Veliko Turnovo
The Medieval City of Veliko Turnovo is approx 55kms away and takes 40mins by car. There are buses from Elena town daily. Unfortunately there is no rail access at the present time.This city is a must to visit with its fantastic Tsaravets Monument and Old Town catering for tourists of all Nationalities. Most evenings the Tsaravets hosts its famous sound and light show which tells the sad tale of how theTurks invaded the City..
Elena
Elena town is situated approx 12 km from our properties and is easily accessible by car or bus from the village. It is pretty with many of the buildings dating from the revival period. The town has a vibrant cosmopolitan feel and extremely friendly. There are many pavement cafes and Mehanas [traditional restaurants] to enjoy local fare. An average price for a meal including drinks is around 15 leva per person [about £7 at today's exchange rate].There are many amenities including, supermarkets ,hospital ,doctors ,dentist , school ,bus station, police station, and post office .The town is famous for its scholars and wood carvers from the Revival period and there are museums for tourists to visit . There are beautiful churches dating back to the Byzantine period and a lovely Clocktower. The River Elena runs through the town. 3kms away in the village of Yakovtsi are beautiful lakes where you can fish , camp or picnic .
Sinite Kamani (Blue Stone Rocks)
The park Sinite Kamani (the Blue Stones) is part of Sliven Balkan, extending over 7000 ha. The name of the site comes from the quartz rock masiff in the area, accounting for the bluish colour of the landscape. The park area has tortuous relief, the lowest point being at 300 m elevation and the highest - Balgarka peak (1181ì). The northern slopes are covered with beech forest, whereas the southern part is quite poor on green vegetation. The climate and diverse geo characteristics create a harboring environment for rich wild wife – 14 reptile species, 9 amphibians, 145 bird species. Especially notable credit to the park is the white pelican and bearded vulture.
There is a chair lift extending from the bottom of the mountain in the town of Sliven to Karandila at the top....We would recommend guests visit this stunning area as its only 40mins drive south and suitable for all levels of walkers and hikers..
Tryavna
The town of Tryavna first became a regional centre as early as XVIII century although earlier records, which indicate human settlement in Tryavna can be traced back to Thracian times. By the end of the 19th century Tryavna had become the region’s main cultural and industrial centre and was heavily involved in the development of crafts during the Bulgarian Renaissance period.This resulted not only in economic prosperity, but also to the creation of theTryavna School - one Bulgaria’s oldest institutions of Art Tradition. Since that time the work of Tryavna artists has become popular throughout the Ottoman Empire, Romania, Serbia and Russia.
Following Bulgaria’s independence in 1878 the Municipality started woolen textile manufacture and the first factory was opened in 1883. During the first half of the 20th C. a number of other types of industry were created, including the production of furniture, woodworking and textiles.The development of tourism started in the early1920’s . Tryavna also enjoys a moderate and healthy climate, (cool summers and mild winters) which resulted in a Sanatorium for Lung and Respiratory diseases being built in 1944.
The historical and architectural reservation in Tryavna is among its main attractions. Some of the best examples of buildings from the Bulgarian Renaissance period have been well preserved. The seven museum collections contain unique pieces of art from the late medieval period, such as icons and woodcarvings.The town of Tryavna has preserved its old town square, the only one left in the country, which has been proclaimed as a Monument of Architecture.
