Latest property for sale in Dryanovo - Gabrovo District of Bulgaria

The municipality town of Dryanovo, in the district of Gabrovo, is situated to the north of the Central-Balkan Mountains, and the foothills are called the Dryanovo Balkan. The town is situated along both banks of the river Dryanovo which is a tributary of the Yantra River.

The town centre is situated just off the main Ruse-Veliko Tarnovo-Gabrovo-Kazanlak-Stara Zagora highway and also benefits from being on the railway line which is on the North to the South rail corridor.

Dryanovo developed rapidly during the time of the Bulgarian Renaissance and in 1883 it was declared a town. Craftsmen including masons and woodcarvers made Dryanovo a countrywide known town and even internationally, as far away as the Turkish Empire. Close to Dryanovo at the Bacho Kiro cave an amazing discovery was made, human skeleton remains from the Paleolithic period were discovered. Furthermore in the surrounding villages many relics of Thracian and Roman villages, fortresses, columns with finials and inscriptions and tools and ornaments (Boruna and Diskoduratera fortresses) have been discovered.

Places to visit in Dryanovo

Dryanovo is famed for its beautiful monastery which originally was located 2 km. north of the current monastery and was built by the noble brothers Assen and Peter. In the 14th century the monastery was one of the main centre’s of Hesychasm which interpreted means stillness, rest, quiet and silence and sheltered many monks. At the beginning of the 15th century, the monastery was destroyed by the Ottoman Empire soldiers like so many others.

It was later rebuilt in its current location, however once again the Ottomans struck and it was raised to the ground. It wasn't until the end of the 17th Century that it was rebuilt for the 3rd time and these structures can still be seen to this day, the only remaining part of the old church was the nave which was half built into the ground and can also still be seen next to the present church. Further renovation of the monastery began during the time Abbot Raphael was the head of the local church and during 40 years of the 19th century residential and teaching buildings were constructed along with the new church. By the end of the 19th Century Dryanovo Monastery had become the largest and best-developed of all the monasteries in the Veliko Tarnovo region.

Dryanovo monks proactively supported the revolutionaries struggle for liberation from the Turkish occupation. The monastery was one of the main headquarters of the Bulgarian revolutionaries and Vasil Levski and Georgi Izmirliev often hid there whilst planning their campaign.

There was a large cache of weapons, ammunition and food, which is why during the April Uprising detachment of Father Hariton and Bacho Kiro engaged in battle against the Ottomans and whilst Bacho Kiro escaped, he later got betrayed and captured and finally hung in Veliko Tarnovo.

The Bacho Kiro cave was named in his honour and is on the eco trail and well worth a visit as is this beautiful historical area. This battle destroyed just about all the buildings and structures of the monastery save the church just after the Liberation. So a new wing was built and a museum and in 1925 the bell tower was erected.

Nowadays you can walk around this beautiful landscape and stay in the monastery in cozy rooms with 2 or 3 beds, in the monastery grounds are a couple of good restaurants serving authentic rural Bulgarian cuisine, the "Andaka" Tavern and the "Dryanovo Monastery" Complex Restaurant and in Dryanovo there are also a number of restaurants.

Whilst in Dryanovo town take a look at the Lafchieva kushta (Lafchieva House) designed and built by Kolyu Gaidardjiyata, who was a master-builder from Dryanovo. It was built in 1840 and is also well known as "the house without nails". Perhaps the most famous master builder and architect was born in Dryanovo in 1800.

Kolyo Ficheto was orphaned in Dryanovo at the age of 3 years and at 10 years old began studying with Tryavna master builders. When reaching the age of 17 he studied with masters from the ancient city of Korca (now Albania) how to cut and dress stone, afterwards he studied intently the construction of churches, bell towers and bridges of Bratsigovo in the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria. His works include the Ikonomova kushta (Ikonomova House) in Dryanovo which is one of two houses, the other being the house with the monkey in Tarnovo; it was built in 1859 for a priest named Vasil Ikonomov.

The hall of this property has a finely detailed hand wood-carved ceiling emulating the sun – which was the favourite motif during renaissance the period. Many more bridges, churches and clock towers can be seen around the Veliko Tarnovo region built by Kolyo Ficheto. There is also the Kolyo Ficheto museum next to the House without nails which is certainly worth having a look around to learn more about his abilities as a Master Builder and the Revival architectural and craftwork movement.

Alternative spellings of Dryanovo: Dryanavo, Drianovo, Dreanavo, Dreanovo, Drianavo, Дряново

Nearest Towns: Veliko Tarnovo – 24km, Gabrovo – 20km, Tryavna - 17km
Nearest Villages: Ganchovets - 4km Zaya - 4km
Area size of town 28.096km2
Altitude 200 - 299m above sea level
Post code for Dryanovo Town - 5370
Latitude 42.983N Longitude 25.492E
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