Elena, Bulgaria
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- For other meanings, see Elena (disambiguation).
| Elena, Bulgaria | |
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Location of Elena, Bulgaria
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | Image:Flag of Bulgaria.svg Bulgaria |
| Provinces (Oblast) | Veliko Tarnovo |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Sasho Topalov |
| Elevation | 116 m (381 ft) |
| Population (2005-09-13) | |
| - Total | 6,715 |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| - Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Postal Code | 5070 |
| Area code(s) | 06151 |
Elena (Bulgarian Cyrillic: Елена) is a Bulgarian town in the central Stara Planina mountains, 42 km southeast of Veliko Tarnovo in Veliko Tarnovo Province. The area is a popular mountain resort also known for the typical local cuisine. The population of the town alone is 7,200. It forms a terminal for the Gorna Oryahovitsa-Elena railway line.
[edit] History and architecture
Elena is an old settlement founded in the 15th century. During the 18th and 19th century it established itself as a centre of crafts, trade and education. There are several architectural ensembles preserved dating back to the Bulgarian National Revival and comprising about 130 old houses. Wall-to-wall construction forms interesting street silhouettes. The houses have stone basements with white-washed or wooden walls of the upper floor with protruding bays above.
The town's sights include an old first class school, founded in 1848 and named Daskalolivnitsa, where future teachers were educated (and where nowadays a museum exhibition is arranged), the St Nicholas Church of the 16th century, with valuable mural paintings and icons, and the three-naved Church of the Assumption, built entirely of stone (1837). The clock tower that features an antique clock mechanism (1812) rises at the town's highest point.
[edit] See also
- Elenski but, a traditional local dry-cured ham and a popular delicacy throughout Bulgaria
[edit] External links
- Elena.bg - guide to the Elena part of Stara Planina
- Elena.bg - guide to the Elena part of Stara Planina (english version)
- Elena Municipality - cities and villages. Facts, maps, post and phone codes, population
- Pictures from Elena
Municipalities of Veliko Tarnovo Province |
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| Elena • Gorna Oryahovitsa • Lyaskovets • Pavlikeni • Polski Trambesh • Strashitza • Svishtov • Suhindol • Veliko Tarnovo • Zlataritsa |
Image:Bulgaria COA.svg Cities and towns in Bulgaria Image:Flag of Bulgaria.svg |
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| Aitos • Asenovgrad • Blagoevgrad • Botevgrad • Burgas • Dimitrovgrad • Dobrich • Dupnitsa • Elena • Gabrovo • Gorna Oryahovitsa • Gotse Delchev • Harmanli • Haskovo • Karlovo • Karnobat • Kazanlak • Kardzhali • Koprivshtitsa • Kyustendil • Lom • Lovech • Montana • Nova Zagora • Panagyurishte • Pazardzhik • Pernik • Petrich • Pleven • Plovdiv • Popovo • Razgrad • Rousse • Samokov • Sandanski • Sevlievo • Shumen • Silistra • Sliven • Smolyan • Sofia • Stara Zagora • Svishtov • Targovishte • Troyan • Varna • Veliko Tarnovo • Velingrad • Vidin • Vratsa • Yambol • Zlataritsa |
de:Elena (Stadt) it:Elena (Bulgaria) ru:Елена (город)
