Day 01
Elena's Historic Landmarks and Winery Experience
- Start your tour with your Veliko Tarnovo tour guide by visiting the monument of the rebel and military commander Vulcan, one of the legendary figures of Bulgarian history.
- Next, head to the square where most festivals and concerts take place. In the middle stands the Freedom Monument, which symbolises the involvement of the town of Elena in the fight against Turkish slavery.
- Visit Kaleto Park and climb the stone fortress to enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the city.
- From there, walk to the Blessed Virgin Church, which was erected on the foundations of an old chapel with the help of Hajji Yurdan Beard, a local revivalist. Also visit the Razsuhanov Houses, five charming houses built under one roof at the end of the 18th century by Hadji Dimitar Razsukanov for his sons.
- Head to 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 was the first Bulgarian pedagogical school and was named by the teacher Petko Slaveikov.
- After strolling through Daskalolivnitsata, make your way to the Clock Tower. Its location was chosen so its sound could be heard 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, both 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, its past, and the legend of Kera Tamara and Ivan Alexander, Bulgarian nobility from the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.
