|
Where time has stood still for almost a century
Only seven kilometres away from the town of Tryavna /180 miles North-East from the capital/ you will find a heaven almost untouched by the 21st century. Submerged in the
curvaceous slopes of the Balkan Range is the irresistible, beautiful village of Skortsite. As you leave Tryavna, the winding, narrow road surrounded by tall overhanging trees displaying a wide range of foliage, takes you to the edge of this village that time forgot. Timelessness has settled into this village where houses have been abandoned and where tourists tend to bypass it. There are no cars to be seen, no pubs or hotels and even people are absent as not many people live in this corner of paradise. The narrow, winding cobbled streets lead you down into the village passing revival architecture which is characteristic of this region which is beautiful and authentic and in keeping with the old Balkan style. As you pass by the whitewashed houses, on your right you will see the old house (this used to be similar to a tavern) where travellers in years gone by would stop for refreshments before continuing on their journey. Follow the path down and you will come to the end of the village and to the beautiful church which was built in 1876 by the famous architect Master Gencho, who also built the cathedral in Varna on the black sea coast. The church still has the original bell tower complete with bell and ropes ready for bell ringing. The large wooden entrance door is surrounded by beautifully preserved religious frescoes on the walls and on the archway. Inside, the altar dominates the front of the church whilst the ceiling and walls display more beautiful pieces .
It is assumed that the village emerged during the 14th century following the conquest of Bulgaria’s medieval capital Veliko Tarnovo by the Ottoman Turks. A handful of aristocrats fled the disaster-stricken capital and fled to Skortsite to start a new settlement deep in the Balkan Range.
During the 18th and 19th century the village prospered
and in the winter men travelled abroad to make a living as masons but always returned in the spring to continue building their stone walled and wooden-gated houses. Over the years the villagers have moved out of the village to make a new life in the main towns leaving their homes behind and using them for weekend retreats.
In recent years the village has slowly awakened to new life and recently has had a few visitors, but it still remains a corner of paradise in the curvaceous slopes of the Balkan Range where timelessness has settled in.
/That is what Genya wrote recently,after a trip in Central North Bulgaria.She and her husband David bought a magnifficent traditional house in this area and spend merely half of the year, among the mountain hills ,tranquillity and beauty. They are looking after their plants and enjoying their quality life style./
|
Houses, villa
Land&Building plots
Commercial properties
Hotels&Luxury
Apartments 
