Elena is a town at the foot of Stara Planina, which has a picturesque architectural complex with traditional houses from the 18th and 19th centuries. The village is also known for its excellent local cuisine and as a center of craftsmanship.
The city was founded in the 15th century by the Turks and was an important craft and trade center. Its importance grew during the Bulgarian national revival in the 18th and early 19th centuries, when it grew to the rank of one of the main carving centers in the country. New cultural and scientific trends also reached here, which resulted in the founding in 1843 of one of the first Bulgarian secondary schools. Today, the school buildings are opened as the Daskalolivnitsata Complex, and the exhibitions show the history of Bulgarian education.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Elena's center underwent a transformation. At that time, houses were built in the style of the Bulgarian Revival, covered with multi-slope roofs, with floors protruding in front of the buildings. They are now among Elena's most important attractions. Some buildings are open to the public, such as the Kamburow Inn or the Hilarion Makariopolski Museum, but most are still inhabited. On the ground floors, there are often restaurants, shops and craft workshops, which makes the town look like a living open-air museum.
