Arbanasi village
If you are in the area of Veliko Tarnovo, we definitely recommend you to visit the amazing architectural and museum reserve Arbanassi village, which is located only 4 kilometers northeast of the city. It offers beautiful panoramic views of the historic fortresses Tsarevets and Trapezitsa.
The settlement of Arbanassi village is considered to have existed since the end of the 15th and the beginning of the 16th century. Within then Ottoman Empire, the settlement was under the rule of Grand Vizier Rustem Pasha. A firman from 1810 mentions many privileges and rights that the Christian population had in the territory of Arbanassi – exemption from taxes and levies, autonomous government, protection of the status, honor and property of the inhabitants of the village.
It was because of these facts that Arbanassi was a desirable place to live. On its territory it gathered Bulgarian, Albanian, Wallachian and Greek populations, united by its Eastern Orthodox religion and the Greek language and script.
Arbanassi Architectural and Museum Reserve is the only one of its kind in Bulgaria, where to this day you can see monumental ancient houses imitating small fortresses, as well as many picturesque churches (“Nativity”, “St. Demetrius”, “St. George” , “St. Nicholas” and others), preserved with its original frescoes from the XVI century, turning the village into a unique historical monument and cultural and artistic heritage.
The main priorities in the development of Arbanassi village over the centuries have been trade, education and the organization of educational work. In the 17th century, each of the temples in the village had a functioning cell school, and Arbanassi traded with countries such as Italy, Romania, Poland and Russia.
Unfortunately, Kardzhali companies destroyed the settlement in 1798, and after a while an attempt was made to restore it, but it never regained its former appearance.
In the village of Arbanasi, you will walk along narrow streets between old houses and monasteries, you will be amazed by the fascinating view of Stara Planina, Tsarevets and Veliko Tarnovo in the panoramic park next to the TV tower, and you will ride a horse in the “Kaloyan” Equestrian Base in Arbanasi.
Link to Arbanasi for navigation from Chamurkov guest house.
