Troyan monastery, Bulgaria's third largest, is in the village of Oreshak, in a rural hilly area. It was founded in the fifteenth century, but its church was built 400 years later. A fact which doesn't prevent this church from being highly interesting, especially thanks to the frescoes by famous Zahari Zograf, the outstanding artist from the 19th century .. The depiction of hell (on the outside wall) is very detailed and vivid, with sinners being prodded, poked and thrown into flames. A "vrachka" (some kind of wise woman who is treating patients with herbal remedies) is drawn receiving her medicine from a demon defecating directly in her hand…
Koprivshtitsa is set in a wooden valley. It has lovely half timbered houses, which remind one of Turkish konaks, but with more elaborated rounded features. This is called "National Revival style", and was born in Plovdiv. The town tends to be crowded with visitors, as the place has huge historical significance for the Bulgarians: this is the place where the April Rising of 1876 (which finally triggered the Russian intervention and Bulgaria's independence) started.