Troyan Monastery “The Assumption of Mary”, village of Oreshak, Bulgaria

The Troyan Monastery as a monastery complex is the third largest in Bulgaria, a remarkable cultural monument of national importance.

It is located in the beautiful valley of the river Cherni Osam, 10 km south of Troyan.

According to historical documents, the monastery was originally founded in 1600 and rebuilt between 1830 and 1865 in its current form.

The most remarkable architectural and cultural monument is the main church "Assumption of the Blessed Virgin", which was built in the period 1835-1837 by Master Constantine from the village of Peshtera, Kyustendil region.

The interior and exterior of the church are painted with frescoes by Zahari Zograf from the Samokov school. The frescoes in the church are a rich art gallery of Zahari Zograf (1810 - 1853), the pinnacle of his work.

Along with the reflected biblical scenes, he left a magnificent self-portrait, portraits of donors, images of St. Cyril and St. Methodius, images of Bulgarian patriarchs and kings, saints and for the first time Bulgarian saints are depicted.

The walls of the temple are divided into 360 fields, in which scenes and separate images are painted. Bulgarian fine art does not know such a richness and variety of themes and plots from the Renaissance (XVIII - XIX centuries).

Like other Bulgarian monasteries, this one also has its own miraculous icon, which arrives in the holy monastery at the time of its creation and is called "St. The Mother of God Troeruchitsa ”. The icon was kept in the monastery until the 13th century, after which it was transferred to Serbia. It was returned to the monastery in the 17th century.

Like other monasteries, Troyan was also a refuge of the Apostle of Freedom Vasil Levski (1837 - 1873), who formed revolutionary committees not only in Troyan, but also in the monastery itself. The secret monastery committee numbered 80 monks and was headed by Archimandrite Macarius. To this day, the cell in which the revolutionary affairs were discussed has been preserved in its authentic form.

During the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878) the monastery complex was turned into an infirmary for Russian soldiers and provided all possible assistance to the Russian army.

The Troyan Monastery offers tourists accommodation, as the complex also has its own hotel part.

There are eateries nearby where you can try traditional Trojan food and drinks.

Baptisms and weddings are held in the monastery with prior reservation of date and time.

The complex has several shops selling information materials and souvenirs.

Dryanovo Monastery “St. Archangel Michael”, Bulgaria

One of the centers for the development of Bulgarian Christianity and culture still continues to attract pilgrims and tourists. 

The monastery is located about 6 km from the town of Dryanovo, on the road to Gabrovo.

The museum exposition "Archeology and Revival" is located in the Dryanovo Monastery. The finds found in the area of ​​the monastery are exhibited here and tell about the development of the area and the holy monastery. Household items, tools, coins, ceramics, etc. are exhibited. from the Old Stone and Stone-Copper Ages (IV - III millennium BC). 

Among the exhibits are personal belongings of the rebels, photos, weapons, clothes and more. Information materials and souvenirs can be purchased at the museum.

There is a recreation area in the monastery, there is also a playground. In front of the entrance, in the parking lot of the monastery there are stands where souvenirs are sold.

There is a hotel part attached to the St. Archangel Michael Monastery.

Dryanovo Monastery has been declared a national cultural monument by order of the Council of Ministers since 1971 and is part of the Hundred National Tourist Sites. The temple holiday of the monastery is celebrated on November 8 - Archangel's Day.

Salt Museum, Pomorie, Bulgaria

The only salt museum not only in Bulgaria but for the whole Eastern Europe is located in the town of Pomorie, 20 km away from Burgas.

The Salt Museum is among the hundred national tourist sites in Bulgaria.

The museum consists of an exhibition hall and 20 decares of salt pans in the open, where salt is still mined. The salt pans at the museum produce salt in the same way as in ancient times.

The technology, which historians say has been practiced in this place since the 5th century AD, involves the removal of seawater from the sea through a lake to smaller basins. There, the water evaporates and the remaining salt further crystallizes in small salt pans. Visitors have the opportunity to observe each stage of this process. 

In the exhibition hall are exhibited photos from the beginning of the 20th century, as well as copies of documents from the 15th - 19th century, telling about the production and trade of salt during the period.

The list of exhibits includes traditional tools, such as wooden solar carts, oars and others.