Location: The town of Tryavna is located along the banks of Trevnenska River, on the northern slopes of the Central Balkan Mountains. Surrounded by hills and forests, Tryavna stands at an altitude of 440 m, at 22 km from Gabrovo, 42 km from Veliko Tarnovo, 17 km from Dryanovo and 242 km south-east from Sofia. Tryavna is a beautiful, picturesque and charming little town whose tiled-roof houses are built right next to the river.
The propitious climate in this area is one of the reasons many people come here to receive different health procedures. Among them is the famous Bulgarian artist Dimitar Kazakov – Neron. He donated to Tryavna and its people a beautiful collection of paintings in sign of deep gratitude. Long ago Tryavna was famous with its many skillful craftsmen – masons, icon-painters and wood-carvers. The town was and still is an important artistic center.
Population: 12 226 inhabitants.
History: Tryavna was founded in the 12th century during the reign of the dynasty of the Asenovtsi. During the Ottoman period the town was enjoying certain privileges because its people were keepers of the road leading to Edrine and Istanbul via Balkan Mountain. Its economical boom was in the period 18th-19th centuries, when craftsmanship, trade and fine arts flourish. This is the time when the famous school for fine art is founded. Many magnificent houses were built in that period, beautifully decorated with wall paintings and wood-carvings, near churches preserving icons from famous artists and altars from carved wood. The citizens of the town play important role in the struggles of the Bulgarian nation against the Ottoman rule and for the liberation of the country.
Landmarks:
- Captain dyado Nikola Square is of the most beautiful monuments of the Bulgarian architecture from the National Revival period.
- St. Archangel Michael Church – fully renovated in 1819, half dug into the ground, because it was build without the approval of the local authorities. Here a visitor can enjoy the chancel-screen generously carved from local craftsmen, the Episcopal pulpit and the icons painted form alumni from the local art school.
- The clock tower – built in 1814 and since then that symbol of the town works tirelessly for the local population counting the hours as the days go by.
- The old school or Slaveykov’s school – built between 1836 and 1839, the old school in Tryavna prides itself with the fact that here as teacher once worked Petko R. Slaveykov – famous poet and journalist, fighter for the Bulgarian cause and one of the founders of public education in Bulgaria. Also here is the Kazakov’s gallery, sheltering the works of the great Bulgarian artist Dimitar Kazakov – Neron (1933-1992) who donated his works to the town.
- Slaveykov’s house – in this house that was later transformed into a museum, once lived Petko R. Slaveykov with his family. His son was born here, the famous lyrical poet Pencho Slaveykov, whose early death prevents him from been the first Bulgarian Nobel prize winner for literature (for his epic poem “Song of blood”).
- Daskalov’s house – this lovely house with a well kept garden was build in 1808 from Hristo Daskalov, rich merchant of rose oil. A rich collection dedicated to the wood-carving school is also on display here. The most impressive thing here however are the two wood-carved ceilings which were created as the saying goes in the course of a competition between two craftsmen. On these ceilings the authors represented two Suns – May Sun made by one of the best wood carving craftsmen of its time, Dimitar Oreshanetsa, and July Sun made by his apprentice, Ivan Bochukovetsa. Both carvings are masterpieces.
- Museum of Icons of the Tryavna Art School – here in two big halls a visitor can see displayed the works from the local icon-painters, whose style of painting is characteristic with refinement reminding the style Mannerism.
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