Balkanets: Zhalna Eco Trail, Enyovden and Memorial

Balkanets offers three distinct attractions: the Zhalna Eco Trail, the annual Enyovden festival and the memorial to 13 Russian soldiers. When planning your visit, it is worth considering the trail’s time estimates separately from the festival dates, which may vary.

The Zhalna Eco Trail

The Zhalna Eco Trail starts in the centre of Balkanets and leads to Beklemeto, which can be reached in about two hours. The route follows the Zhalna River past cascading waterfalls and through an old beech forest. It connects to the Roman Via Traiana. A possible return towards Balkanets is estimated at two to three hours. This gives you two time estimates to compare: about two hours to Beklemeto and two to three hours for the possible return towards Balkanets.

The Zhalna Eco Trail lies in the buffer zone of the Central Balkan protected area. Motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs and buggies are prohibited on the route. Before your trip, check the current protected-area and route-use rules again, as requirements may change.

Enyovden and a memorial site

The Enyovden festival is held annually at Aydusko Sborishte in Balkanets. It combines a concert with folk dance performances and competitions. Dates and programme may vary. If you would like to plan your stay around the festival, check the latest dates and schedule before booking.

The memorial to 13 Russian soldiers stands in a small pine park at their burial site.

In the wider Troyan destination

About 80 percent of Troyan Municipality lies within the Osam River basin; the municipality also extends into the Yantra and Vit river basins. These rivers provide a geographical context for the wider Troyan destination.

The Museum of Folk Crafts and Applied Arts in Troyan displays craft products, tools, moulds, uses and decorative techniques. It traces the development of local ceramics from the Ceramic Neolithic to the Bulgarian National Revival and documents the Troyan School of Ceramics. A visit to the museum thus connects specific craft techniques with a long historical arc. The museum also offers visits to a pottery workshop, as well as demonstrations of icon painting and woodcarving; check availability before your visit.

The church at Troyan Monastery also has frescoes by the Bulgarian National Revival artist Zahari Zograf. The monastery is considered the largest monastery in the Balkan Mountains and Bulgaria’s third-largest spiritual centre.

In the wider Troyan destination, Oreshak is home to the National Exhibition of Arts and Crafts. It displays folk art objects made by recognised masters from all the ethnographic regions of Bulgaria. Visitors can try regional crafts such as pottery, woodcarving, pyrography and weaving. As demonstration times may change, check the current schedule.

Discover more destinations: Shipkovo, Debnevo, Kaleytsa, Oreshak, Staro Selo, Chiflik, Trojan, Balabansko

Go to the wider travel overview: Troyan.