Description of the attraction
Bozhentsite is a village in the Gabrovo region in the northern part of the country, 8 km from the town of Tryavna and 15 km from the town of Gabrovo.
Bozhentsite was founded after the Turkish invasion of Tarnovo in the 16th century. Then most of the inhabitants fled from the capital of Bulgaria, who later settled in the distant and inaccessible regions of the Balkans. Meanwhile, a noblewoman named Bozhana settles down with her family in the place where the village named after her will later appear. The settlement is gradually growing and gaining strength. In the 18th century, there was an important trading point here. The main products were wool, animal skins, wax and honey. The Roman path led from Bozhentsite to Gabrovo, and on the other side of the village there was a mountain road, along which one could get to Tryavna.
The development of the factory industry after the Liberation had a strong influence on the activities of local artisans, and gradually the village fell into decay. In 1962, work was carried out on the restoration of some buildings in Bozhentsyt, as well as on the general restoration of the settlement. Since January 1964, the village has been declared an architectural reserve.
Since during the years of Ottoman rule, there were many rich and influential people among the settlers of Bozhentsite, most of the houses in the village have two floors. The first was usually intended for trade, the second for housing. The presence of a veranda decorated with stone slabs, carved wooden decor elements, etc. is characteristic. All sidewalks in Bozhentsyt are lined with cobblestones.
An outstanding example of Renaissance architecture is the three-aisled Basilica of the Prophet Elijah. The church was built in 1839. The influential inhabitants of the village received permission to build a tower near it, despite the strict prohibition that existed during the years of Turkish slavery. Not far from the temple there is a school built in 1872. It is a massive structure that was later converted into a gallery. There is a library on the first floor and classrooms on the second.
Bozhentsite is one of the hundred national tourist sites in Bulgaria and is popular with tourists. About 25 thousand people visit the reserve annually.
