Tvarditsa: The Submerged Church and Regional Specialties

When planning a trip to Tvarditsa, three specific topics stand out: the history of a structure, regional products and how to get there. The Submerged Church is connected with the former village of Zapalnya; the municipality’s products complement this historical connection with a culinary perspective. For the journey, consider the Sub-Balkan road corridor or a train route via Karlovo.

The Submerged Church and its history

The Submerged Church lies south of Tvarditsa, beside the Sub-Balkan road, and is a surviving remnant of the former village of Zapalnya. It was built in 1891. After the Zhrebchevo Reservoir was constructed, the structure remained at least partly above the water. The chronology helps distinguish the historical connections: 1891 is the year the church was built, while the reservoir was constructed later. Zapalnya is the settlement context of the structure; the reservoir explains its connection to the waterscape. It was not the reason the church was built.

Shoreline conditions may vary. If the relationship between the structure and the water is important to you, take this variability into account when planning your trip. This keeps the year the church was built, the former village settlement and the later development of the landscape distinct as different parts of the story.

Getting there by road or rail

Tvarditsa can be reached via the Sub-Balkan road corridor, including access routes from the direction of Sliven or Nova Zagora. The Sub-Balkan train route via Karlovo is another option. The points of reference vary by mode of transport: Sliven and Nova Zagora are connected with road access, while Karlovo is connected with the train route. Check current road and rail connections before your trip to make sure the specific journey suits your travel dates.

If you have fixed travel dates, you can check this early in your planning. If your plans are still flexible, you can first choose between a road and rail route, then take the most suitable current connection into account. This lets you treat getting there as a separate planning step, regardless of whether you are mainly interested in the history or the regional products.

Regional specialties and products

Local specialties and products from the municipality include Tvardishki butt, hundred-layer Turkish baklava, tarhana, dried fish fillet, Tunel Misket grape brandy, Cherna Keratsa wine, and seasonal peaches, strawberries and apples. The selection ranges from savory dishes and sweets to drinks and fruit. Two different types of drink are represented: Tunel Misket is a grape brandy, while Cherna Keratsa is a wine.

The products listed are seasonal and their availability is not guaranteed. If you are interested in a particular product, do not count on it being available; keep its seasonal nature in mind. The difference in scale is also useful when deciding on your trip: the church is a single site south of Tvarditsa, while the municipality’s specialties represent a broader range of culinary products. This can help you decide whether to give more weight to the historical connection with Zapalnya or to the culinary variety.

Discover more destinations: Kotel, Nova Zagora, Sliven, Ichera

For the broader travel overview: Sliven Province.