunch 1.30 - 3 pm Visit to museum exhibition Archaeology and Renaissance at Dryanovo monastery 3 pm Departure
Tourist Packages themed Cultural Tourism
Tourist Package 3:
SYMBOLS OF FAITH
(PILGRIMAGE TOURISM)
Gorna Oryahovitsa - Arbanasi village Veliko Tarnovo - Kilifarevo - Dryanovo DAY 1 Up to 10 am 10 - 10.30 am 10.30 am - 12 pm 12 - 12.30 12.30 - 1.30 pm 1.30 - 2.30 pm 3.30 - 4.30 pm
4.30 - 7 pm 7 am DAY 2 8.20 - 9.30 am 9.30 - 10.30 10.30 - 11 am 11 am - 12 pm 12 - 12.30 pm 12.30 - 1.00 pm 1 - 2 pm 2 - 3 pm 3 - 6 pm 6 - 7 Rest 7 - 8 pm 8 pm DAY 3 8.30 - 9.30 am 9.30 - 10 am 10 - 10.30 am 10.30 - 11 am 11 - 11.30 am 11.30 - 11.45 am 11.45 am - 1 pm 1 - 2 pm 2 - 3 pm 3 - 5 pm 5 - 7 pm 7 pm DAY 4 8.30 - 9.30 am 9.30 - 9.50 am 9.50 - 11.30 am
Arrival in Gorna Oryahovitsa Visit to temple St. Troitsa, built in 1869 Visit to monastery St. Prorok Ilia from age of Second Bulgarian Kingdom Trip to Arbanasi Lunch Accommodation and rest Visit to monastery St. Nikola and monastery St. Bogoroditsa from the age of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom - the first was renovated in 1879, while the second contains one of the miracle icons of the Holy Mary Pedestrian tour and visit of museum churches in Arbanasi Dinner Trip to Patriarchal monastery St. Troitsa Visit to Patriarchal monastery St. Troitsa Trip to Preobrazhenski monastery Preobrazhenie Gospodne Visit of Preobrazhenski monastery Preobrazhenie Gospodne Trip to Veliko Tarnovo Accommodation Lunch Rest Visit to temples: St. Dimitar, St. Ioan Rilski, St. Peter I Pavel, St. Forty Martyrs, Patriarchy, etc. Dinner Watch audiovisual show Sound and Light or visit event from city cultural calendar Breakfast Trip to Kilifarevo monastery Rozhdestvo Bogorodichno Visit of Kilifarevo monastery Rozhdestvo Bogorodichno Trip to Plachkovski monastery St. Prorok Ilia Visit of Plachkovski monastery St. Prorok Ilia Trip to Kapinovski monastery St. Nikolai Chudotvorets Lunch in region around monastery Visit to Kapinovski monastery St. Nikolai Chudotvorets Trip to Dryanovo Rest Dinner Pedestrian tour of Dryanovo: the Dryanovska Charter museum, Clock Tower, church St. Nikola
Breakfast Trip to Dryanovo monastery St. Archangel Mihail Visit of Dryanovo monastery St. Archangel Mihail and exhibition Archaeology and Renaissance 11.30 am - 12.30 pm Visit to Bacho Kiro cave 12.30 - 1.30 pm Lunch 1.30 pm Departure
Tourist Packages themed Cultural Tourism
Tourist Package 4:
THE MASTER’S MASTERPIECES
*Target groups from Bulgaria and abroad Gorna Oryahovitsa - Veliko Tarnovo Dryanovo - Kilifarevo
DAY 1 Up to 10 am 10 - 10.30 am 10.30 - 11 am 11 am - 12 pm 12 - 12.30 pm 12.30 - 1.30 pm 1.30 - 2 pm 2 - 3 pm 3 - 4 pm 4 - 5 pm 5 - 7 pm 7 pm DAY 2 8.30 - 9.30 am 9.30 am - 12.30 pm
12.30 - 1 pm 1 - 2 pm 2 - 4 pm
4.30 pm - 7 pm 7 pm Dinner DAY 3 8.30 - 9.30 am 9.30 - 10 am
Arrival in Gorna Oryahovitsa Visit to temple St. Nikola, created by master Kolyu Ficheto Trip to Patriarchal monastery St. Troitsa Visit of Patriarchal monastery St. Troitsa and the temple restored by Kolyu Ficheto Trip to Preobrazhenski monastery St. Preobrazhenie Gospodne Visit to Preobrazhenski monastery St. Preobrazhenie Gospodne Trip to Veliko Tarnovo Lunch Accommodation and rest Visit to Museum of the Bulgarian Revival and Constituent Assembly with the exhibition focussing on the work of master Kolyu Ficheto Free time or visit event of city cultural calendar Dinner Breakfast Visit to Samovodska Charshia, Hadzhi Nikoli’s Inn, the House with the Monkey, the temple St. St. Konstantin and Elena and temple St. St. Kiril and Methodius Trip to Dryanovo Lunch Pedestrian tour of old part of Dryanovo and visit to the museum dedicated to Kolio Ficheto, the bridge over the Dryanovska river and the temple St. Nikola Accommodation and rest
Breakfast Trip to Kilifarevski monastery Rozhdestvo Bogorodichno 10 - 11 am Visit of Kilifarevski monastery Rozhdestvo Bogorodichno 11 - 11.30 am Trip to Plakovski monastery St. Prorok Ilia 11.30 am - 12.30 pm Visit to Plakovski monastery St. Prorok Ilia 12.30 - 1.30 pm Lunch in region 1.30 pm Departure
Tourist Packages themed Cultural Tourism
Tourist Package 5:
DAYS AND HOLIDAYS OF THE PAST Arbanasi village - Gorna Oryahovitsa Dolna Oryahovitsa - Draganovo village - Veliko Tarnovo - Dryanovo DAY 1 Up to 10 am 10 am - 12 pm 12 - 12.30 pm 12.30 - 1.30 pm 1.30 - 2.30 pm 2.30 - 3.30 pm 3.30 - 3.50 pm 3.50 - 4.20 pm 4.20 - 4.40 pm 4.40 - 5 pm 5 - 5.30 pm 5.30 - 7 pm 7 pm DAY 2 8.30 - 9.30 9.30 - 10 am 10 am - 12.30 pm 12.30 - 1.30 pm 1.30 - 2.30 2.30 - 6 pm 6 - 7 pm 7 - 8 pm 8 pm
Arrival in Arbanasi Pedestrian tour around Arbanasi and visit to Konstantsalieva house Trip to Gorna Oryahovitsa Lunch Accommodation Visit to City Historical Museum Trip to Dolna Oryahovitsa Visit to Ethnographic exhibit Trip to Draganovo Visit of house museum Assen Raztsvetnikov Trip to Gorna Oryahovitsa Free time or visit to event of city cultural calendar Dinner
Breakfast Trip to Veliko Tarnovo Visit to Gurko Str. and Samovodska Charshia Lunch Accommodation Visit to Sarafkina house, museum Renaissance and Foundation Meeting, Multimedia Visitors’ Centre, etc. (depending on interest of participants) Free time or visit to event from city cultural calendar Dinner Watch audiovisual show Sound and Light or visit to event from city cultural calendar
DAY 3 8.30 - 9.30 Breakfast 9.30 - 10 am Trip to Dryanovo 10 am - 12.30 pm Pedestrian tour of the landmarks of Dryanovo, visit to the Kolyu Ficheto museum, Lafchievata house and Ikonomovata house or visit to event from city cultural calendar 12.30 - 1.30 pm Lunch 1.30 - 4 pm Visit to Dryanovo monastery and museum exhibition Archaeology and Renaissance 4 pm Departure
Tourist Packages themed Eco Tourism
Tourist Package 6:
EMOTIONS IN GREEN
*For spring-autumn season
Emen village - Hotnitsa village - Gorna Oryahovitsa - Arbanasi village - Dryanovo
DAY 1 Up to 10 am Arrival in Emen village 10 am - 12.30 pm Passage along Emen eco trail, visit to Momin Skok waterfall 12.30 - 1.30 pm Lunch in Emen village 1.30 - 2.20 pm Trip to Hotnitsa village 2.20 - 4 pm Visit to Hotnitsa waterfall and hike along eco trail in region of waterfall 4 - 4.30 pm Trip to Gorna Oryahovitsa 4.30 - 7.30 pm Accommodation 7.30 - 7 pm Free time 7 - 10 pm Dinner DAY 2 8.30 - 9.30 am Breakfast and checkout from hotel 9.30 am - 12.30 pm Hike along Kamaka eco trail and visit to Bozhur cabin 12.30 pm Lunch at cabin 1.30 - 3.00 pm Return to Gorna Oryahovitsa 3 - 3.20 pm Trip to Arbanasi 3.20 - 4 pm Accommodation 4 - 6 pm Free time 7.30 pm Dinner at traditional Bulgarian restaurant DAY 3 8.30 - 9.30 am 9.30 - 10 am 10 - 10.30 am 10.30 - 11.30 am 11.30 am - 1 pm 1 - 2 pm 2 - 5 pm
5 - 7 pm 7 pm
Breakfast Trip to Dryanovo Accommodation in Dryanovo Visit to Bacho Kiro cave Visit to park Adventure Island Lunch Hike along eco trail Via Ferrata (the Strinava area, fortress Gradat and an opportunity to meet moufflons, introduction to typical mountain species of plants, animals and mushrooms, opportunity for open-air picnic) Free time Dinner
DAY 4 8.30 - 9.30 am 9.30 am - 1 pm 1 - 2 pm 2 pm
Breakfast Hike along eco trail From Discoduratera to Present Day Lunch Departure
Tourist Packages themed Eco Tourism
Tourist Package 7:
ADVENTURE TOUR - BOLD AND BRAVE
*For spring-autumn season
Emen village - Veliko Tarnovo - Dryanovo
DAY 1 Up to 10 am 10 am - 12.30 pm 12.30 - 1.30 pm 1.30 - 2 pm 2 - 3 pm 3 - 6 pm 6 - 7 pm 7 pm
Arrival in Emen village Passage along Emen eco trail Lunch Trip to Veliko Tarnovo Accommodation at hotel Rock climbing or walk around landmarks (optional) Free time Dinner
DAY 2 8 - 9 am Breakfast 9 - 9.30 am Trip to Dryanovo 9.30 am - 12.30 pm Rock climbing, hike along eco trail From Discoturatera to Present Day, visit to un-landscaped cave (optional) 12.30 - 1.30 pm Lunch at monastery inn or tavern (choice of participant) 1.30 - 3.30 pm Visit to the Bacho Kiro cave and Dryanovo monastery (choice of participant) 3.30 pm Departure
Туристически пакетиthemed на темаVillage „Селски туризъм“ Tourist Packages Tourism
Tourist Package 8:
EMOTIONS TO THE MAX Kilifarevo - Dryanovo DAY 1 Up to 10 am 10 am - 10.30 am 10:30 am - 11:30 am 11:30 am - 12 pm 12 pm - 13 pm 13 pm - 14 pm 14 pm - 14:45 pm 14:45 pm - 16:30 pm 16:30 pm -
Arrival in Kilifarevo monastery Rozhdestvo Bogorodichno Visit of Kilifarevo monastery Rozhdestvo Bogorodichno Trip to Kilifarevo and pedestrian tour Trip to Kapinovski monastery St. Nikolai Chudotvorets Lunch in region around monastery Visit to Kapinovski monastery St. Nikolai Chudotvorets Trip to Dryanovo Pedestrian tour of Dryanovo Departure
Tourist Packages themed Village Tourism
Tourist Package 9:
VISITING - VILLAGE AND RECREATIONAL TOURISM Emen village - Hotnitsa village - Gorna Oryahovitsa - Arbanasi village - Voneshta voda village - Tsareva livada village - Zaya village - Ganchovets village - Gostilitsa village DAY 1 Up to 10 am 10 am - 12.30 pm 12.30 - 1.30 pm 1.30 - 2.10 pm 2.10 - 3.30 pm 3.30 - 5.30 pm 5.30 - 7 pm 7 - 10 pm DAY 2 8 - 9 am 9 am - 1.30 pm 1.30 - 2.30 pm 2.30 - 4 pm 4 - 6 pm 7.30 - 10 pm DAY 3 8.30 - 9.30 am 9.30 - 10.30 am 10.30 am - 12 pm 12.30 - 1.30 pm 1.30 - 7.30 pm 7.30 pm DAY 4 8.30 - 9.30 am 9.30 - 10.30 am 10.30 am - 12 pm 12 - 1 pm 1 - 7.30 pm
7.30 pm
Arrival in Emen village Passage along the Emen eco trail, visit to Momin Skok waterfall Lunch in Emen village Trip to Hotnitsa village Visit to Hotnishki waterfall and hike along eco trail in region of waterfall Trip to Gorna Oryahovitsa and accommodation Free time Dinner Breakfast Opportunity for fishing on Yantra and Rositsa rivers. Open-air lunch at Bozhur cabin or in Gorna Oryahovitsa Trip to Arbanasi and accommodation Rest Pedestrian tour of Arbanasi and viewing of museum exhibits or monasteries Dinner at traditional Bulgarian restaurant Breakfast Trip to Voneshta Voda village Accommodation and free time Open-air lunch or in village Rest in nature and opportunity for various activities depending on interest Dinner Breakfast Trip to Tsareva Livada village Accommodation and free time Open-air lunch or in village Rest in nature and opportunity for various activities depending on interest. Option for visit of ethnographic collection Village Life in the Dryanovo Region in Zaya village, participation in event of village cultural calendar, e.g. Rakia Magia rock festival in Ganchovets village or fishing Dinner
DAY 5 8.30 - 9.30 am Breakfast 9.30 - 10.30 am Trip to Gostilnitsa village 10.30 am - 3.30 pm Rest in nature and opportunity for various activities depending on interest. Fishing option. Open-air lunch or in village 3.30 pm Departure
1. Tsarevets fortress 2. Church St. Forty Martyrs 3. Trapezitsa Architectural and Museum Reserve 4. Momina Krepost Architectural and Museum Reserve 5. Church St. Ivan Rilski in Veliko Tarnovo 6. Church St. Dimitar 7. Church St. St. Peter I Pavel 8. Church St. Georgi 9. Church St. St. Konstantin and Elena 10. Church St. St. Kiril and Methodius 11. The house with the Monkey 12. Hadzhi Nikoli’s Inn 13. Museum of the Bulgarian Revival and Constituent Assembly 14. Archaeological Museum 15. The Museum of Contemporary History 16. Ethnographic complex “Samovodska charshiya” 17. Sarafkina House 18. Emiliyan Stanev House Museum 19. Museum “The Prison” 20. “Boris Denev” art gallery 21. Nikopolis ad Istrum 22. Vladishki bridge 23. Church St. Nichola 24. Neolithic Settlement near the village of Pravda 25. Kaleto Fortress near the village of Gorski goren Trambesh 26. Church St. Ivan Rilski in the village of Gorski goren Trambesh 27. Monastery St. Prorok Ilia 28. Gorna Oriahovitsa History Museum 29. Church St. Nichola in Gorna Oryahovitsa 30. Church St. Troitsa in Gorna Oryahovitsa 31. Ryahovets Fortress 32. Church St. Dimitar– Dlagnya village 33. Church of “Nativity of Virgin Mary” – Gostilitsa village 34. Church Rozhdestvo Bogorodichno – Gostilitsa village
35. Church Rozhdestvo Hristovo – Gesha village 36. “Assen Raztsvetnikov” house museum in Draganovo village 37. “N.Karaneshev” Art Gallery – 38. Historical settlement Arbanassi 39. Museum of History in the Saralieva House from the XIX c. – in the town of Kilifarevo 40. Diskoduraterae Antique Fortress 41. Historical area Strinava 42. Boruna Fortress near Dryanovo Monastery 43. Church St. Nichola 44. Lafchieva House 45. Ikonomova House 46. Kolyu Ficheto’s Bridge 47. Dryanovska Charshiya 48. Clock Tower in Dryanovo 49. Embossment map of Bulgaria in Dryanovo 50. Exhibition “Life and work of Kolyu Ficheto” 51. Dryanovo Monastery 52. Patriarchal monastery St. Troitsa 53. Preobrazhenski monastery Preobrazhenie Gospodne 54. Kapinovski monastery St. Nikolai Chudotvorets 55. Kilifarevo monastery Rozhdestvo Bogorodichno 56. Plachkovski monastery St. Prorok Ilia 57. St. Nikola monastery – Arbanasi 58. St. Bogoroditsa monastery – Arbanasi 59. Andaka Cave 60. Rope Park “Island of Adventures” 61. Bozhur Polyana preserved area 62. Kamaka forest reserve 63. Savchov’s Meadow 64. Bacho Kiro Cave 65. Emenski Canyon 66. Momin Skok waterfall 67. Eco path “Kamaka” 68. Starting point of eco path “Via Ferata”, Dryanovo eco path and eco route Dryanovo Monastery – Bozhentsi