Itinerary

1. Town of Elena tour in Veliko Tarnovo

   • Start your tour with your Veliko Tarnovo tour guide by visiting the monument of a rebel and military commander, Vulcan. He is one of the legendary figures of Bulgarian history.
   • Next, head to a square where most festivals and concerts take place, and in the middle, there is the Freedom Monument which symbolises the involvement of the town of Elena in the fight against Turkish slavery.
   • Visit the Kaleto Park and climb a stone fortress to enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the city.
   • From there, walk to the Blessed Virgin Church, which was erected on the foundation of an old chapel with the help of Hajji Yurdan Beard, a local revivalist. Also, visit the Razuhanov Houses, five charming houses build under one roof at the end of the 18th century by Hadji Dimitar Razsukanov for his sons.
   • Head to the Popnikol House, which houses the Museum of Paleontology. A study based at Sofia University.
   • Take a walk through the narrow streets to visit the architectural and historical complex, Daskalolivnitsata (Teacher’s school). This is the first Bulgarian pedagogical school and was named by a teacher Petko Slaveikov.
   • After strolling through Daskalolivnitsa, make your way to the Clock Tower. Its location was chosen to hear its sound from anywhere in the city, and it is one of the first clock towers in the country.
   • Return to the centre for an afternoon coffee in the sand and refreshing Aronia juice (the Aronia juice and wine are traditional in the area), or head towards a local winery to taste 3 or 5 different wines - a white, a rose and a red - accompanied by the famous Elena delicacies.
   • At the chateau, talk with a winemaker or the winery owners and discuss the winery's history, the past, and the legend about Kera Tamara and Ivan Alexander, a Bulgarian nobility from the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.