Landmarks and cultural holidays in Troyan and the region
Trojan
The town of Troyan is one of the most picturesque and beautiful towns located in the Central Balkan Mountains. It is situated on both banks of the Beli Osam River and 22 km from the Troyan Pass, facilitating transport links between Northern and Southern Bulgaria. The wonderful combination of natural resources and clean air, along with the well-preserved cultural and historical heritage, creates the perfect conditions for a relaxing getaway all year round.
Unique, ancient, artisanal, artistic, spiritual, and inspiring—that’s Troyan today! There’s something for everyone here—historical and cultural landmarks, museums and galleries, beautiful parks for relaxation, art venues, and, above all, traditions that permeate every corner of this city nestled in the Stara Planina Mountains.
8 неща, които (може би) не знаете за троян:
1. Troyan is the birthplace of a number of notable ...
2. The ancient road "Via Trayana"...
The ancient Via Trayama, remnants of which can still be seen today within the municipality, is the longest Roman road in the country.
3. In 1871, Vasil Levski ...
In 1871, Vasil Levski founded the country’s only monastic revolutionary committee at the Troyan Monastery.
4. In 1911, the first ...
In 1911, the first light bulb was lit, and Troyan became the third city in Bulgaria to have electricity, after Sofia and Plovdiv.
5. The temperature of the mineral springs ...
The temperature of the mineral springs ranges from 18° to 57° C, and the warm mineral pools can be used even in winter.
6. At the "Beklemeto" resort complex...
The Beklemeto resort complex is home to the best biathlon track in Bulgaria.
7. In the municipality the are two ...
The municipality is home to two schools that are unique in the country—the “Prof. “Venko Kolev” (Troyan) and Bulgaria’s only school for mountain guides – “V.” Secondary School “Levski” (Cherni Osam)
8. The monks use over 100 herbs...
Landmarks in the city and the region
Museum of Folk Arts and Crafts
The Museum of Folk Arts and Crafts is a unique museum in the country, located on the central square in the town of Troyan. It was opened in 1968 to mark the 100th anniversary of Troyan’s designation as a town.
One of a kind, it was awarded the “Museum of the Year, 2018” prize in 2018. The Museum of Folk Arts and Crafts is included in the list of the “100 National Tourist Sites.”
The exhibition is spread across 10 halls, and in each one you can enjoy the exquisite artistry of Troyan’s masters throughout the centuries.
Троянски манастир Успение Богородично
Located 10 kilometers from Troyan, just outside the village of Oreshak, in a beautiful setting on the banks of the Cherni Osam River, stands the Troyan Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, a remarkable cultural monument of national significance.
Founded in the late 16th century, it is the third-largest and one of the most visited monasteries in Bulgaria.
In the mid-19th century, it was decorated with murals by one of the most famous masters of the Bulgarian National Revival—Zahari Zograf, who painted portraits of the church’s patrons on the north wall, as well as a self-portrait.
The unique atmosphere of the Troyan Monastery stems from the Miraculous Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God of the Three Hands. On August 15—the Feast of the Assumption, which is the monastery’s patronal feast day—the icon is carried out, and thousands of pilgrims from across the country and abroad flock to the village. A large fair with a history spanning more than 150 years is also held at that time.
Natural History Museum, Cherni Osam
In the village of Cherni Osam, 12 km from the town of Troyan and 2 km from the Troyan Monastery, lies the Natural History Museum, which is one of the main tourist attractions in the municipality.
There, visitors can see the rich diversity of wildlife in the Stara Planina Mountains. Its two floors house over 700 exhibits, and a walk through the exhibits is accompanied by audio recordings of animal sounds. A “Green Classroom” has been built in the museum’s courtyard. It features a bear’s den, a wolf’s lair, a rock garden with mountain flowers, and the cycle of matter in nature. The Natural History Museum is one of the 100 national tourist sites listed by the Bulgarian Tourist Union.
National Exhibition of Arts and Crafts – Oreshak Village
In the beautiful Troyan Balkan Mountains, 7 km from the town of Troyan, in the village of Oreshak, lies the National Exhibition of Arts and Crafts. The only one of its kind in Bulgaria, it features exhibition halls displaying unique examples of traditional folk crafts, created by renowned masters from all ethnographic regions of Bulgaria.
The exhibition was established in 1971, and for 50 years now, tradition and modern art have gone hand in hand. The National Exhibition is unique both for its exhibits and for the opportunity it offers visitors to actually participate in the creation of handcrafted works and objects. It features nine exhibition halls, each of which has a demonstration area where visitors can not only watch traditional crafts being made but also try their hand at the region’s traditional crafts—pottery, woodcarving, pyrography, and weaving.
Beklemeto – Troyan Pass
The Troyan Pass is located 22 km from the town of Troyan. With a length of 41 km and an elevation of 1,526 m, the Troyan Pass is the highest pass in the Stara Planina Mountains. A road runs through it, connecting the town of Troyan and the village of Karnare. Here, in one of the most beautiful parts of the Central Balkan National Park, lies the Beklemeto Tourist Resort. At the highest point of Beklemeto (1,595 m) stands the Arch of Liberty monument, dedicated to the Russian soldiers who fell in the Russo-Turkish War. The best biathlon and cross-country skiing trails, certified by the relevant international organizations, with lengths of 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10 km, are located in Beklemeto. For winter sports enthusiasts, the resort features three alpine ski runs with lifts that meet the standards for alpine skiing disciplines. For summer ski-orienteering competitors, Beklemeto has a topographic map featuring a 120-kilometer course.
The area offers hiking trails suitable for both winter and summer hikes leading to the Kozia Stena, Haidushka Pesen, and Chuchul huts, as well as the Orlovo Gnezdo and Dermenka shelters. The Kom–Emine hiking trail also runs through Beklemeto from west to east.
Cultural festivals in the city and the region
Museum of the Troyan City Festival (Petkovden): Fine Arts and Applied Arts
The town of Troyan celebrates its holiday every year on October 14—the feast day of St. Petka, the town’s patron saint.
On this day, the church honors one of the most revered saints in Bulgaria—St. Petka, also known as the Bulgarian Saint—who over the centuries has become a symbol of the struggle to preserve Christian culture in our lands.
The festival in honor of St. Petka—Petkovden—is considered the end of summer and autumn, and with it, the end of the active farming season. In traditional folk beliefs, this day is considered the start of the winter holidays.
Every year, Troyan celebrates the anniversary of its founding as a city with a rich cultural program—including exhibition openings, sporting events, and concerts.
Festival of Herbs, Mountains, and Tourism (Midsummer Day)
Midsummer Day is an ancient Bulgarian holiday celebrated on June 24 every year. On the same date, the Church celebrates the feast day of St. John the Baptist, and the rituals and traditions of the two feasts often overlap. The festival coincides with the summer solstice, which is why many of the customs are connected to the sun’s path and the worship of the sun. According to folk beliefs, from this day on, the days begin to grow shorter, and the year moves toward winter. It is believed that on Midsummer’s Day, various grasses and herbs possess the greatest healing power, especially at sunrise. The herbs gathered for the winter should be “77 and a half”—for all illnesses and for the “illness with no name.”
Every year in the village of Balkanets, in the “Aydushko Sborishte” area, the festival is celebrated with a concert, performances by folk dance groups, and various competitions. The main organizer is the “Tourism Council” Association – Troyan, with financial support from the Municipality of Troyan. The main message the organizers are sending to the festival’s guests is that we should work together to improve our attitude toward nature.
Sunrise over the Balkans (July morning)
In 2016, the Municipality of Troyan launched a new initiative—Sunrise over the Balkans (July Morning)—which quickly became a tradition. The event began in the late afternoon of June 30 and continued into the early hours of July 1.
“Sunrise Over the Balkans” is an attempt to reinterpret the song “July Morning,” which is popular among rock fans. Until now, in Bulgaria, the first morning of July was celebrated only on the seashore, at Kamen Bryag, near Kavarna. The Troyan event offers an interesting alternative for all mountain and rock music enthusiasts who can’t or don’t want to go to the seaside 
Every year, the organizers provide an unforgettable experience for everyone who wishes to welcome the July sun at the “Arch of Freedom” monument, on the ridge of the Troyan Pass.
The Patronal Feast of Troiene Monastery: The Dormition of the Mother of God
The monastery’s patronal feast day is August 15, when the Orthodox Church celebrates the Dormition of the Holy Mother of God. Traditionally, the festive services at the monastery on this day are led by the Bulgarian Patriarch.
After the festive liturgy, the miraculous icon of “St. Mary of the Three Hands,” which is kept at the monastery, is carried out in a liturgical procession and placed in a small chapel near the holy monastery. There, anyone who wishes to do so can stop by and ask for whatever they need. The event, held in conjunction with the Crafts Fair taking place at the same time in the village of Oreshak, attracts tens of thousands of believers.
Plum and Plum Brandy Festival
The Plum and Troyan Plum Brandy Festival is traditionally held during the last week of September. Over the years, the festival has gained popularity and a following among the local community and visitors to the town and municipality. The festival focuses on plum cultivation, the production of Troyan plum brandy, and other plum products.
Every year, visitors can enjoy a rich program featuring numerous concerts, an open-air stage for amateur folk groups, traditional contests (cooking, best homemade plum brandy, etc.), art workshops on ceramics and woodcarving, demonstrations (and tastings) of traditional plum brandy, and many other surprises.
A traditional crafts street is also organized, which becomes more colorful, diverse, and interesting every year. More than 90 artisans from across the country are participating in the exhibition with their works. Festival guests have the opportunity to watch live demonstrations of the creation of original jewelry, decorative candles, decoupage, woodcarving, and wool felting, and to purchase unique pieces of folk and artistic crafts