VIRTUAL - BULGARIA

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Accommodation: The Elena Hotel Complex (1, Hristo Stanev). Dr. Momchilov Tourist Hostel (in the centre of the town, 3, Stoyan Mihailovski Street). It has 40 beds in rooms with 4, 5 and more beds.

Tourist information - at the Tourist Information Centre, 5070 Elena (located in the building of the Elena Hotel Complex, 1, Hristo Stanchev Str., tel: 06151 3732, 3632, e-mail: elena_hotel@abv.bg). Choumerna Tourist Association (located next to the tourist hostel, tel: 06151 4191, 4091).

Transport: Bus and railway transport connect the town of Elena with the country. There are regular bus lines to Veliko Turnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Lyaskovets, Zlataritsa, Tvurditsa, Sliven, Stara Zagora and other smaller settlements within the region. The town is the last station of the railway line Gorna Oryahovitsa – Elena, through which it is connected to the national railway network. At present there are trains functioning only during the summer season on holidays.

Surrounding areas: The Saint Nikola Kapinovski Monastery (at the distance of about 25 km to the north-west of Elena) was founded in 1272 during the reign of Tsar Konstantin AssenTih. It is one of the most impressive monasteries in Bulgaria. It was a religious, cultural and revolutionary centre during the Ottoman Rule. In 1630 it was devastated by fire and in 1793 by kurdzhalii (Turkish brigands) after which it was rebuilt as a fortress and the monks themselves took the defence of the Monastery in their own hands. At the end of the 18th century Father Superior of the Monastery was Sofronii Vrachhanski who brought here the copy of “Slavonic-Bulgarian History” of Paisii Hilendarski made by himself. “The History” was read and copiedbehind the thick monastery walls, aimed at being spread throughout Bulgarian land and enlightening souls and hearts. In 1835 the plotters of Velcho’s Conspiracy found shelter in the monastery. The rebellious Captain Mamarchev repeatedly visited the monastery. The monks planned an uprising with Hadzhi Stavri from the Lyaskovski Monastery but they did not succeed. The restored in 1835 monastery church, work of masters from Dryanovo is of special interest to visitors. The Composition “Doomsday” covering the whole external wall of the church is distinguished for its high artistic value. Yoan Popovich from Razgrad painted it in 1840.

There is a bus line from Veliko Turnovo to the Monastery and the nearest railway station is Debelets (at the distance of 15 km north-west). There is an entire tourist settlement located amongst picturesque surroundings nearby the Monastery.

Saint Iliya Plachkovo Monastery (near the village of the same name, at the distance of 2-3 km north-west of the Kapinovski Monastery) was founded during the reign of Tsar Ivan Assen II, but it was destroyed when the country succumbed to Ottoman Rule (only ruins called “Balaklii” remained from it, located not far from the today’s monastery). It was ruined five times and it was rebuilt for the last time in 1845, after the pogrom, which followed Velcho’s Conspiracy with the active participation of Kolyu Ficheto. It is namely in relation to the Conspiracy that the greatest glory of this ecclesiastical cloister was achieved. In 1835 the serious merchant from Turnovo Velcho Atanasov – Dzhamdzhiyata (the Glazier), Captain Georgi Mamarchev, Hadzhi Y. Bradata (the Beard) and several other plotters planned an uprising against the Ottomans in the region of Turnovo. A traitor brought the Turks to the monastery (the fundamental base of the plotters). The greater part of the plotters were slaughtered, the uprising was crushed, and the monastery became subject to plunder, destruction and fire. The holy place was often visited by Sofronii Vrachanski and Neofit Bozveli. In 1856 Master Kolyu Ficheto built up the high monastery belfry, the church and probably – the residential part of the building. There are several extraordinary icons in the monastery, the most valuable of them “Christ Great Prelate” (work of Zakhari Zograf (the Icon-painter) is a masterpiece of art. The transport connections are the same in relation to the Kapinovski Monastery.

Yovkovtsi Dam spreads its waters at the distance of 4-5 km west of Elena _ a perfect site for recreation, water motor sports, sunbathing, water tourism and fishing. There is tourist infrastructure, too. The regular buses running into the direction of the above-mentioned monasteries, Kilifarevo and Debelets can be used.

Elena is a point of departure for hiking tours around the Elena - Tvurditsa Balkan Mountain (refer to the Stara Planina related section herein).

 

1800-411080 (ROI)