Bulgaria temperatures drop and more snow falls

A little bit cold in Bulgaria currently but not as cold as these temperatures back in mid February!

Manor House in Bulgaria set in the beautiful rolling hills of North Central Bulgaria

Here is a lavish, two storey detached house in Bulgaria with a huge garden and swimming pool in a small and quiet village  just 45 minutes north-east from Veliko Tarnovo. Easy access to Bucharest International airport in Romania and Varna and Sofia International airports in Bulgaria

Luxurious House with Swimming Pool in beautiful countryside

The village is located between two lakes and close to the main town of Gorna Orahovitsa which has sights and landmarks such as the Rahovetz fortress and a monastery and has the largest railway station of Northern Bulgaria with two main lines to Sofia-Gorna Oriahovitsa-Varna and Rousse-Gorna Oriahovitsa-Stara Zagora-Podkova. A little further is the ancient and beautiful old capital city of Bulgaria, Veliko Turnovo


This magnificent Bulgarian house has been fully renovated to a very high standard which consists of 160sqm of living area situated over two floors. On the first floor there is a luxury fitted kitchen, dining area, cozy living room with a gorgeous fireplace a shower room and a small storage room. The internal stairs lead to a gallery landing with five double bedrooms and a bathroom with a traditional English bath. One of the rooms has a fireplace so this is currently being used as a second living room and another bedroom as an office. There is an exit door on the landing which takes you out to an aromatic raised herb garden at the back of the house.

Cozy Living Room with Fireplace

The large, well maintained garden is surrounded by trees, shrubs and a green lawn. It has a 50sqm swimming pool, a spacious garage and a partly renovated barn with electricity and water connections and a sewage system designed for the barn conversion. A security system and fire alarm has already been connected. The barn is made from stone and brick with a tiled roof in good condition and approximately 70sqm in size.

2 Self-Contained "Gites" (as extra rooms)

The Bulgarian property is secluded and yet secure, it is next to a valley which overlooks the beautiful landscape of hills and valleys. The area is well known also for its hunting. The most important hunting species include red deer, roe deer and wild boar from the big game species and hare, wood cock, geese, ducks, pheasants, pigeons and quail from the small game species. There is abundant opportunity for fishing in the lakes which surround the property or in the nearby River Yantra.


• Fully Renovated • Swimming pool • Luxury Fitted Kitchen • Southern Exposure • Large Garden                  • Additional Herb Garden • Patio Area • Opportunity for Guest Rooms • Full Central Heating
• Fully Insulated • Spacious Garage • Large barn

Go on, click and see how much!

Bulgarian Revival Architecture in Veliko Tarnovo

This was the street in Veliko Tarnovo where you could find everything, particularly on Wednesdays and Fridays, which were market days and more like a fair. There were that many people that if one tried to throw an egg there would be nowhere for it to fall!

Bulgarian revival architecture in the heart of bustling Veliko Tarnovo

In the second half of the 19th century women from the nearby village of Samovodene used to come to Veliko Tarnovo on those market days, put down small rugs before them, pile up their vegetables and begin to sell them. This is where its name came from The Samovodene Market. Along the pavements from the bakery to Hadji Nikoli's Inn (now a fantastic renovated exhibition hall, restaurant and cloistered hotel),  village women from Belakovets sold milk, butter and cheese. On market days it was one of the most animated places in the town. It consisted of two streets bordered by shops, craftsmen's workshops, and inns. One of them began at a small square known as Oun (flour) Pazar . Today it is known as Samovodska Charshia bazaar and continued along the street which led to the Dryanovo Inn (at the place of the "Modern Theatre" Cinema which was recently demolished). There were many other inns close by; Hadji David and Hadji Veliko, Atanas Yonoolou's and Hadji Nikoli, a grocer's shop, a sandal maker, blacksmith and other craftsmen's shops and workshops. You can still see all these sites today a few doors away from Yantra Homes offices.

After the Liberation from Ottoman domination this part of the town kept its traditions as the craftsmen's market of the National Revival period. Its architecture is formed by stone walls with large double gates; the old Tarnovo houses had glazed balconies with lovely wrought iron parapets overlooking the market and the street.

Samovodska Charshia bazaar

The artistic principle of the Bulgarian art and craft masters were inherited from the traditions of ancient Thracians. They channeled their admiration of creating something out of nature into something unique. They would create art out of any material such as wood, clay, silk, wool, copper, silver and gold.

The unfading beauty of Bulgarian arts and crafts can still be seen today...

The textile art includes weaving bed covers, rugs and carpets. The most primitive evidence of such a craft was noted as early as the 9th century. Nowadays smaller textiles have a variety of aprons, wrist bands, towels, pillow cases, bags and belts.

Typical features of Bulgarian embroidery are the geometric patterns with the colour red always prevailing. With its intricate geometrical figures and geographically differentiated depending on decoration, finishing, colour and composition, it is used exclusively for dress decoration.

The most typical shape is the Bulgarian jug with its elongated neck and its top glazed commonly in green, yellow or red.

Etching and painting are the usual methods in painted ceramics. Circular drawing from straight lines continued up to the 19th century and later replaced by colour painting. 

Since time immemorial, the Bulgarians have carved wood 

 illustrated on shepherd’s pipes and crooks, tea chests, cradles, weaving looms as well as ceilings and doors. This material continues to be part of the household furniture and with skilful hands having become part and parcel of the interior.

There were three bakeries making different kinds of bread; special round flat loaves called pitti, bread rings, buns etc. The bakers also made kadaif, and a Turkish pastry; halva a sweet made from sesame seeds. 

Have a taste while you are there. 

This artistic craft was very popular during the 18th and 19th centuries and the more that were created the more fashionable it became. There was artwork on coffee pots, cauldrons, trays and dishes resembling a string of tiny beads or scattered stars which still continues today.

They are known for making beautiful gold and silver jewellery. Having inherited the rich traditions they achieve a finish to the highest standard. It's the sort of classic jewellery favoured by all people alike.

Only a few years ago an archaeologist team unearthed a gold mask belonging to a fourth century B.C. Thracian King.

If you are visiting Samovodska Charshia (bazaar), you should definitely try fresh Simidcheta which are tasty, colourful sugar cockerels. Masters who work in their small workshops will show you the old techniques that work today. You can enjoy the beautiful handmade items; buy a bottle of rose water or ceramic souvenirs and replicas of ancient jewellery or carving. There are many antique shops and several small art galleries. Nearby the bazaar are wonderful little restaurants who prepare delicious dishes from the Bulgarian national cuisine.

The author's wife on a shopping trip!

Whatever you chose to do in Veliko Tarnovo, dont miss out on a trip down memory lane or should I say Samovodska Charshia bazaar!

Houses in Bulgaria and Russian Buyers are growing!

Bulgaria is firmly established as one of the most popular destinations for Russian overseas property buyers says a recent piece of research conducted at a Moscow property show in 2011. Spain came first and Germany third.

International Residence magazine also conducted a survey of 499 potential Russian overseas property buyers and discovered that 49% planned to buy in 2012, 66% were looking for apartments, and 53% were buying for lifestyle reasons compared to 12% looking to make an investment.

From Russia with love.......to Bulgaria 

The survey also found that 40% of buyers were looking to spend between €100,000 and €250,000. International Residence also estimates that the Russian market is now worth $12 billion per year to the global overseas property industry.

Whilst Russians have generally been showing interest and buying on the Black Sea coast and in and around Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo and the surrounding region, is now firmly on their radar.

Large historic renovated houses are becoming popular with Russian buyers 

The historic quality and luxurious renovated Bulgarian Houses are of particular interest and Yantra Homes looks forward to this interest developing during 2012.

Source: opp.org.uk

A personal view on the subject of size matters! Bulgaria Property size that is!

Bulgaria Properties are a must have British Accessory to escape from a country where Britons are becoming less honest

Britons are becoming less honest and their trust in government and business leaders has fallen to a new low amid fears of an "integrity crisis".

UK's Integrity Crisis

Lying, having an affair, driving while drunk, having underage sex and buying stolen goods are all more acceptable than they were a decade ago.

Steal goods to order or for drug money!

But people are less tolerant of benefit fraud. Probably because it means that there would be less to go round!! But a few beers and then take a risk driving afterwards with the barmaid, followed by trying to get your leg over the barmaid in the back seat, behind your wife's back is perfectly OK!

The University of Essex, which has launched Britain's first Centre for the Study of Integrity, suggests that the "integrity problem" is likely to get worse, because young people are more tolerant of dishonest behaviour than the older generation. The centre will also look at issues arising from recent scandals such as hacking IT such as phones, internet etc.

MP's flipping homes and fiddling their expenses

Members of Parliament Ps' fiddling their expenses and the way banks have conducted themselves and the current crisis!

A separate "trust barometer", published by Edelman who are a Public relations company, shows that trust levels in MPs plummeted to only 4 per cent after the UK riots last year. UK residents also lost confidence in young people and the police force. A lowly 29 per cent believe the Government is on the right path and 38 per cent trust businesses such as banks etc.

The Essex University study found that in the year 2000, 70 per cent of people believed an affair behind your partners back could never be justified; today it is 50 per cent!


The number of people who thought picking up money found on the street isn't justified dropped from 40 per cent to 20 per cent.


The only misconduct of which people are less tolerant is fiddling benefit claims. The proportion condemning this past time has climbed from 78 per cent to 85 per cent, perhaps an indication that people are not dropping many 20 pound notes in the street anymore!

So come and try the old fashioned town of Veliko Turnavo in Bulgaria, there are no 20 pound notes being dropped in the streets here and if you did drop a note by accident it is likely to be a 2 or 5 lev note worth 80 pence or 2 pounds respectively, moral values are high despite what you may read in some tabloids in the UK. Families meet regularly, Grandparents, Parents and children all eat and drink together on a regular basis, children still spend holidays with grandparents in the country homes, no internet at their grandparents just good old fashioned fun and games!

Veliko Tarnovo

A property in Bulgaria costs less than you may think, a house in Bulgaria near beautiful Veliko Tarnovo can cost as little as 5,000 Euros including a plot of land as a garden, not a postage stamp sized garden and a stone barn! 25,000 Euros can buy you a renovated home in Bulgaria.

I reach my Bulgaria House thanks to the snow ploughs!

Well its been below -6 degrees all day and snowing on top! How do Bulgarians keep the roads clear in order that snow tyre work?

Well walking to work today in Veliko Tarnovo, I photographed this before dropping my trusty little Nikon Coolpix L10 which I've had for more than 4 years. The photo depicts 2 snow ploughs working together in Veliko Turnavo, this allows people to safely drive back to their Bulgaria home after a long day's work in town!

February 1st and February 14th, both special days in the wine calender of Bulgaria!

Wine tourism in Bulgaria, this is the region of Melnik

I am an expat living and working in Bulgaria, my passion is selling Real Estate in Bulgaria . I have lived here 8 years and have now settled, living in my Bulgarian house in Veliko Tarnovo. I like to understand and take part in Bulgaria’s history, culture and traditional celebrations when given a chance and on the 1st of February 2012, I was invited to a friend of mine, Lozanka’s name day celebration party which combines with Bulgaria Vine & Wine day. The celebration is widely known in Bulgaria as Trifon Zarezan, from the Bulgarian verb "zaryazvam" meaning to prune vines.

In Bulgaria, the day of St. Trifon was initially celebrated on February 14. Under the Communist regime, the Holiday was largely known as the "Day of the Vine-Grower". In 1968, when the Bulgarian Orthodox Church introduced the Gregorian calendar, the Church began honouring St. Trifon on February 1st , the patron of ‘Vine Growers, Wine Producers and Tavern Keeper’ while February 14th remained the 'Vine Growers' Day.

The men set out to prune the vines in the vineyard

St. Trifon, the patron Saint of Bulgaria marks the celebration of spring, wine and the ‘King.’ Bulgarians celebrate Trifon Zariazvam with folkloric rituals in vineyard villages throughout the country; this day is all about wine, food, friends and family from the village, Bulgarian houses.

The celebration is widely known in Bulgaria as Trifon Zarezan

The Bulgaria wine growing areas get together to welcome the blooming of a new spring. At each vineyard the men set out to prune the vines, while the women bake festive bread loaves in their houses and prepare roast chicken stuffed with rice.

Each vine-grower, leaves for the Bulgarian land to his vineyard with the bread and the chicken in a new, colourful woven bag and with a vessel (buklitsa) filled with red wine. Before the pruning begins, men turn to the sun and make the sign of the cross three times. After the first three twigs are cut, they wash them with the red wine, holy water and wood ashes that they had kept since Christmas Eve.

It is the tradition to get drunk to ensure a good harvest the following year

As the winter chill is replaced by the sun and warm breeze of spring, the people of Bulgaria come together for a major feast. Whilst the men are out preparing the fields for the year, the women in their Bulgaria houses prepare a meal befitting for a king. At the end of the day, everyone gathers on amongst the vines to feast. They sing songs, drink wine and dance celebrating Saint Trifon, and the end of the winter. The man who harvested most grapes in the year is appointed "King". He and his subjects must traditionally get drunk to ensure a good harvest the following year.This day is a fantastic time for travellers to soak up Bulgaria’s culture and typically all are welcome and made to feel welcome participating and drinking copious quantities of wine.

Saint Trifon - God of Wine

There are many different folklore versions of the way this day is celebrated in different parts of the country as well as many different legends about who Trifon was. However, ethnographers are unanimous that the celebrations are rooted in the ancient Dionysus festivities, celebrating Dionysus - the God of Wine, who was known to have taught people everywhere he went, how to grow vines and make wine. The celebrations were accompanied by rampant outdoor games and parties of a very adult nature!