The town of Elena (7471 inhabitants, 300 metres above sea level) is situated in the mountain valley of the same name, in the northern approaches of the Elena-Tvurditsa Balkan Mountain (Central Stara Planina). It is situated at the distance of 280 km north-east of Sofia, 40 km, 36 km and 33 km south-east of Veliko Turnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa and Lyaskovets, respectively, 18 km south of Zlataritsa, 28 km south-east of Kilifarevo, 40 km north of Tvurditsa and 79 km north-west of Sliven. A Revival town. History: The region of the today's town was inhabited even during the late Neolite. There was a settlement there before the Ottoman Rule, but it was mentioned as a deserted village with the names of Mezra Istromena (Sturmena) and Iliyana (Elyana) in a document of 1430. It was known under the name of Gelendzhik, too. At the end of the century it was already registered as a settlement guarding the passes of Stara Planina. By the 16th century Elena has already grown as a village. It reached prosperity during the 18th and the 19th centuries as a craftsmanship, trade, Revival and revolutionary centre (in 1860 it was proclaimed a town). Crafts were developed - manufacturing of aba (coarse homespun woolleen cloth and upper men's garment made of it), ironmongers, production of ropes, silkworm breeding and others. In 1854 there were 1000 houses in Elena, a result of an active construction of public and civil buildings. In 1843 the citizen of Elena Ivan N. Momchilov (Russian graduate) established the first Teacher Training School (called "Daskalolivnitsa" - moulding of teachers, by Petko R. Slaveikov), preserved up to date. In 1874 Doino Gramatik made the Elena transcript of Paisii's History. The citizens of Elena took part in Velcho's Conspiracy (1835), in Captain Dyado Nikola's uprising (1856), in the Turnovo Uprising (1862). Georgi Sava Rakovski stayed in the town several times, and the Apostle Vassil Levski came twice (1868 and 1871), and during his second stay he organised the Elena secret revolutionary committee. During the Russian-Turkish War of Liberation the town and its surrounding areas were an arena of fierce battles. Elena was destroyed by fire, but fortunately not completely. The town developed as an architectural and historical town-museum whose future was in the development of tourism most of all. It is the birthplace of the plotter Hadzhi Y. Bradata (the Beard), of the great church activist Ilarion Makariopolski, of the writers Stoyan Mihailovski and Petko Yu. Todorov, of Sava Katrafilov, of the Kurshevski Brothers. Landmarks: The town has preserved its ancient Revival appearance up to date. 130 buildings of that time are preserved, grouped in several ensembles. Most renowned are the Daskalolivnitsata (first teachers training school in the country) of 1844 in which the Museum of the Town of Elena is located. Museum of Revival and the Struggles for National Liberation. The clock tower of 1812, which counts every hour still today. The Ilarion Makariopolski Museum in his home (the house itself being a valuable architectural monument of 1710-1715). Popnikolov's house of 1830 is perhaps the most beautiful building of the Revival Period in the town _ almost completely made of wood. The five Razsukanov's houses date back to the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. The two old churches _ Saint Nikola Church (1804) and Assumption Church (1837) are the work of builders from the village of Bolertsi and are distinguished by the rich wood-carvings in style of the Tryavna School, the second evoking respect by its big dimensions. They are located next to each other. The Art Gallery is located in the home of the writer Petko Yu. Todorov and exhibits a priceless collection of icons and modern works of art. The five Hadzhi Dimitrov's houses, the Poryazov's house. There is special charm and romance in the ensemble of houses along S. Petkov Street, S. Yovchev Street and Hadzhi Sergii Street. Transport: Bus and railway transport connect the town of Elena with the country. There are regular bus lines to Veliko Turnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Lyaskovets, Zlataritsa, Tvurditsa, Sliven, Stara Zagora and other smaller settlements within the region. The town is the last station of the railway line Gorna Oryahovitsa - Elena, through which it is connected to the national railway network. At present there are trains functioning only during the summer season on holidays. Surrounding areas: The Saint Nikola Kapinovski Monastery (at the distance of about 25 km to the north-west of Elena) was founded in 1272 during the reign of Tsar Konstantin AssenTih. It is one of the most impressive monasteries in Bulgaria. It was a religious, cultural and revolutionary centre during the Ottoman Rule. In 1630 it was devastated by fire and in 1793 by kurdzhalii (Turkish brigands) after which it was rebuilt as a fortress and the monks themselves took the defence of the Monastery in their own hands. At the end of the 18th century Father Superior of the Monastery was Sofronii Vrachhanski who brought here the copy of "Slavonic-Bulgarian History" of Paisii Hilendarski made by himself. "The History" was read and copiedbehind the thick monastery walls, aimed at being spread throughout Bulgarian land and enlightening souls and hearts. In 1835 the plotters of Velcho's Conspiracy found shelter in the monastery. The rebellious Captain Mamarchev repeatedly visited the monastery. The monks planned an uprising with Hadzhi Stavri from the Lyaskovski Monastery but they did not succeed. The restored in 1835 monastery church, work of masters from Dryanovo is of special interest to visitors. The Composition "Doomsday" covering the whole external wall of the church is distinguished for its high artistic value. Yoan Popovich from Razgrad painted it in 1840. There is a bus line from Veliko Turnovo to the Monastery and the nearest railway station is Debelets (at the distance of 15 km north-west). There is an entire tourist settlement located amongst picturesque surroundings nearby the Monastery. Saint Iliya Plachkovo Monastery (near the village of the same name, at the distance of 2-3 km north-west of the Kapinovski Monastery) was founded during the reign of Tsar Ivan Assen II, but it was destroyed when the country succumbed to Ottoman Rule (only ruins called "Balaklii" remained from it, located not far from the today's monastery). It was ruined five times and it was rebuilt for the last time in 1845, after the pogrom, which followed Velcho's Conspiracy with the active participation of Kolyu Ficheto. It is namely in relation to the Conspiracy that the greatest glory of this ecclesiastical cloister was achieved. In 1835 the serious merchant from Turnovo Velcho Atanasov - Dzhamdzhiyata (the Glazier), Captain Georgi Mamarchev, Hadzhi Y. Bradata (the Beard) and several other plotters planned an uprising against the Ottomans in the region of Turnovo. A traitor brought the Turks to the monastery (the fundamental base of the plotters). The greater part of the plotters were slaughtered, the uprising was crushed, and the monastery became subject to plunder, destruction and fire. The holy place was often visited by Sofronii Vrachanski and Neofit Bozveli. In 1856 Master Kolyu Ficheto built up the high monastery belfry, the church and probably - the residential part of the building. There are several extraordinary icons in the monastery, the most valuable of them "Christ Great Prelate" (work of Zakhari Zograf (the Icon-painter) is a masterpiece of art. The transport connections are the same in relation to the Kapinovski Monastery. Yovkovtsi Dam spreads its waters at the distance of 4-5 km west of Elena _ a perfect site for recreation, water motor sports, sunbathing, water tourism and fishing. There is tourist infrastructure, too. The regular buses running into the direction of the above-mentioned monasteries, Kilifarevo and Debelets can be used. Elena is a point of departure for hiking tours around the Elena - Tvurditsa Balkan Mountain (refer to the Stara Planina related section herein).
