The Guest House Dayora is located on the outskirts of the town of Elena with great views of the Elena Balkan and the town in the peaceful atmosphere. An asphalt road will take you from the town to the house. It is a new two-floor beautiful building built at the foot of the Elena Balkan. It has a large yard with a pool and barbecue. The building is served by a host who will take your reservation, and welcome and accommodate you.
And for your great mood and relaxation, we will recommend you our local sights, attractions and natural beauty.
Elena is a town in the Northern Bulgaria. It is located in the district of Veliko Tarnovo, near the dam lake "Yovkovtsi". It is an administrative centre of Elena Municipality. The region around Elena is called Elena Balkan.
The picturesque mountain town is situated in the beautiful valley of the Elena River. The Elena heights are stretched to the north, and the Balkan - to the south. On the north of the town, Chukani Hill is situated, where high up surrounded by pine trees, the building of the former Climate Health School gleams white. Beyond the Hill, there are several eminences composed of limestone, malm, and sandstone. The town is situated 38 km to the south of Veliko Tarnovo, 230 km away from Varna, and 280 km away from Sofia.
Elena had been known with the names Stramena and Eliana since 1430. It used to be a craft, trade and cultural centre in 18th and 19th century. The town itself and the people of Elena played an important role in the Bulgarian Revival. The people of Elena took part in almost every important event from that moment on: Velcho’s Conspiracy in 1835 and Tarnovo Rebellion in 1862.
The town of Elena is known as the “Bulgarian Bethlehem” because" there were three churches in the town during the Revival. At that time this was something unseen in any other town.
A new chapel “The Assumption of Holy Virgin” was built in 1800 with the permission of Rousse-Tarnovo governor Smail Aga. The wooden building of this chapel was remade into a solid temple in 1836-37.
The third Elena sanctuary is the temple “The Birth of Holy Virgin”.
147 cultural monuments were preserved in Elena, 7 out of them are of national importance: The native house of Ilarion Makareopolski. Of all preserved old houses in Elena, the house-museum "Ilarion Makareopolski" is the most interesting. It is located on 2 Doyno Gramatik Street. It is a cultural monument of national importance. The fighter for independence of the church, Ilarion Makariopolski, his brother Nikola Mihaylovski - a prominent erudite and cultural renaissance figure, and his son, the poet satirist Stoyan Mihaylovski, were born in that house. In one of its rooms, Elena`s cultural club “Napredak” was founded in 1863.
The Clock Tower – If you visit Elena, it is impossible to miss to hear the Clock Tower - one of the most important and valued symbols occupying a well-deserved place in the town crest. It was built in 1812 by an unknown master-builder. The tower functions to this very day, noting with a chime every hour. It is 15 meters high, seen from every point of he town.
Daskalolivnitsata was the first modern class school in Bulgaria opened in the town of Elena in 1844. It was housed in a specially constructed building - one of the first public buildings in Elena, which is a monument of culture today.
The architectural and historical complex "Daskalolivnitsata" is located in the centre of the town of Elena. Part of the complex is the school building, the church "St. Nikola" and the Kamburov Inn. The church "The Assumption of Holy Virgin” is located in the yard of the historic complex.
The complex is part of the 100 national tourist sites.
The church "St. Nikola" - The first sacred place of Elena is the old church "St. Nikola". It existed before the 16th century. It was decorated completely by the famous Elena icon-painters of that time – David and Yyakov. Highly valued are also the wooden iconostasis and the bishop’s stall in the church.
The church temple “The Assumption of Holy Virgin” - A new chapel named “The Assumption of Holy Virgin” was built in 1800 with the permission of Rousse-Tarnovo governor Smail Aga. The wooden building of this chapel was remade into a solid temple in 1836-37.
The five houses of Razsukanov - The five Razsukanov's or the five Hadzhidimitrov's Houses, located on “Sava Katrafilov” Street, are monuments of culture with national importance. They are a very interesting architectural ensemble of five houses under one roof. The houses were built from Hadji Dimitar Razsukanov for his five sons.
Popnikolov's House is one of the most distinctive houses in Elena. It was built in the first half of the 19th century - around the year 1830. In the first years after the Liberation, the technical service of the town was placed there, that is why it is also known as “The Old Engineering House”. It is a three-storey building with a ground floor and two additional floors. On the ground floor, there were two workshops with stone walls, and the floors above it were residential. The house is a cultural monument of national importance.
There are several natural attractions near Elena:
Markov - Raiuv Stone - a huge stone that was said to be thrown there by the strong King Marko;
An eco trail, beginning at 3 km south of Elena in the direction of the passage Elena - Tvarditsa, leads to the sanctuary "Markov-Raiuv Stone". The sanctuary is located on the crest of a 740 m hill, surrounded by an oak-hornbeam forest on all sides.
Markov Stone is a rock, as if attached by a human hand on a few smaller stones on the crest of the hill. Its dimensions are - 6 m long, 3.5 m wide and 3.2 m high.
The waterfall of Hristivtsi is located at the Miykovska River, on the territory of the Elena Balkan. It was declared a protected natural site in 1974.
The Peak of Chumerna is one of the highest peaks in the Central Balkan Mountains - 1536 m. It is a secluded peak in the Elena-Tvardishki part of the mountain. Ski slopes with comfortable ski lifts were built there.
Other peaks in the vicinity of Elena are Ostrets and Simanovo, which you can also climb up to have a walk in the mountains.
Yovkovtsi Dam Lake is located near the town of Elena for fishing enthusiasts. /photos/
We offer a tennis court for playing tennis.
On 1st May, a traditional feast takes place on the meadow of the village of Neiuvtsi; it is famous for the rich concert program and public merriment.
Before the official holiday of the town of Elena, the beauty contest “The Queen of Elena” takes place, the victress becomes an important figure in the feast itself.
On 21st May, the town holiday is celebrated – the day of “St. Konstantin and St. Elena”. The holiday is celebrated every year with many festivities, concerts, contests and more. This is also the day when the graduates of Elena Secondary School “Ivan Momchilov” complete their secondary education.
Elena Balkan Feast takes place two days before July. On the second day, the fair of the amateur collectives from the pensioners' clubs called “On the South and on the North of the Balkan” takes place.
In the town of Elena, the festival of the famous Elena pork leg is held. It will take place from 25 to 27 October 2013 in the central part of the town. The festival, organized by the local council of tourism and the municipality of Elena, is under the patronage of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism.
The event is inspired by the great interest and wide popularity that the local meat product acquired in our country. The meat has a unique taste and its preparation is only possible in the specific climatic conditions of the Elena Balkan. Such delicacies are made in countries such as Italy, Spain and Germany.
