Peyna: Cultural History and Nature

Accommodation in Peyna

The Old Bulgarian holiday complex “Peyna” consists of the “Peyna” complex and the “Chernitsata” house. The Peyna complex is accessible by car. The guesthouse in Peyna has a fully equipped kitchen, heating, a private bathroom, a TV, a terrace, and a refrigerator. As the facilities may change, check before booking whether the details that matter to you are still available.

The visible remains of the ancient Roman market of Diskoduratera are near the Peyna complex. Diskoduratera was declared a cultural monument of national importance in 1967. A route to Dryanovo Monastery includes Peyna and is associated with the path taken by the group of Pop Hariton and Bacho Kiro. The monastery is one of Bulgaria’s 100 national tourist sites.

Nature and active trails

The Dryanovo Eco Trail has three viewpoints near Boruna Fortress, with panoramic views towards Dryanovo Monastery. The trail’s wooden bridges and stairs are currently impassable. Check conditions before setting out.

Bacho Kiro Cave has been designated a natural monument since 1962. The area around the via ferrata at Dryanovo Monastery is home to Degenov dill, cyclamen, around twelve bat species, mouflons, foxes, roe deer, and fire salamanders. In the area around the monastery, climbing involves alpine single-rope technique; the cliffs reach up to 80 metres. Equipment and an instructor are important for this climbing activity.

A 10-kilometre cycling route runs from Dryanovo via Tsareva Livada and Docha to the Strinava Plateau and Dryanovo Monastery. Route conditions and guiding arrangements may change; check them before planning.

The outdoor activities differ in form: the cycling route has a stated length and sequence of places, the eco trail has viewpoints and a current restriction, and climbing focuses on technique and equipment. This makes it possible to choose activities according to your interests without treating their conditions as equivalent.

Cultural history and everyday life

St. Nicholas Church is still active, has the status of a national cultural monument, and was restored in 2000. If you are planning a visit, check access and opening hours locally. The church was built in 1851 over the foundations of an older place of worship and is considered Kolyu Ficheto’s first attempt to develop his own style. Its wall paintings date from 1926; three icons on the iconostasis are works by Stanislav Dospevski. Its construction, paintings, and restoration mark different periods in its history.

In Zaya, the ethnographic collection “Rural Life in the Dryanovo Region” was established in 2010. It presents domestic life, a hearth, clothing, women’s crafts, men’s crafts, and agriculture. This offers a different perspective from architectural and monument history: the focus is on home and work. If you would like to visit the collection, check the visiting arrangements in advance.

Discover more destinations: Manoya, Turkincha, Kereka, Katrandzhii, Dryanovo, Elentsite, Zaya, Gostilitsa

For the main travel overview: Dryanovo.