The old monastery school in the courtyard of the Revival church "Holy Trinity" in Dryanovo
- Stefan Ivanov
- Jun 4
- 13 min read
Updated: Jul 22
We are choosing Dryanovo again for our next family trip.
As always, our program is meticulously prepared in advance, the sites we want to visit and explore are extremely carefully selected, all batteries are fully charged, we are in excellent condition and with smiles on our faces we head together to the first of the places planned for the day - the oldest church in the city, located in the center of Dryanovo.
The Bulgarian National Revival Church "Holy Trinity" was built on the site of an older church of the same name. Permission for its construction was granted by a sultan's decree issued in 1845 in the name of Stanyu Stoychev Lafchiev (the amazing Lafchiev House stands nearby).
This is evidenced by the wooden plaque placed on the wall of the temple.
The builders from the nearby village of Kereka began work the following year and finished in 1847. The church was consecrated by Metropolitan Athanasius of Veliko Tarnovo. The building was built entirely of stone, a material found in abundant quantities in the Dryanovo region.
The Revival Church "Holy Trinity" is a three-aisled basilica with a semicircular apse and a narthex. Today the church is a cultural monument of local importance, operating, carefully serviced by the church board.
The temple, the monastery school, which we are about to tell you about, and the neighboring Vaptsarov House (we are not talking about the poet Nikola Vaptsarov) form the Architectural and Historical Ensemble "Gilei" (that was the name of this neighborhood of Dryanovo at the time).
We were extremely impressed by the magnificently carved ceiling of the temple, which represents a unique masterpiece of Renaissance art.
An additional building is being erected in the courtyard of the temple, whose wooden veranda is decorated with numerous blooming beauties.
The cell school, located in the courtyard of the Revival church "Holy Trinity" in Dryanovo, also dates from the first half of the 19th century, although the specific year of its construction remains unknown at present.
This is evidenced by the black marble slab embedded in the stone wall of the monastery school.
Our kind host, Father Ivelin, opens the old wooden door of the school, it creaks wearily, and we, entering, gasp in delight.
The school building itself is authentic, and all the exhibits on display have been carefully collected over the years.
The arranged student desks in the room make an interesting impression – they are really old and authentic, even though they did not belong specifically to this particular monastic school.
The desks are from the middle of the last century. Our grandparents probably used exactly these desks at school.
Each backrest has a special lumbar support for the children's back. The desks are extremely small. There is not much distance between the seat and the desk, so that the student stands upright and it is not possible to lie down or stretch. You can see how much they have been used, because the wood from which they are made is clearly worn.
The upper part of the desks themselves is made of pine, while the lower part is made of beech - a relatively stable and wear-resistant support.
All the desks were in an antique warehouse in Lyaskovets, piled on top of each other, half-decayed and completely covered in dust and dirt. After they were accidentally discovered there, they were brought here, arranged, polished and cleaned.
Various photographs hang on the walls, telling the latest history of the monastery school.
One of the photographs shows a student visitor in 2021. The photograph shows that there is a single desk in the room. Everything that the monastery school building currently houses was collected in 2021, and some of the exhibits in 2022.
The sandboxes are not authentic - they were made specifically for the exhibition, so that it could be shown to visitors, and especially to children and students, exactly what the monastery school itself looked like.
This is a pen with a nib that is filled with ink. You pump ink from the inkwell and write with the pen, so that it doesn't have to melt for each letter, and depending on the pressure, you write thicker or thinner. The ink is enough to write an entire sentence.
Our grandparents probably remember how often the ink would spill onto the white paper and they would have to start writing everything over again.
And this is the place for naughty students – usually naughty boys.
When the boys don't listen, the teacher punishes them by making them kneel on crushed walnut shells.
Here is our smiling host today.
He holds the prophylactic stick – the dryanovitsa tree, typical of Dryanovo. The dryanovitsa tree is a tough and strong tree like the people of Dryanovo themselves.
With this one the teacher shows, and with this one he punishes – Father Ivelin sweetly tells us – Now with it they sweep away the cobwebs in the corners of the room.
The broom is at least 5 meters long, so that the teacher, from his seat, can reach out with it to nudge the student who has fallen asleep in the farthest place in the room.
We received a gift – the inscription of Kolyu Ficheto, an indisputable great builder not only in Bulgaria but also in Europe. It also stands on the wall at the entrance to the room of the monastery school.
Who will tell us what this interesting object is for?
This is not a school subject! But what was it used for?
It's standing by the stove and probably something is being cooked through it?
This is a popper – you put corn (usually a cup) and lard in it and make popcorn.
This is also popcorn, but on the outside. It is placed on the hot surface of the stove. By rotating the handle, the popcorn is constantly stirred so that the salt and fat (or oil) are evenly distributed throughout.
What is this? What is this object?
It is also in the stove. The handles do not overheat - they are wooden.
This is a hair curler. It was used to make wonderful curls in the past.
On the wall hang old faded photographs that tell the story of former teachers and students. Father Ivelin takes one of them down and turns it over. The year is written on the back.
"It's from 1918. Look how none of the people in the photo are smiling - not a single one. Back then, everyone who was photographed didn't smile - that was the accepted way to behave during photos."
In the left part of the room, a household ethnographic corner has been carefully designed.
Surely all children and students will find it very interesting here!
We say goodbye to the monastery school and Father Ivelin and continue with our wonderful spring walk through Dryanovo.
How to get to the town of Dryanovo?
Dryanovo (spelling until 1945: Drѣnovo) is a town located at the foot of the Stara Planina Mountains, in Central Northern Bulgaria.
It is located in the Gabrovo region, at the crossroads between Northern and Southern Bulgaria, near the cities of Veliko Tarnovo, Tryavna, Gabrovo and Sevlievo.
The town is the administrative center of the Dryanovo municipality.
Dryanovo is located on:
212 kilometers (about 2 hours and 48 minutes by car) from the capital
156 kilometers (about 2 hours and 46 minutes by car) from the city of Plovdiv
244 kilometers (about 2 hours and 57 minutes by car) from the city of Varna
227 kilometers (about 2 hours and 40 minutes by car) from the city of Burgas
Dryanovo is located among the beautiful and rounded hills of the Central Fore-Balkans, on both banks of the Dryanovska River, a right tributary of the Yantra River.
The name of the town comes from the dogwood tree, which symbolizes the tenacious and unyielding spirit of the local mountaineers.
The name of the town comes from the dogwood tree, which symbolizes the tenacious and unyielding spirit of the local mountaineers.
On the territory of the municipality is the continuation of the Mikrenski Heights – the rocky limestone plateau of Strazhata, cut through by the bizarre gorges of the Yantra River and the Dryanovska River.
The altitude varies from 180 to 640 meters above sea level. The highest point in the region is Balabana – over 620 meters above sea level.
The city is located on the highway Ruse - Veliko Tarnovo - Gabrovo - Shipka - Stara Zagora. The station is on the main railway artery connecting Northern and Southern Bulgaria - Ruse - Gorna Oryahovitsa - Dabovo - Podkova.
In the Dryanovo region, the oldest traces of life on the Balkan Peninsula were discovered - in the natural landmark Bacho Kiro cave near the Dryanovo Monastery "St. Archangel Michael".
Numerous remains of ancient settlements, fortresses, columns with inscriptions and decorations from the time of the Thracians and Romans have also been found.
During the Ottoman rule, Dryanovo managed to preserve the Bulgarian spirit, with Dryanovo's spiritual centers being among the great guardians of the Christian faith and Bulgarian writing, traditions, and culture.
The old monastery school, located in the courtyard of the Bulgarian National Revival church "Holy Trinity" in Dryanovo, dates back to the first half of the 19th century and awaits every visitor to reveal its carefully guarded secrets.
In 1778, a clock tower was built in the center of Dryanovo, which was destroyed twice.
Dryanovo masters and builders were extremely prominent and worked in various parts of the empire, and even beyond its borders. This gives grounds to speak of a Dryanovo building school.
Undoubtedly, even today, the most famous Dryanovec and prominent representative of the school is Nikola Fichev, better known as Master Kolyu Ficheto.
The city's Historical Museum presents in an extremely interesting and impressive way the work of the most eminent Dryanovo resident and Bulgarian Renaissance builder through the exciting and inspiring exhibition "Kolyu Ficheto - Life and Creativity" - a unique visual spectacle about the self-taught intuitive Renaissance genius.
In his native Dryanovo, master Kolyu Ficheto built several houses - Hadzhigencheva, Hadzhistaneva and Ikonomovova.
Today, the Iconomov House is an architectural and construction monument of culture of national importance, which you can visit.
In his native Dryanovo in 1951, master Nikola Fichev built the church "St. Nicholas".
Today the temple is an architectural, construction and artistic monument of culture of national importance, which you can visit.
In Dryanovo, the master builder also built the stone bridge over the Dryanovo River, which is located in the southwestern part of the city in the Boyuv Dam neighborhood.
The bridge connects "Dosyo Stoynov" and "Pop Khariton" streets and you can also cross it today.
How do I get to the Holy Trinity Church?
The Bulgarian National Revival Church "Holy Trinity" is located in the city center on "3-ti Mart" Street. The church is located next to the Historical Museum - Dryanovo, and the monument to the First Master is between them.
Right next to the entrance to the monastery school itself, there is a small street where you can safely leave your car.
6 kilometers southwest of the town of Dryanovo (about 8 minutes by car) is the Dryanovo Monastery "St. Archangel Michael" - a popular cultural center, educational center and hearth of a patriotic and freedom-loving spirit.
How to get to the Dryanovo Monastery "St. Archangel Michael"?
Dryanovo Monastery "St. Archangel Michael" is located in Northern Bulgaria, about 5 kilometers southwest of the town of Dryanovo and about 15 kilometers northeast of the town of Gabrovo.
A good asphalt road leads to it.
It is served by the "Bacho Kiro" railway station, which until October 20, 1949 was named "Saint Archangel", on the "Ruse-Momchilgrad" railway line. The railway station is located about a kilometer from the monastery.
You can leave your car by the road leading to the monastery, where no parking fee is required.
Near the Dryanovo Monastery "St. Archangel Michael", as well as directly in the parking lot in front of the entrance to the monastery, parking is paid.
What can you see in the area of the Dryanovo Monastery "St. Archangel Michael"?
After visiting the Dryanovo Monastery "St. Archangel Michael" and the rich exposition of the Historical Museum - Dryanovo, pass the church "St. Archangel Michael" and head to the small and narrow door in the back of the monastery.
Coming out of it, climb onto the bridge built over the waters of the Dryanovska River.
There is a narrow path starting to the left of the bridge and winding along the river. At a normal pace, in between 5 and 10 minutes you will find yourself in front of the Sini Vir waterfall.
After enjoying the Sini Vir waterfall, you can continue towards the Andaka River canyon, the natural landmark Bacho Kiro cave and the Dryanovo eco-trail.
For this purpose, you need to return to the starting point of the trail. A few meters from this place, the waters of the Andaka River flow into the Dryanovska River, and across the way you will see a second bridge, which is called "Lovers' Bridge".
Dozens of locked padlocks hang on the railings of the bridge, inscribed with the names of the lovers who hung them here.
Walk along it, passing the restaurant. You will find yourself on the path leading towards the canyon of the Andaka River, the natural landmark Bacho Kiro Cave and the Dryanovo Eco-Trail.
The Andaka River is a small river in the Pre-Balkans, a left tributary of the Dryanovo River.
The gorge that the Andaka River forms in the area of the limestone plateau Strazhata from the Andaka Cave to the place where its waters flow into the Dryanovska River, although small in size, is fabulously beautiful. The river is dotted with numerous wonderful waterfalls, which, especially in spring, are extremely beautiful and full of water.
The path winding along the river will take you to Bacho Kiro Cave - a natural landmark and an architectural and construction monument of culture from Antiquity and the Middle Ages.
The natural landmark Bacho Kiro Cave is a complex four-story labyrinth of cave galleries and branches with a total area of about 3,600 square meters, which makes it one of the largest caves in Bulgaria.
The beautiful Dryanovo Eco-Trail starts from the entrance to the cave.
The Dryanovska eco-trail winds along the Boruna rock ridge and leads to the Bench of Love, from where a magnificent panorama of the picturesque canyon of the Dryanovska River opens.
What you can visit nearby?
Just 21 kilometers south of the town of Dryanovo (about 25 minutes by car) is the town of Gabrovo. In Gabrovo, you must visit the Architectural and Ethnographic Complex and Open-Air Museum "Etar".
Just 16 kilometers from the city of Gabrovo (about 26 minutes by car) you will find the charming jewel of Bozhentsi, which you should definitely visit.
Just 22 kilometers east of Gabrovo (about 34 minutes by car) is beautiful Tryavna, which I definitely recommend you visit.
About 23 kilometers south of the city of Gabrovo (about 34 minutes by car) is the Freedom Monument, known as the Shipka Monument.
About 48 kilometers south of the city of Gabrovo (about 58 minutes by car) is the city of Kazanlak.
In Kazanlak you can visit the Rose Museum.
After you have viewed the rich exhibition of the museum, I suggest you take a relaxing walk through the wonderful alleys of the Rosarium Park in the town of Kazanlak.
In the town of Kazanlak, I suggest you also visit the church of St. Elijah, also known as the Kulenska Church.
Just 5 kilometers south of the town of Kazanlak (about 8 minutes by car) is the village of Buzovgrad, where the wonderful adventure of the "Path through the Ages" eco-trail begins.
You shouldn't miss it for anything in the world!
48 kilometers east of Kazanlak (about 40 minutes by car) you will find the Zhrebchevo Dam. The ruins of the submerged church of St. Ivan Rilski still stand near the dam.
23 kilometers west of Kazanlak (about 25 minutes by car) you will find the town of Pavel Banya.
3 kilometers east of Pavel Banya (about 5 minutes by car) you will find the village of Viden. Near the village still stand the ruins of the wonderful church of St. Anastasius.
4 kilometers south of Pavel Banya (about 7 minutes by car) is the village of Turia.
Here you can visit the birthplace of Chudomir.
On the square in front of Chudomir's house you can see a monument to the Chetnik Tsanko Minkov Dechev - Komitata, who was born in Turia Botev.
In Turia you can enjoy an authentic Roman bridge called "Skoca".
8 kilometers from Turia (about 9 minutes by car) you can enjoy the natural landmark "Kichest Gabbar".
Very close to "Kichest Gabar" you can explore Kutela.
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