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The Bulgarian town of Tran



There is a place in Bulgaria where life has not changed much in the past 50 years, globalization is very distant, and people speak about development of tourism in the future tense. But if you happen to be going to this town you will be surprised by the magnificent views on both sides of the narrow road. The town of Tran is situated some 70 kilometres in western direction from Sofia, close to the Serbian border. Old villages and mountains around just wait to be found by people with adventurous spirit.

The third largest municipality in Bulgaria – that of Tran is also one of the poorest in Europe. It is situated in a mountainous area with a beauty easily comparable to the most visited tourist destinations in Bulgaria. After leaving Sofia to the west one is surprised by the change in the landscape, which becomes mountainous and green with flowers and herbs. One sees the peak of Rui (1705 meters), the highest in the mountain. The road to the town of Tran passes through small villages with a few old people living there. Their grandchildren have long ago moved to the big cities.



The central square of the town and the buildings around have recently been renovated. The local St. Nikola church is also freshly painted in pink, at the idea of Mayor Stanislav Nikolov. The local administration has been very active in accomplishing its goal to turn Tran into a tourist destination. The town has been renovated with EU financing, Ekaterina Tsvetanova of the local administration explains and adds that the future of the region is eco and rural tourism. “We have marked a progress in the sphere. More tourists are coming to Tran and the new hotel downtown. There are also two new guest hoses and renovated huts, which offer good conditions,” Ekaterina says. There are a number of tourist sites in Tran. One of them is the museum of the Bulgarian sour mil in the village of Studen Kladenets. This is the village of Bulgarian doctor Stamen Grigorov, founder of the Lactobacillus Bulgaricus, the bacteria responsible for producing the famous Bulgarian yogurt. In the museum one can see the first scientific article by doctor Grigorov concerning the health benefits of the product, published in French in 1905. One of the tourist’s sites in the region is the village of Busintsi, famous for its unique pottery. In the past craftsmen had workshops in almost every house of the village.



Even doctor Stamen Grigorov used a pottery vessel from Busintsi to take the Bulgarian yoghurt to Geneva for more scientific studies. Here is more about the Busintsi pottery craft from Ekaterina Tsvetanova:
“The characteristic colours of the Busintsi pottery are green and yellow, decorations are mostly floral. The vessels were carried attached to the wrist, which is very convenient. They were used for storage of food and milk. In the museum one can see the so-called devil’s jug – it has five spouts but only one is functional. In the past there was a tradition of giving the bride a jug like this and she would try to find out which was the correct spout otherwise she was unfit for marriage. Right next to the museum there is an authentic house with a pottery oven and a potter’s wheel.”




In the region one can also see the beautiful Erma gorge. An eco trail was constructed here several years ago and now it is an attractive place for tourists who enjoy great and sometimes scary views.



The gorge offers breath-taking sights, guide Mihail Mihov says and adds.
“From here one can reach the village of Transka Bankya which is situated right on the border with Serbia and the border even passes through one of the houses. Nearby is the river of Yablanitsa but the eco trail there is not in a good condition. Attractive bicycle routes will also be created in the region. “



Leaving the region of Tran we paid a visit to the rock chapel St. Petka. According to the legend, St. Petka lived in the cave above the town of Tran after fierce persecution for her Christian fate. Later the cave was turned into a chapel and the saint became the patroness of the town.