Private vacation in a private and cozy atmosphere! BULGARIA / CITY ELENA / VILLAGE KOSTEL / GPS: N 42.8901530 E 25. 9933893 -------------------------------- ----------------------- Experience the power of water, forests and mountains. This summer or winter, spring or autumn you can recharge your batteries in seclusion! Drink fresh mountain water, enjoy organic home cooking delicacies and taste homemade wines and mulled wine by the fireplace. Truffle hunting, lake or mountain river fishing and riding lessons. Take a leisurely hike with us, looking for ancient Roman treasures or artifacts in a historic area. Visit palaces, castles and museums on the traces of the ancient Romans! The Bulgarian cuisine is extremely diverse and tasty. It contains numerous salads, pasta, stews and regional specialties that are only served in certain areas of the country. Many of the dishes are prepared according to old recipes that are passed on from generation to generation. Enjoy the price Includes the brand new range and program from Lux Casstelo Pallast. Main focus of your trip: Enjoyment around the noble tuber: private truffle search with a walk in the forest accompanied by a trufolaio (truffle master) and his dog. Introduction to the technique of truffle hunting, insider tips about the noble mushroom in the kitchen and enjoying truffle dishes! ************************************************** ******** Casstelo Pallast is located in Bulgaria 13 km from Sdadt Elena. The city of Elena extends to the higher parts of the Pre-Balkans, 40 km from Veliko Tarnovo and 260 km from Sofia. It has a population of 6500. ******************************************* **************** According to historical evidence, the Elena basin was already in the late Neolithic period (4000 BC BC) inhabited. There are signs of life from the Thracian, Roman and early Byzantine eras. Elena was founded as a settlement at the end of the Second Bulgarian Empire (end of the 14th Century) connected. After the capital, Tarnovo, was conquered by the Ottomans in 1393, the Tarnovo bolyaren (nobles below the rank of a prince) and the upper class settled permanently in the region because they had their feudal possessions here. In the years of the Ottoman rule (1393 - 1878) Elena gradually developed into an administrative, craft, cultural, educational and commercial center. The main occupation of the population was agriculture, animal husbandry and handicrafts. The s. G. Elena experienced the “golden age” in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Century, when the handicrafts blossom: the blanket weaving ("guberi": thick woolen blankets with long fringes), the painting, the mutafchiystvo (the processing and manufacture of objects made of goat wool), and. a. The city's economic prosperity in the early 19th Century was also the basis for the development of culture and education. In Elena today numerous houses and public buildings from the different architectural periods have been preserved. Almost 200 of them are cultural monuments and 7 of them are of national importance. One of the most important buildings in the city is the Ilarion Makariopolski House Museum, one of the oldest surviving houses. It was built in the years 1710-1715 and is located in the city center. It is a two-storey building with a large attic, which was also the birthplace of Ilarion Makariopolski (1812 - 1875), a clergyman and activist in the struggle for an independent Bulgarian church, and of the poet Stoyan Mihaylovski (1856 - 1927). The building is now part of the Museum of National Rebirth and Liberation Fights. It houses two exhibitions: "Customs and Culture in Elena During the National Rebirth" and "Christian Art". Among the most interesting sights of Elena is the unique architectural ensemble "The five Razsukanov houses". There are five houses built by the wealthy Hadzhi Dimitar Razsukov in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Century. Each house is characterized by its own architecture, which distinguishes it from the rest, but the facades are designed in harmony with the neighboring houses. The symbol of Elena is the clock tower, which is located on the highest point of the city. It was built in 1812 and is one of the first in the country. Another interesting sight of Elena is the building of "Daskalolivnitsa" - the first school in Bulgaria. It was built in 1844 and in the inner courtyard there is the oldest church of Elena and the surrounding area “St. Nikola ". The first written record of the church is from 1518. The interior impresses with a beautiful iconostasis and frescoes. Next to the church “St. Nikola “the" Assumption of Mary "church was built, which was until the liberation in 1878 the largest temple in northern Bulgaria with 33 meters in length, 21 meters in width and 25 meters in height. Another major attraction in the city is the Popnikolov House, which is also a cultural monument of national importance. It houses the Museum of Paleontology, the collection of which includes fossils and minerals found around the city. The beautiful landscape around Elena offers many opportunities for ecotourism. Eight marked hiking trails start from Elena and the neighboring village of Maykovski, allowing visitors to enjoy the beautiful Balkans of Elena. The paths lead through centuries-old forests, as well as to natural monuments and historical towns. ----------------------------------------- Travel highlights: Wonderful green landscapes of the front part from the Balkan Mountains Typical rural areas and villages, as well as the local everyday life of this mountain region. Seven of the most beautiful Bulgarian monasteries, which were built between the 13th and 15th Century were built. Two unique architectural reserves with traditional old houses and beautiful churches, as well as the wonderful ethnographic open-air museum Etara The old capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire - Veliko Tarnovo. Country region: Balkan Mountains ******************************************** Program sequence: 1 . Day: Arrival at Sofia or Plovdiv airport, or reception in Sofia if you are arriving by car. Transfer to Kostel Dorf - Casstelo Palas, where we spend the night. Welcome evening meal and get to know the program and area, the hosts and group participants 2. Day: Today the truffle search begins, with truffle dog and dog guide we go in search and hunt for the black gold. If there is still time, there is also a porcini mushroom search. Afterwards free program of rest hours and in the evening gourmet dishes with truffles and karaoke evening- 3. Day: We go fishing on the nearby lake, or mountain river! Bike excursions or visit a nearby wine cellar at the winery! Farmers market visit only on Sunday 4th Day: Culture excursion to nearby old towns Elena and Veliko Tarnovo. Visit the local museum or medieval castle. 5. Day: Riding and riding lessons in the pastures and in the woods. Afterwards adventure treasure hunt with metal detectors we start a journey in search of old coins. In the evening, a cozy get-together at the barbeque and grill party with a barbeque master 6. Day: Departure transfer to Sofia or departure with your own car and escort transfer to Sofia. You can also book a 4 day program. The process is the same only more intense and compressed. The price includes: German speaking hosts and travel guides. All transfers from and to Sofia Airport or Plovdiv on arrival and departure day. Accommodation and meals including all non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. Full board with organic breakfast, a delicious lunch with regional cuisine and a gourmet dinner. 1. Farm eggs 2. Sausage and meat from the local master butcher 3. Soft and hard cheese from the local cheese factory, made in a traditional way 4. Selected spirits, wines and non-alcoholic beverages for your enjoyment 5. Homemade bread 6. Organic butter and tea from forest herbs from the region 100% fresh air, water, organic nutrition in a private atmosphere with friendly hosts await you! The program can be changed according to the wishes and needs of the group participants and the weather. The house consists of two floors, guests are accommodated on the second floor. On the 1st floor are the rooms of the hosts and staff, the dining room and the lounge. The host looks after you personally at the table during your stay. House capacity maximum 8 people. The price does not include: Arrival and flights to Sofia, Plovdiv or Varna. Petrol costs and travel catering on arrival with your own car Tickets for visits.