If you want to walk in an architectural reserve with authentic Revival houses in Bulgaria without crowds with tourists around you, visit the village of Staro Stefanovo near Lovech. As soon as you stop in the square you will see a shop for authentic products and souvenirs from Bulgaria and the region. You can have a homemade jam of blackberries, an original mix of spices, cheese or the mayor’s rakia /typical Bulgarian homemade brandy from fruits/. Or get a warm scarf for the winter.
Just next to the central square is the church of Stefanovo “Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God”, which is declared a monument of culture. The church was built at the end of the 19th century in the courtyard of one of the local man, Ivanaki Yonkov, the Kurkchiyata, who was among the leaders of Velch’s covenant. The construction became possible after the inhabitants of the village managed to obtain permission from the Ottoman Empire without which it was inconceivable to build a Christian temple.
The church was built by one of the students of the famous builder Kolyo Ficheto – Gencho Kanchev from Tryavna. The icons that will warm your soul are the work of the Debar artist Ruselim Dichev, who abandoned his native village to move to Staro Stefanovo. In the yard of the temple was built at the beginning of the 20th century a school, which at that time was among the largest in the region. 96 of the houses in the village are declared architectural monuments.
And if it seems to you that while you are visiting Staro Stefanovo for the first time it is very familiar to you, do not be surprised. The village is a scene of not a single Bulgarian film, and perhaps the most famous of them is the series “Hook for Wolves” by the novel of the same name by Ivaylo Petrov. Among the plans of the local people will be the opening soon of the cult pub from the strip, which is located almost in the center. But if you want to eat deliciously, do not miss variants, just ask some of the local people and they will direct you. If you like it so much that you decide to stay, there are several options for accommodation.
