Zaya: Guesthouses, Village Life and History

Zaya lies on high ridges north of the Dryanovska River, with panoramic views stretching toward the Stara Planina. The village is about four kilometers east of Dryanovo, on the main road between Veliko Tarnovo and Gabrovo. If you are planning your journey, check current road conditions.

Guesthouses and finding accommodation

As of August 16, 2026, five guesthouses were listed for Zaya: “Dvata Shtarkela,” “Mehandzhiyska Kashta,” “Zaedno,” “Tibor,” and “DAR.” Check current availability before booking. According to its description, Guesthouse Tibor is near Dryanovo, Dryanovo Monastery, and Bacho Kiro Cave.

Village life and ethnographic collection

Since 2019, the ethnographic collection “Life in the Bulgarian Village, 19th–20th Centuries” has been housed at Zaya’s community center. It is registered with the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture and is visited by children and adults from Bulgaria and abroad. Its title focuses on life in the Bulgarian village in the 19th and 20th centuries. The collection includes more than 180 objects donated by local residents, and new materials are continually added. The collection is therefore still growing and is not limited to a closed selection.

The community center’s program includes recurring traditional celebrations, including Zarazan, Christmas and New Year, as well as a harvest festival. At larger celebrations, amateur theater and other performances add to the program. If you are planning a trip around a celebration, check the specific event dates in advance.

Crafts and wedding customs

Zaya’s craft traditions include fulling and stone cutting. Fulling involves compacting fabric; stone cutting refers to the craft of working stone. Historical wedding customs also offer a glimpse into local traditions: in a ritual passed down through the generations, the bride sprinkled water with millet, basil, and a coin, then overturned the vessel at the entrance to the house. Guests also brought specially baked breads and cooked chickens to weddings. Crafts and celebratory customs show two different sides of historical everyday life.

Roman traces and school history

Gera is associated with a Roman road and a road station, which later developed into a small Roman trading settlement. Large clay vessels, clay water pipes, and Roman coins are considered evidence of a Roman settlement there. These finds add material evidence to the history of the road and trade.

The Otets Paisii School in Zaya also has a long history: it opened in 1887; construction began in 1882 and was completed in 1888. In addition to children from Zaya, children from neighboring villages also attended the school. The school opened between the start and completion of its construction.

Discover more destinations: Elentsite, Manoya, Dryanovo, Peyna, Kereka, Gostilitsa, Katrandzhii, Tsareva Livada

For the broader travel overview: Dryanovo.