Nestled among centuries-old forests, steep cliffs, beautiful waterfalls and pleasantly flowing rivers, Teteven offers tourists a variety of eco-trails, romance and tranquility away from the big city. The clean mountain air and the chorus of the river have a very good effect on the psyche of those staying here. In addition to its picturesque nature, Teteven also surprises with a rich and exciting history. Located in the heart of the Balkans, it was an important craft centre for the region, and a haven for Bulgarian National Revival leaders with a fighting spirit and love of freedom. I will introduce you to 6 interesting places around Teteven that are worth seeing.

Had I not come to Teteven I would have been like a foreigner to mother Bulgaria. I have wandered, I have

roamed a lot, but I have not seen a more wonderful place.

Ivan Vazov

Glozhene Monastery ,,St. George the Victorious”

The first stop of our trip was Glozhene Monastery ,,St. George The Victorius” near the village of Glozhene, perched majestically on a rock on the Lisets mountain slope. We reached it by car from the village of Malak Izvor. The monastery greeted us shrouded in fog and hauntingly beautiful. It was as if the Balkan mountain jealously guarded its secrets and did not want to reveal them to anyone. Father Nektarios showed us the church and the rest of the premises and briefly told us the history of this holy place. The monastery cat was very friendly and followed us everywhere.

Interesting facts about the monastery

• The Glozhene Monastery is older than Meteora in Greece and is located at a higher altitude than it.
• It is the only monastery in Bulgaria that was not burned or destroyed by the Turks, because of its good location.
• The monks were scholarly people and established cell schools in the village of Golyam Izvor, Malak Izvor and Lovech.
• The monastery had a lively monastic life – they had fields, gardens, beehives and cauldrons for brewing rakia – our national brandy.

A refuge of the free Bulgarian spirit

Our national hero and Bulgarian Revival leader Vasil Levski often stayed in the monastery, because the first revolutionary committee was founded only 5 km from here in the village of Golyam Izvor. Stefan Karadzha, Angel Kanchev and other revolutionaries also used it as a hiding place. There was a tunnel about 3km to reach the refuge. During the Chirpan Earthquake, part of it collapsed when the earth’s strata shifted.

The monastery provided a wonderful opportunity for the development of revolutionary activity and for raising the Bulgarian spirit during the Ottoman slavery.

Eco-trail “Under the waterfall’s spray” and Skoka Waterfall

If you love clean mountain air, light and pleasant walks in nature and beautiful views, then this eco-path is definitely for you. You head out from the centre of the city of Teteven on an asphalt road with cars for about 2 km, along the Koznitsa river. You continue along a scenic forest trail that winds along the river. The final destination is the Skoka Waterfall.

The route was not difficult for us at all, although it had rained the previous days and we encountered some muddy sections. The hike took us about 40 minutes in direction as we stopped frequently for photos.

Saint Ilia Monastery complex

The monastery complex was built in the 14th century, but a few centuries later the Kardjalians burned it down. By a happy coincidence, the church survived.

The history of the fire is very interesting. Deceived by the wealth of Teteven, the Kardjalians besieged the city from all sides. After 15 days of fighting, the locals managed to repel the Kardzhalian horde. Unfortunately, a local gypsy caught up with the surrendered Kurdzhalians, took them over Mount Ostrich, and they hit the local population in the back. Arson and slaughter began.

At that time, the city was so densely populated that the roofs of the houses touched each other. If you started from one end, you could reach the other one on the roofs which helped the fire to spread quickly. At the end, there were almost no buildings left unburnt.

The church was miraculously saved, though. The frescoes in the church are layered one after another according to their stages of painting. I have to admit that I have never come across a more beautiful temple anywhere else. It is richly decorated with flowers and appears to be well maintained.

In 2018, the yard was reconstructed. A new fence has been installed and recreation areas, paths and a swing have been established. You can also visit the church of St. All Saints near the complex but we left it for another time.

The historical museum in Teteven

The historical museum is a must-stop when staying in Teteven if you want to learn more about the lifestyle and crafts of the local population. For the most curious, I highly recommend the conversation organized by the museum.

Altin Teteven

During the years of Ottoman rule Teteven was one of the few settlements with the status of waqf – the possession of a religious institution which enjoys special privileges and protections. Thanks to this status, the Bulgarian spirit and identity of the locals have been preserved. Bulgarians could wear their colourful clothing on holidays and take part in some of the Christian customs. The Turks were not allowed to pass through the village on horseback, settle and be buried in this area.

Far from the Ottoman oppression, Teteven flourished economically and was even called by the neighbours – Altin (“Golden”) Teteven.

In order to make a living, the locals relied mainly on logging and sheep farming. In the meantime, however, all the crafts typical for this period were also developed – embroidery, carving, weaving. There was also extensive commercial activity within the boundaries of the entire Ottoman Empire and beyond. To this day, people of Teteven are known for their plum rakia (brandy) and Teteven brine. The brine is a local fish soup. I personally tried it and can vouch for its taste. If you are a foodie like me, you must visit The festival of Teteven brine which takes place annually on the central square in the city of Teteven in June.

Ribaritsa village in Teteven Municipality

The village of Ribaritsa in Teteven Balkan has a quiet, special charm. It is known as the longest village in Bulgaria and will surprise you with a variety of activities for every taste. For the more lazy ones, I recommend a leisurely picnic by the river, while more active tourists can take advantage of the excellent fishing conditions, take an eco-trail in the mountains, try photo safaris or rent a bicycle from the Tourist Information Center or the accommodations nearby.

Teslata Tavern

If you are looking for delicious home-cooked food, served in a homely environment and close to the river in Ribaritsa, the Teslata Tavern is your place. There you can meet the owner Stoyan Vassilev – a descendant of the first hotelier in Ribaritsa. You will be welcomed in the garden by eclectic retro elements – old shoes, a mannequin on a bicycle wearing a Georgi Benkovski t-shirt and a family tree similar to the Black family’s one from the Harry Potter series.

The Bloody Well in Ribaritsa

In Ribaritsa you can also visit the area of ​​Kostina – the deathbed of Georgi Benkovski. In addition to being really beautiful, the area is rich in history. While crossing the bridge at this very place, Benkovski’s men were betrayed by the old local shepherd Valo and captured by the Ottoman army.

Benkovski is felled by a bullet, his head is cut off and washed in the bloody well. Zahari Stoyanov managed to save himself by throwing himself into the water and for 2 days he hid in the crown of a very tall beech tree.

Our press trip took place with the assistance of the regional association Tour Club ReMark and the financial support of the municipality of Teteven. We sincerely thank all the organizers and our tour guide Mladen who managed to ignite our interest in the Teteven region and show us a part of its magic.

Watch all of our videos from Teteven with English subtitles in the following Youtube playlist.