Excursion:Excursion: ElhovoElhovo - - StefanStefan KaradzhovoKaradzhovo - - YambolYambol - - 2 2

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Yambol district is located in the South- East part of Bulgaria. Its territory is 4 400 km2 - 4% of the total area of the country. Its boundaries are north – Sliven district, east – Bourgas, west – Haskovo district, south – Republic of Turkey. Toundzha river flows through its territory. There are 4 towns – Yambol, Elhovo, Straldzha and Bolyarovo and 5 municipalities and 106 villages in the district.

• We direct to We direct to ElhovoElhovo.. There we will There we will visit the visit the Ethnographic Ethnographic museummuseum andand    the Churchthe Church ’’ ’’St. Demetrius St. Demetrius of Thessalonica’’of Thessalonica’’..

• Follows a walk in the town and Follows a walk in the town and lodging in hotel lodging in hotel ’’Rodni’’Rodni prostori’’prostori’’. .

DayDay firstfirst

The town of Elhovo is located in West Bulgaria, 36 The town of Elhovo is located in West Bulgaria, 36 km away from Yambol and km away from Yambol and 9494 km away from km away from Bourgas, along the watersides of Toundzha river, Bourgas, along the watersides of Toundzha river, between the mountains Atranda and Sakar.between the mountains Atranda and Sakar. Its Its altitude is between altitude is between 100 100 andand 150 150 meters. The meters. The population of Elhovo consists of population of Elhovo consists of 20230 20230 people. people. There are historical traces from the times of the There are historical traces from the times of the Thracians tribes with a name Orudica. Later its Thracians tribes with a name Orudica. Later its Slavonic names were Slavonic names were Yoanitsa and Yanitsa. The Yoanitsa and Yanitsa. The distance between Elhovo and the cross-border distance between Elhovo and the cross-border point between Turkey and Bulgaria is point between Turkey and Bulgaria is 2525 km km. .

The Ethnographic The Ethnographic museummuseum

It preserves rich variety of the ethnographic inheritance of It preserves rich variety of the ethnographic inheritance of Elhovo and there are 4 halls with expositions.Elhovo and there are 4 halls with expositions.In the first hall are presented the main occupations of the In the first hall are presented the main occupations of the population at the end of population at the end of ХІХ ХІХ cc. – . – agricultureagriculture, , viticulture, viticulture, tobaccotobacco, , cattle-breedingcattle-breeding, , huntinghunting andand fishingfishing, , and some and some craftscrafts. . The second hall presents the homes of the The second hall presents the homes of the population at the end of population at the end of ХІХ ХІХ cc. . In the third hall are In the third hall are presented the traditional clothes of the population in presented the traditional clothes of the population in South-east Bulgaria. In the forth hall are presented the South-east Bulgaria. In the forth hall are presented the traditions and holidays. Annually more than 16 000 traditions and holidays. Annually more than 16 000 visitors come in the museum. The museum arranged visitors come in the museum. The museum arranged exhibitions with its fund in Vienna, Montreal, Budapest…exhibitions with its fund in Vienna, Montreal, Budapest…The Ethnographic museum is included in the list of “The The Ethnographic museum is included in the list of “The hundred national tourist sites”hundred national tourist sites” and is one of the three and is one of the three specialized ethnographical museums in Bulgariaspecialized ethnographical museums in Bulgaria. .

Regardless the obstacles in Regardless the obstacles in the construction of churches the construction of churches in Elhovo in XIX c.in Elhovo in XIX c.,, in in 1836 1836 a a small chapel was builtsmall chapel was built. . Later Later in in 1853 1853 a small church school a small church school was built. It was the time of was built. It was the time of the most rapid struggles the most rapid struggles against the Byzantium clergyagainst the Byzantium clergy. . The population of Elhovo The population of Elhovo openly voice their vigorous openly voice their vigorous ambition In ambition In 1874 1874 they they chased Dionisii from their chased Dionisii from their town and refused to pay taxes town and refused to pay taxes to him. They changed all to him. They changed all Greek books of the liturgy Greek books of the liturgy with Slavonic. They started to with Slavonic. They started to worship only in Bulgarian worship only in Bulgarian language. language. In the same year ofIn the same year of 1874 1874 on on the place of the chapel they the place of the chapel they started to build a new church started to build a new church which was finished in 1877-which was finished in 1877-1878 named 1878 named ’’ ’’Saint Saint Demetrius of ThessalonikiDemetrius of Thessaloniki’’.’’.

  The churchThe church ’’Saint Demetrius of ’’Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki’’Thessaloniki’’ - Elhovo - Elhovo

DescriptionDescription : : Three floor building, ground floor with household appliances, Three floor building, ground floor with household appliances, tourist kitchen, dining room. Second and third floor are tourist kitchen, dining room. Second and third floor are bedrooms.bedrooms.

CapacityCapacity: : Double roomsDouble rooms - 8 - 8 Three beds roomsThree beds rooms - 8 - 8Four beds roomsFour beds rooms - 1 - 1TotalTotal: 50 : 50 bedsbeds

The hotel offersThe hotel offers:: Folk style nook, kitchen, garden dinning place, barbeque.Folk style nook, kitchen, garden dinning place, barbeque. Tourist servicesTourist services: : guide, visit to museums, theater, transport. guide, visit to museums, theater, transport.

PricesPrices::Winter seasonWinter season 01.11 01.11 --о 31.03о 31.03- - 7.00 7.00 lv. per bedlv. per bed..Summer seasonSummer season 01.04 01.04 -- 30.10 30.10 6.00 6.00 lv. per bed.lv. per bed.

Additional discount :Additional discount : for groups of for groups of 35 35 peoplepeople,,Continuous stay more than 2 nightsContinuous stay more than 2 nights, , and for children up to and for children up to 7 7 yearsyears..

HotelHotel "Rodni prostori"

• Breakfast in the hotel and departure to Breakfast in the hotel and departure to StefanStefan Karadjovo villageKaradjovo village and visit to and visit to the house-museum of the famous Bulgarian the house-museum of the famous Bulgarian rebellion Stefan Todorov Dimovrebellion Stefan Todorov Dimov..

• Departure to Yambol and visit to community Departure to Yambol and visit to community center center ““SuglasieSuglasie””,, the Art the Art gallery, gallery, Historical museum,Historical museum, the only preserved the only preserved covered market “covered market “BezistenBezisten””. . Lodging in Lodging in the hotelthe hotel ““BorovecBorovec”” with included visit to with included visit to its disco-club.its disco-club.

DayDay secondsecond

In In 1854 1854 he leaves to Serbia, where he met Vasil Levsk, Hadji he leaves to Serbia, where he met Vasil Levsk, Hadji Dimitar and other famous Bulgarian rebellions. He participated in Dimitar and other famous Bulgarian rebellions. He participated in the First and in the Second Bulgarian legions fighting against the the First and in the Second Bulgarian legions fighting against the Ottoman. Ottoman. InIn 06.07.1868 06.07.1868 he was captured and imprisoned in Tarnovo. He he was captured and imprisoned in Tarnovo. He was hung in was hung in 31.07.186831.07.1868. .

StefanStefan KaradjaKaradja

The house is related with the famous rebellion Stefan The house is related with the famous rebellion Stefan Todorov Dimov, famous as Stefan Karadja. He was born in Todorov Dimov, famous as Stefan Karadja. He was born in 11.05.184011.05.1840. He was the ninth child in the family.. He was the ninth child in the family.

The town of YambolThe town of Yambol

Yambol is a town-municipality and administrative center of Yambol is a town-municipality and administrative center of Yambol district. It is located on a territory of Yambol district. It is located on a territory of 9191 km2 on km2 on both both watersides of Toundzha river in the South-east part watersides of Toundzha river in the South-east part of Bulgaria. It is of Bulgaria. It is 93 93 km far from the Black sea. Its km far from the Black sea. Its population is population is 80 000. 80 000. The total area of the town is The total area of the town is 91 91 km2km2. . The town is older than The town is older than 10 10 centuriescenturies. .

Community centerCommunity center “ “SuglasieSuglasie””

From the end ofFrom the end of XIX XIX century the century the community centercommunity center “ “SuglasieSuglasie" " is one is one of the centers of cultural life in the of the centers of cultural life in the towntown. . Here in Here in 19041904 was realized the was realized the first film show and in first film show and in 1927 1927 was was installed the first radio transmitter.installed the first radio transmitter. There are different talent schools - There are different talent schools - ““RebecRebec““choir, Children musical choir, Children musical schoolschool, , theatre school, dancing theatre school, dancing schools, library, artistic school, etc.schools, library, artistic school, etc. Today the building of the community Today the building of the community center is a home of the Drama center is a home of the Drama theatre in Yambol. theatre in Yambol. It is established It is established before more than 100 yearsbefore more than 100 years.. In its In its repertoire are authors like repertoire are authors like Shakespeare, Shaffer, Pinter and Shakespeare, Shaffer, Pinter and Nedyalko Yordanov. Nedyalko Yordanov.

The art gallery - YambolThe art gallery - Yambol

• One of the biggest galleries possessing more than One of the biggest galleries possessing more than 3500 3500 picturespictures. . It is named after the famous Yambol It is named after the famous Yambol artist George Papazov artist George Papazov (1895-1972), (1895-1972), who lived and who lived and worked in Paris from worked in Paris from 19241924, , vanguard artist, vanguard artist, representative of the Paris representative of the Paris artist school, surrealist. artist school, surrealist.

• FromFrom 1952 1952 till till 19791979 the gallery was a department of the gallery was a department of the historic museum and then became an the historic museum and then became an independent cultural institute. Its fund possesses independent cultural institute. Its fund possesses valuable works- canvases from valuable works- canvases from 20-20-thth и 30- и 30-thth years of years of the last century, pictures, sculptures, and more than the last century, pictures, sculptures, and more than 1000 1000 volumes of specialized literature.volumes of specialized literature.

Historical museum - YambolHistorical museum - Yambol

There were three departments in the beginningThere were three departments in the beginning: : historicalhistorical ((including the historical development of Yambol and the region including the historical development of Yambol and the region from prehistoric till from prehistoric till 1944); 1944); socialist periodsocialist period ( (afterafter 1944) 1944) and and natural-scientificnatural-scientific. . Currently there are 4 departments in the historical museum Currently there are 4 departments in the historical museum : : ““ArcheologyArcheology" (" (including the fundsincluding the funds “ “PrehistoryPrehistory", “", “AntiquityAntiquity", ", ““Middle agesMiddle ages" и “" и “NumismaticsNumismatics"); “"); “BulgarianBulgarian landslands Х ХVV-ХІХ -ХІХ cc." ." ((including fundsincluding funds “ “RenaissanceRenaissance" и “" и “EthnographyEthnography"); “"); “New historyNew history" " and and ““Public relationsPublic relations". ". There is a work room for restoration and There is a work room for restoration and conservation. conservation. The funds of the museum posses The funds of the museum posses 90 000 90 000 exhibitsexhibits. . There is a local computer network in the museum.There is a local computer network in the museum. The museum The museum has been organizing more than 30 imposing exhibitions related has been organizing more than 30 imposing exhibitions related to the history of Yambol and its region. to the history of Yambol and its region.

Yambol historical museum was Yambol historical museum was founded with the assistance of local founded with the assistance of local intellectuals. In intellectuals. In 18861886 in the male in the male school in Yambol thanks to the school in Yambol thanks to the initiative of the professor Peter initiative of the professor Peter Noikov Noikov ((the first professor of the first professor of pedagogicspedagogics)) was arranged the first was arranged the first museum exhibitionmuseum exhibition..

BezistenBezistenIt has been built in the It has been built in the second middle of second middle of XV XV cc. . in the center of the in the center of the town. It is one of the town. It is one of the 10 covered markets in 10 covered markets in Europe. It is the only Europe. It is the only one building of that one building of that kind in Bulgaria, very kind in Bulgaria, very well preserved well preserved monument. It gives monument. It gives very unique very unique impression of Yambol impression of Yambol and is one of the and is one of the town’s symbols. The town’s symbols. The Bezisten was restored Bezisten was restored in 1970- 1973 and still in 1970- 1973 and still works as a covered works as a covered market.market.

HotelHotel “ “BorovetsBorovets”-”-YambolYambolFloorsFloors - 2, - 2, total number of total number of

bedsbeds - 48 - 48RoomsRooms:: 22    22    • doubledouble: 20: 20• apartmentsapartments: 2: 2EntertainmentsEntertainments::• Lobby barLobby bar• Cocktail barCocktail bar • Night clubNight club • Restaurant-gardenRestaurant-garden• Breakfast saloonBreakfast saloonIn the roomsIn the rooms:: • SAT TV SAT TV • Mini-barMini-bar • room serviceroom service

In the complexIn the complex:: informationinformation parkingparking Telephone postTelephone postNear the hotelNear the hotel:: Bus stopBus stop ShopsShops Post officePost office Taxi stopTaxi stopAdditional servicesAdditional services: : business business and and cultural tourismcultural tourism