Bozhentsite

Bozhencite or Bozhenci is a village with 100 houses, in which 40 people live, because it is not just a village, it is an open-air architectural and ethnographic museum.

History

The history of the origin and name of the village of Bozhencite is associated with the boyar Bojana, who moved to these places with her children and relatives during the attack of the Turks. After her, after some time, the wealthy population of Tarnovo moved in.

The new settlers turned out to be hardworking and skilled people. They understood various crafts, bred bees, and eventually became involved in trade. We traveled far to trade, even to Russian cities. They sold their goods there, transported grain and other edibles to Bozhencit (in mountainous areas, agriculture almost did not bear fruit). Trade was going well, and the village was considered rich even by urban standards. Two-story stone houses were built, and many livestock were kept.

The well-built dwellings are very well preserved and, after more than 300 years, look habitable.

Attractions

The oldest building of the village is located in the center of the main square. Today it has been converted into a coffee shop, where you can enjoy traditional treats, drink fragrant tea or strong coffee. There are many wells, fountains and other water collection tanks in Bozhencit. There is a private well, if not in every courtyard, then in every small block. Each well has a name, or rather the surname of the family to which it belonged.

The old school building has been beautifully preserved, restored and is now used for various exhibitions. The presence of such a building shows that education was important for the villagers. There is another church school in Bozhencit, which is located next to the church of St. Elijah.

Some of the previously residential buildings have now been converted into museums, and visiting them allows you to properly understand the life of that time. The houses have a lot of dishes, homespun carpets, kitchen utensils, icons and furniture. There are also workshops where a variety of tools and fixtures are displayed. Most of the houses are now used to accommodate numerous guests who come to the village from all over Bulgaria and from other parts of the world. Various fairs and festivals are often held on the territory of Bojencite. Whole groups of aspiring artists are brought here to capture the beautiful views.