About Region Trojan
The town of Troyan (25 000 inhabitants) is an administrative, economic and cultural center of a municipality, situated 160 km North-East from the capital of Bulgaria Sofia. Troyan lies at 400 meters above sea level on the picturesque terraced banks of the Beli Ossam River. Situated at the feet of the Balkan the town climate is blessed with fresh and flavor spring, breezy summer, warm sunny autumn and mild but snowy winter. Although Troyan was proclaimed as a town in 1868, the history of the settlement dates back in the Antiquity. The historians still dig out remains of ancient tribes, that lived and traversed the area. The pass in the Balkan was used both by the Thracian tribes in the beginning of I century B.C. and by the Roman legions to conquer the Balkan Peninsula. Some remains of great Roman constructions could be found along the land of the Roman road called VIA TRAYANA after the name of the Roman emperor Marcius Ulpius Trajanus. The town and the road themselves took the same name. The Lord was quite generous giving the area the combination of pleasant climate, unique natural beauties, rich history and cultural heritage, splendid conditions for recreation, balneotherapy, entertainment, tourism and sports in the Troyan Balkan all the year round. This favorable atmosphere keeps up nonstop energy of the local people for entrepreneurship building new hotels, rest houses, school camps, villas, swimming pools with mineral waters, ski runs, hunting lodges and convenient infrastructure. The Nature lovers strive to try the various possibilities in the beautiful nooks. Skiing, hiking, biking or horse riding with friends or accompanied by a professional guide - one can choose his own way to dive into the springs of life. The mountain center Beklemeto (1300 meters above sea level) is situated 22 km South-West of Troyan on the Northern slopes of the Balkan close to Troyan Pass. There are 4 hotels, rest houses, downhill ski runs and drag-lifts, cross-country and biathlon skiing trails on European level. About 20 km West of Troyan the two villages Chiflik and Shipkovo present the bounty of mineral waters and offer facilities for balneotherapy, swimming pools, medical treatment, hotels and villas, combined with hiking trails, eco-paths, hunting and other sports. Some kilometers South-East of Troyan, along the picturesque valley of the Cherni Ossam river lie other symbols of the region. The Troyan Monastery The Assumption of the Virgin is one of the most famous monuments of the Christianity in Bulgaria. The monastery is the third largest in the country and the church keeps the miraculous icon The Holy Virgin with three hands that is believed to heal body and soul. Near the monastery in the village of Oreshak is situated the National Exhibition of Folk Crafts and Arts. Impressive national and international craft expositions took place on the 4000 sq.m. of covered exhibition grounds. The attractive Museum of Natural History in the village of Cherni Ossam is a threshold to the Central Balkan National Park and the biospheric preserve Steneto. The Secondary school in Cherni Ossam prepares students for mountain guides, offering 4 year specialized training. Here are also some small cosy hotels, private villas and rooms for rent, restaurants and taverns with delicious local food. The Sopot artificial lake is spread along the road to Sofia, near Golyama Geliazna village. The Troyan Water Club offers good opportunities for camping, fishing and water sports. Crafts have been the pride of Troyan since the times of the National Revival. The skills of the local masters in pottery, weaving, woodcarving, black-smithery and copper vessels making promote Troyan as a craft, trading and cultural center. The Museum of Folk Artistic Crafts and Applied Arts in the center of Troyan houses unique examples of the creative imagination of the local masters. Troyan is a prominent center for tourism, alpine climbing, speleology and orienteering in Bulgaria. The Mountain Rescue Service group is the second largest in the country. The great variety of natural beauties, attractive tourist offers and high quality of service, convenient infrastructure, net of banks, shops, pharmacies, places of entertainment and information offices makes the region of Troyan a quickly growing tourist destination, preferred by Bulgarian and foreign guests.
