Zaya: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Zaya is situated on high ridges north of the Dryanovska River and offers panoramic views towards the Stara Planina. The village lies about 4 km east of Dryanovo on the main road connecting Veliko Tarnovo and Gabrovo. Those wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Zaya can then continue their search for accommodation.

Culture

Since 2019, the ethnographic collection “Life in the Bulgarian Village, 19th–20th Centuries” has been presented at the community centre in Zaya. It is registered with the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture and is visited by children and adults from Bulgaria and abroad. The collection comprises more than 180 objects donated by local residents and continues to accept new materials.

The community centre’s programme includes recurring traditional celebrations such as Zarazan, Christmas and New Year, as well as a harvest festival. Larger celebrations feature amateur theatre and other performances. The crafts of fulling and stoneworking are also documented in Zaya.

History

Gera was connected to a Roman road and a roadside station, from which a small Roman trading settlement later developed. Evidence of a Roman settlement has been documented at the Gera site, including large clay vessels, clay water pipes and Roman coins.

The Kaleto Fortress is described as part of the defence system that protected Tarnovo. The Otets Paisii School opened in Zaya in 1887; construction began in 1882 and was completed in 1888. The school also served children from neighbouring villages.

The recorded Zaya wedding rituals included the bride sprinkling water with millet, basil and a coin before tipping the vessel over at the entrance to the house. It is also recorded that guests brought specially baked loaves and boiled chickens.

Accommodation

Five guesthouses are listed in Zaya: “Двата щъркела”, “Механджийска къща”, “Заедно”, “Тибор” and “ДАР”. The Tibor guesthouse in Zaya is described as being close to Dryanovo, Dryanovo Monastery and Bacho Kiro Cave.

Other places in this overview: Elentsite, Turkincha, Katrandzhii, Peyna, Manoya, Dryanovo, Kereka and Tsareva Livada.

To the higher-level travel overview: Dryanovo.