Places of interest
Dryanovo Monastery
Location: Dryanovo Monastery is located in the central part of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Valley of Dryanovska River, in a beautiful Karst countryside, 4 km away from the town of Dryanovo in the south-west direction and 16 km away from Gabrovo.
History: The monastery was established in XII century, during the period of the Second Bulgarian Empire. It was established to commemorate the victories over Byzantium and it was named after the St. archangel Michael. During the years of the Turkish rule, the monastery was destroyed and robbed two times (14th and 17th century), but it was then rebuild as a strong fortress of the Bulgarian spirit. In 1845 the monastery was built at its current location. During the centuries, Dryanovo Monastery was the centre of Bulgarian education and culture. The monastery played a crucial role in the preparation of the April rebellion. On 29th Of April, 1876, the detachment of Father Hariton – the first rebellion detachment in Tarnovo region and Bulgaria, entered Dryanovo Monastery. Surrounded by the Turks, the detachments had a 9-day battle and most of them perished for the sake of Bulgaria’s liberty. The destroyed and burnt down monastery was partially reconstructed and on the 3rd of April, 1877 its main temple was officially sanctified. The temple does not have mural paintings; it has a chalice pierced by a Turkish bullet and holes from the Turkish shrapnels in the walls, which were left by the constructors on purpose, so that the past and the Bulgarian sufferings would never be forgotten. The grateful heirs erected a monument in 1897 – an ossuary of the rebels that perished here.
The monastery is an operating male monastery. Today it is one of the most appreciated sacred places in Bulgaria, a national historical monument and a preferred tourist site.
The St Archangel Michael Church is also located within the grounds of Dryanovo Monastery. It was built in 1845, during the time of the abbot and archimandrite Rafail from Dryanovo, but during the battle of the April rebellion in 1876 it was severely damaged.
Monument - ossuary – The completed version of the monument – mausoleum constitutes a “monument construction, whose concept and architecture is very rare for our country”. The plan of the ossuary was developed by the Italian technician Giovanni Mossuti, who worked for Veliko Tarnovo district commission at that time.
The exhibition at the Historical Museum in Dryanovo Monastery traces back the historical development of Dryanovo region and the establishment of the monastery.
Location: Dryanovo Monastery is located in the central part of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Valley of Dryanovska River, in a beautiful Karst countryside, 4 km away from the town of Dryanovo in the south-west direction and 16 km away from Gabrovo.
History: The monastery was established in XII century, during the period of the Second Bulgarian Empire. It was established to commemorate the victories over Byzantium and it was named after the St. archangel Michael. During the years of the Turkish rule, the monastery was destroyed and robbed two times (14th and 17th century), but it was then rebuild as a strong fortress of the Bulgarian spirit. In 1845 the monastery was built at its current location. During the centuries, Dryanovo Monastery was the centre of Bulgarian education and culture. The monastery played a crucial role in the preparation of the April rebellion. On 29th Of April, 1876, the detachment of Father Hariton – the first rebellion detachment in Tarnovo region and Bulgaria, entered Dryanovo Monastery. Surrounded by the Turks, the detachments had a 9-day battle and most of them perished for the sake of Bulgaria’s liberty. The destroyed and burnt down monastery was partially reconstructed and on the 3rd of April, 1877 its main temple was officially sanctified. The temple does not have mural paintings; it has a chalice pierced by a Turkish bullet and holes from the Turkish shrapnels in the walls, which were left by the constructors on purpose, so that the past and the Bulgarian sufferings would never be forgotten. The grateful heirs erected a monument in 1897 – an ossuary of the rebels that perished here.
The monastery is an operating male monastery. Today it is one of the most appreciated sacred places in Bulgaria, a national historical monument and a preferred tourist site.
The St Archangel Michael Church is also located within the grounds of Dryanovo Monastery. It was built in 1845, during the time of the abbot and archimandrite Rafail from Dryanovo, but during the battle of the April rebellion in 1876 it was severely damaged.
Monument - ossuary – The completed version of the monument – mausoleum constitutes a “monument construction, whose concept and architecture is very rare for our country”. The plan of the ossuary was developed by the Italian technician Giovanni Mossuti, who worked for Veliko Tarnovo district commission at that time.
The exhibition at the Historical Museum in Dryanovo Monastery traces back the historical development of Dryanovo region and the establishment of the monastery.
