Central Northern Bulgaria
The town of Troyan (26 541 inhabitants, 400 metres above sea level) spreads out along the two banks of the Beli Osum River (the Chernmi Osum River empties into its northern end) at the northern foothill of the Troyan Balkan Mountain. It is situated at the distance of 60 km to the east of Teteven, 180 km to the north east of Sofia, 70 km and 35 km to the south of Pleven and Lovetch, respectively, 47 km to the south-west of Sevlievo and at the distance of 25 km to the north-east from the historical Troyan Pass in the Balkan Mountains. It is a town with opulent traditions.
History, Landmarks & Accommodation
History: The name of the town comes from the ancient Roman road crossing the Balkan Mountain through today’s Troyan Pass - Via Trayana, which linked Misia with Thrace and the Aegean Sea. The origin of the today’s settlement is thought to go back somewhere at the beginning of the 15th century, when, after Bulgaria fell under Ottoman Rule, a lot of Bulgarian refugees settled down in this hard-to-reach and forested region running away from the arbitrary rule of the Turks. Later on the migrations continued and Troyan grew up but about the year 1800 the town suffered three invasions of the kurdzhalii (Turkish brigands) who devastated it. In spite of this during the 19th century the town reached a high material and cultural prosperity. The crafts were those, which reached their greatest development, pottery and woodcarving in particular. More than half of the population of the town made their living on the basis of these crafts till World War II. The bright and intelligent mountain dwellers realised that their future lays in faith and enlightenment. Talented master builders created magnificent patterns of the Bulgarian Revival church architecture in the town and within the region - in 1835 Saint Paraskeva Church in Troyan and The Assumption Church in the Troyan Monastery were built (refer to the Stara Planina related chapter herein). In 1839 the Saint Nikolai Letni Church was erected in the area of Goumoshtnik whose wood-carved iconostasis is a unique of its kind work of the Bulgarian Revival Art. In 1870 a Community Cultural Centre was set up in Troyan, in which 2 years later the commencement of the theatrical activities in the town was set up with the performance of “Genoveva the Martyr”.In 1872 the “Yellow School” was built up in the town, in which the modern secular program of teaching was introduced involving studies of the French language as well. The inhabitants of the town of Troyan did not let the revolutionary processes go past them either. In 1869 they enthusiastically met the Apostle Vassil Levski and Matei Preobrazhenski - Mitkaloto. Two years later a secret revolutionary committee was set up there at Levski’s initiative. During the Russian-Turkish War of Liberation in August 1877 Troyan was devastated by the bashibozouks (Turkish army of volunteers), but its population rendered invaluable assistance to General Kartsov when his army passed the Balkan Mountain through the Troyan Pass. After the liberation the town was rebuilt out of the ashes.
In 1911 the first electric bulb was lit and soon after that Troyan became the third electrified town in Bulgaria (after Sofia and Plovdiv). The building of the railway line Lovech – Troyan gave an impetus to the development of the town - it commenced in 1929 and was completed in 1948. Troyan is the birthplace of Ivan Hadzhiiski (our greatest sociologist and nations psychologist), Prof. Dr. Nikola Shipkovenski (psychiatrist) and a lot of other outstanding names. In the autumn of 1998, 130 years of the proclamation of Troyan as a town were solemnly celebrated.
Landmarks: Crafts and Applied Arts Museum (Zentralen Square, in the building of the old Municipality, tel.: 0670 22062). Working hours: 8.00 a.m. - 12.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m. Day off - Monday (from April to October) and Saturday and Sunday (in winter).
Serekov’s House Town Art Gallery (6, Angel Kunchev Street, 50 m from the central square, tel.: 0670 22877). Working hours: 9.00 a.m. - 12.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The Saint Paraskeva Church dating back to 1835. _n architectural ensemble around the house of Vlassi Vlaskovski (Vassil Levski Street). The homes of Ivan Hadzhiiski and Minko Nikolov. An architectural ensemble (houses over the river) next to Marko’s Bridge. The architectural complex Nounki (in the central town part, next to the river - restored houses of the traditional Balkan mountain architectural type). It is a hotel at the moment. Architectural complex at 129-137A, V. Levski Street. The house of Dona Milina (next to the church). Architectural and ethnographic ensemble along Tsar Kaloyan Street. Balev’s houses at Gen. Kartsov Street. Old houses in Popishka Quarter. Old houses in Drianska Quarter. There are some annual festivities of national importance, as well, namely: A day of the Plum Tree and Plum Brandy – the last Saturday of September, Festival of Films for the Mountain – the last Saturday and Sunday of September, The Day of Troyan – 14th October (Petkovden – Name day of those named Petko).
Serekov’s House Town Art Gallery (6, Angel Kunchev Street, 50 m from the central square, tel.: 0670 22877). Working hours: 9.00 a.m. - 12.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The Saint Paraskeva Church dating back to 1835. _n architectural ensemble around the house of Vlassi Vlaskovski (Vassil Levski Street). The homes of Ivan Hadzhiiski and Minko Nikolov. An architectural ensemble (houses over the river) next to Marko’s Bridge. The architectural complex Nounki (in the central town part, next to the river - restored houses of the traditional Balkan mountain architectural type). It is a hotel at the moment. Architectural complex at 129-137A, V. Levski Street. The house of Dona Milina (next to the church). Architectural and ethnographic ensemble along Tsar Kaloyan Street. Balev’s houses at Gen. Kartsov Street. Old houses in Popishka Quarter. Old houses in Drianska Quarter. There are some annual festivities of national importance, as well, namely: A day of the Plum Tree and Plum Brandy – the last Saturday of September, Festival of Films for the Mountain – the last Saturday and Sunday of September, The Day of Troyan – 14th October (Petkovden – Name day of those named Petko).
Accommodation: Nounki Hotel Complex (3-star, located in the central part of the town, near the bridge over Elma River). It has 18 beds in 2 suites and 6 rooms and a restaurant. Residence Complex (owned by Troyan municipality, at a 20-minute walk from the centre of the town; there is an asphalt road, too) on the hill in the town park of Ku-pin--cho. Nikola Ga-bur-ski Tourist House in the town park of Kupincho, 2 km from the centre of Troyan (there is a lane leading directly to it). It offers 60 beds in rooms with 2 and 3 beds, a restaurant, a day bar and central heating. Troyan Resort Complex Co. manages the two Holiday Houses – Kupina 1 and Kupina 2 (200 m from each other) on the hill in Kupincho town park, offering 170 beds in total.
