As early as the 4th-5th century, monasteries began to spring up on Bulgarian territory. In the period between the 9th and the l2th Century, monasteries and the churches were the centers which, during the Byzantine rule, managed to preserve the Bulgarian language, written culture, habits and national consciousness. In the l3th-l4th Century, the construction of monasteries gathered pace, aided by the endless donations from rulers and noblemen.
During the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (13th-14th Century) churches and monasteries played a particularly important role in celebrating the past glories of Bulgarian literature and the arts. In the period between the late l2th to late 14th Century, the monasteries near the royal city of Veliko Tarnovo became the venues of the most significant cultural and artistic endeavors. During the Ottoman domination (l5th-l9th Century), and particularly during the National Revival Period (l8th-l9th Century), the monastic communities played a key role in Bulgaria's public life, becoming animated socio political and artistic centers, embracing the spiritual and material expression of the reviving Bulgarian nation.
Tour Itinerary:
Departure dates for 2010: April - October - every day
Day 1: Arrival at Sofia or Plovdiv Airport and transfer to the museum village of Arbanasi where we stay overnight.
Day 2: Cycling from Arbanasi to Veliko Turnovo where some time for sightseeing will be spent. On the way you'll see St. St. Peter Paul Monastery. After that you will be transferred to the second starting point of the days - the turn for Dragizhevo village. From this village you continue cycling to Zlataritsa and the final point - Gorsko Novo Selo village. Then the supporting vehicle takes you back to Arbanasi, where we stay overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Merdanski Monastery, where you start cycling back to Dragizhevo village and further to Pchelishte. Visit of the picturesque Kapinovo Monastery. Further on the road passes through the villages Plakovo, Golemanite and Natsovtsi. Kilifarevo Monastery is the last stop for this day, where we stay overnight.
Day 4: Cycling back to Natsovtsi and Kilifarevo villages. After a short and challenging ascent you continue to Ialovo village. Then you cycle along Dryanovska River to Dryanovo town. From there you join the main road Veliko Turnovo-Gabrovo before reaching Dryanovo Monastery for overnight.
Day 5: Downhill cycling on the main road back to Dryanovo. Further on you reach the town of Tryavna. In this little town the houses and yards, churches, streets and fountains and the square with the clock tower breathe the air of the National Revival period and its striving for beauty. We stay overnight in Tryavna.
Day 6: Cycling from Tryavna following the road to Gabrovo. The next stop is the open-air ethnographic museum of Etura. Its 18-th-19-th century crafts and lifestyle that come alive before the eyes of the visitors. From here you have four more kilometers to Sokolski Monastery, where we stay overnight.
Day 7: Descent of 180m in altitude will take you to Etura in the morning. Then you head towards Debel Dial village. Further on you continue via the village of Gabene to the village of Batoshevo to reach Batoshevo Monastery nearby, preceded by an ascent of 240 m in altitude. From the monastery you'll be transferred to Sofia or Plovdiv for overnight.
Day 8: After breakfast transfer to Sofia or Plovdiv Airport for departure.
Accomodation and food: We stay in monasteries (days 1, 2, 4 and 6) with shared facilities and guesthouses/family run hotels (days 3, 5 and 7) with en-suite facilities, 7 days on halfboard (breakfast & dinner included).
Practical information:
BIKES: You can choose (depending on the availability) from 2 types of bikes: 1 hardtail performance mountain bike “RAM” with road tires, 24 gears and 80mm front suspension fork and 2. quality road touring bike “DRAG” with 21 gears, 28 inch rims and Shimano components.
TOUR INFO: All bikers receive a detailed roadbook and map. The guide with the supporting vehicle and the luggage inside checks several times a day if everything is OK with the group, waiting by crossroads, accompanying them for breakfast, lunch and dinner and giving them talks by the most interesting sites en-route. The guide is also responsible for the technical support of the bikes. Bikers can always skip some harder stages using the supporting vehicle
RECCOMMENDED EQUIPMENT: We strongly recommend you wearing a helmet during the cycling. You can bring your own helmet or rent one from us. Cycling gloves are also advisable.
EXTENSION AT THE BLACK SEA COAST: we have a unique proposal, which gives you the opportunity to stay on a sea holiday for extra week after your active tour at an incredibly low price in Sozopol, Nessebar, Sunny Beach, Lozenets, St. Vlas, Golden Sands etc. and all this with arranged transportation right after your tour and before your departure flight.
Tour difficulty: easy/moderate
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- rent of a bike
- Guide/driver with a supporting vehicle
- Map, road book
- Transfer from/to the airport
- Accommodation and boarding as mentioned above
- VAT and all local taxes.
Price Excludes:
- Tips, entrance fees
- Alcohol drinks and other personal expenses.
Single room supplement: 80 euro.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Bulgaria
Outdoor: Land Rambler
Bicycle Touring
Church Tours
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