Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(ul Vasil Levski; mains 4-9 lv)
Located beside the eponymous Art Gallery, this
mehana
features a large courtyard, good service and very tasty food.
BULGARIAN
Mehana Billaya $$
(ul Marni Poplukanov; mains 5-8 lv)
Up the cobblestoned street downtown, the Billaya
has atmosphere and good Bulgarian traditional food (though on most evenings there's
loud live music).
Getting There & Away
From the adjacent bus and train stations, take a taxi (preferable) or walk along ul Tsacho
Shishkov, veer right and follow the signs to the centre.
From the
bus station
( 603 618)
, hourly buses serve Troyan (6 lv, 45 minutes). Three
daily buses serve Burgas (30 lv, six hours), Sliven (29 lv, four to five hours) and Veliko
Târnovo (7 lv, two hours); more frequent buses cross the Stara Planina to Shipka (15 lv,
2½ hours, four daily) and Kazanlâk (14 lv, 3½ hours, four daily). Hourly buses also serve
Pleven (8 lv, one hour) and Sofia (20 lv, three hours, six daily).
From the
train station
( 634 935)
, three daily trains serve both Troyan (4 lv, one
hour) and Levski (4 lv, 1 hour); from the latter, change for Sofia and the important railway
hub of Gorna Oryakhovitsa for Veliko Târnovo and beyond.
Troyan
0670 / POP 21,003
Troyan, associated mostly with its famous nearby monastery, is a laid-back, slightly faded
town enjoying crisp, clean mountain air. The grand, communist-era square has a relaxed
atmosphere and several well- frequented cafes. There's also a notable Pomak Muslim pop-
ulation. Although there's not much to do, it makes a good base for seeing the Troyan
Monastery, Lovech and Karlovo. Troyan's also close to some excellent Stara Planina hik-
ing paths.
Millennia ago, the Thracians first made Troyan strategically significant. During the
Bulgarian National Revival period, it became famous for woodcarving, metalwork and
particularly pottery. Examples of these crafts can be admired at Troyan's museum.
