This renovated two storey house is perched on the edge of traditional Merdanya village in central Bulgaria (near Veliko Turnovo) with a brand new, large underground pool. Upstairs, it has two double bedrooms with French doors opening onto a large balcony with wonderful views across the Stara Planina foothills - perfect for morning coffee or that evening glass of wine - a bathroom and a twin room. Downstairs has a spacious open plan layout between the living room, dining room and kitchen with all modern amenities, plus a bathroom. This is the place to go if you want to get away from it all and re-charge in pristine countryside in a part of Europe where life is still slow and deeply traditional.
There is a large stone wall garden, cable TV, DVD player, washing machine, underground pool, wifi, badminton net and 4 racquets, some kids’ games and books, barbecue, fire pit and hammock.
In the heart of traditional rural Bulgaria, this is a true country idyll with herds of goats and friendly neighbours producing their own honey and wine. We have a local agent who looks after all our guests needs, also a friend in nearby Hotnitsa who runs local cultural tours, and a friendly taxi driver who will also double as a pizza delivery man. Merdanya is a small authentic Bulgarian village - expect to see wattle and daub houses, babushkas in head scarves, herds of goats and the odd horse-pulled cart. Nearly every villager grows their own food so the gardens are full of proudly tended corn, peppers and vines.
The house is an easy 10 minute walk to the centre of the village, where you can pick up daily essentials.There are two little grocery/general stores which are good for food basics including bread, cheese, salad, coffee, beer wine, local deli provisions, sweets etc. Other shops include an ironmonger, two café / bars,a pottery (where visits can be arranged) and a fish shop. Local supplies are just that – local – so whatever is in season is in the shops - and fantastically fresh and full of flavour. And the default method of food production is organic in small plots and gardens.
The historic city of Veliko Turnovo - which was the medieval capital of Bulgaria and an important cultural centre - is just 15 minutes drive away with its bars, cafés, restaurants, banks, shops etc. There are some stunning nature walks in the area, plus a beautiful monastery high on a hilltop nearby, plus horse riding, birdwatching, archery and fishing all nearby. We can help organise all of these.
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Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is no carbon monoxide detector on the property, but there are gas appliances; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
We should mention
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property
About the area
Merdanya
Located in Lyaskovets, this villa is in a rural area. State Art Museum and Museum of National Revival & Constituent Assembly are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Tsarevets Fortress and Sarafkina Kâshta. Discover the area's water adventures with fishing and swimming nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with horse riding and mountain biking.
Veliko Tarnovo University - 18 min drive - 17.2 km
Tsarevets Fortress - 18 min drive - 17.5 km
SS. Forty Martyrs Church - 19 min drive - 17.9 km
Samovodska Charshia - 19 min drive - 17.9 km
Sveti Kiril & Metodii Church - 21 min drive - 19.0 km
Getting around
Gorna Orechovitsa Station - 16 min drive
Restaurants
Сръбска скара Express - 10 min drive
Ресторант "Язовира - 12 min drive
Малка зимна сбирка ПКБ Лесопарка - 12 min drive
Noar - 10 min drive
Механа Централ, Лясовец - 10 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Does Beautiful holiday home In idyllic Bulgaria have a pool?
Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.
How much does it cost to stay at Beautiful holiday home In idyllic Bulgaria?
As of 1 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Beautiful holiday home In idyllic Bulgaria on 3 Apr 2026 start from AU$260, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
Is Beautiful holiday home In idyllic Bulgaria pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Beautiful holiday home In idyllic Bulgaria?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Beautiful holiday home In idyllic Bulgaria?
Check-in begins at 11:00 AM.
What time is check-out at Beautiful holiday home In idyllic Bulgaria?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Beautiful holiday home In idyllic Bulgaria located?
Situated in a rural location, this villa is within 9 miles (15 km) of Preobrazhenski Monastery, Chiesa della Nativita and Veliko Tarnovo University. Asenovtsi Park and Tsarevets Fortress are also within 9 miles (15 km).
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We stayed for a week with a family of 3 generations. Hosts were very king and extremely helpful, the house had everything we needed. The pool was very big and well maintained. In 20 minutes drive we found really good restaurants in Veliko Tarnovo. We really enjoyed our stay.
Aušrinė M.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Katie G.
31 Aug 2018
Wonderful pool. Lovely spacious shadey terrace for coffee/ lunch / a glass of wine.
He had a very relaxing and comfortable stay. When you tire of the pool there are beautiful waterfalls and rivers to swim in nearby. Stunning countryside with wild flowers and butterflies. Would definitely recommend this house.
Katie G.
Stayed 9 nights in Aug 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Mar 2020
Thank you for the lovely review Katie! So glad you had a wonderful time - it was a pleasure having you. Come and stay anytime. 😊
Karen and Jon
Property accurately described: it's very rural and the location wouldn't suit everyone but we loved it! The pool is great and the neighbours are friendly (they repeatedly returned our pool inflatables and balls that flew over the hedge!), but there are a lot of noisy neighbourhood dogs, and it was a shame that both bars/restaurants in the village were closed during our stay. Local shops sold everything we needed though, and bigger supermarkets only 20 minutes away.
Kate B.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2025
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Peter D.
1 Sept 2018
Great place to experience the tranquil charm of central Bulgaria.
This place is ideal for those who like to visit Veliko Tarnovo and some other places of interest in central Bulgaria but want to spend most of their time just enjoying the slow pace of rural life. The house is spacious and clean, the pool is magnificent and the rich fauna and flora of central Bulgaria present themselves beginning at the doorstep (several dirt roads lead directly to fields and grasslands between patches of wood with abundant wildlife. In Merdanya, shops, bars, a restaurant and vendors of horticultural produce offer plenty of opportunities to experience real village life - as opposed to shallow touristic impressions. The housekeepers Diana and Zhivko are very nice and helpful, as the neighbours are and everybody else from the village whom we met.
Peter D.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Mar 2020
Thank you so much for your review and we're so happy you enjoyed your stay! (You describe the exact reasons we always love staying with our family, too, by the way...).
It was a pleasure welcoming you to our house!
Karen and Jon
Lovely holiday home, beautiful pool and views and nice villagr
The holiday home was perfect - clean, well equipped, with fantastic views. The local contacts were very helpful and prompt with any issues we had. We really liked the restaurant in the village too, and going out for walks / runs in the surrounding countryside, as well as Veliko Turnivo and other local sights. The only downsides were 1) some very noisy dogs at night and 2) some significant but very unusual interruptions to the water supply that we experienced during our stay. Neither of these could be addressed or influenced by the owners of the holiday home but they did everything g they could to help.
Anne P.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Aug 2024
It was a pleasure to host you and I'm glad you still enjoyed your stay, in spite of those water problems! It was very bad luck, I'm sorry to say. I really appreciate your patience and understanding.
Perfect guests and I would welcome you back with open arms.
La propriété est très jolie, tout comme les environs. La piscine a été appréciée par ces fortes chaleurs. Je recommande vivement cet hébergement. Tout était parfait. Prévoir une voiture un peu haute pour accéder à la propriété et à son charme.
nicolas r.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Aug 2024
Ce fut un plaisir de vous accueillir, vous et votre famille, Nicholas. Merci d'avoir été des invités parfaits, et je suis ravi que vous ayez apprécié votre séjour.
Karen
Das Haus mit Garten und Pool ist in exzellentem Zustand und voll ausgestattet. Es liegt ein wenig abseits der Straße, aber man kann es mit einem Pkw dennoch gut erreichen. Der Pool lädt zu echtem Schwimmen ein, da er sehr groß ist. Eine Klimaanlage gibt es nicht. Dafür steht in jedem Zimmer ein Ventilator. Was uns etwas irritiert hat: In der Gegend gibt es Skorpione, die auch den Weg ins Haus finden. Aber sie sind harmlos. Wir kommen gerne wieder!
Markus M.
Stayed 11 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Mar 2020
It was a pleasure hosting Markus and his family - they were first class guests! We'd be very happy if they did return and we'll make sure those pesky (but harmless) scorpions stay out of the house (actually we've never seen them before! A very special visit :-) )
Nous avons passe un excellent séjour à Merdanya.Nous avons été très bien accueillis par Diana qui nous a parfaitement conseillé pour la visite de la région malgré la barrière de la langue (nous ne parlons ni Anglais ni Bulgare !!! )
BERNARD B.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Mar 2020
It was a pleasure to host you and your family, Bernard. Diana confirmed that you were the perfect guests and exactly what every home owner wants! Thank you for staying with us and we hope to welcome you again someday.
Karen
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Judi G.
3 May 2016
Idyllic country home in quiet village
We had a wonderful week's stay in this simple but lovely country home. It was comfortable for us, a family of 5 (teenage children) and we made good use of the well equipped kitchen, veranda and garden patio. We did not use the pool, although it did look inviting, as we were there in April and the weather was not suitable. We loved the location, in a quiet very authentic Bulgarian village where the people were friendly and the two village stores were useful for everyday items that we needed (good pantomime skills are very helpful here). 20 minutes from the city of Veliko Turnova, we did not feel at all isolated in this country paradise. Sitting relaxing on the upstairs balcony looking out at the view was truly wonderful. Owner and local agent were extremely helpful and receptive to our needs and requests. Warmly recommend the house.
Judi G.
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Mar 2020
What a pleasure to read your review! Thank you for your kind comments and I'm so very happy you enjoyed your stay. We have much affection for the house and village and it's always wonderful when we hear that guests have had the same enjoyment as we always have!
Karen
About the host
Hosted by Karen Ginnane
Jon and I have been coming to Bulgaria, firstly on holiday and then to buy our own place, since our youngest child was a baby and our oldest was two - both our children are now adults. We've had many fantastic family holidays since then - coming to Merdanya is a retreat from the world, where time idles more slowly and days are filled with walks, gathering fallen walnuts in September, swinging in a hammock or exploring nearby monasteries, towns, villages, swimming holes. And eating. Did I mention eating? The food is hearty, tasty, satisfying and incredibly fresh. Every knobbly cucumber and fat red tomato is locally grown and bursting with flavour. And the local wine - which doesn't make it to export - is superb. Mavrud at its best is like a good Bordeaux.
We live in Australia but make it over to our house in Merdanya every year or so. Our beautiful underground pool was a more recent addition, and it makes it very hard to leave!
Why they chose this property
Merdanya is a wonderful, authentic working Bulgarian village. We're perched on the edge of the village with amazingly friendly neighbours, who keep bringing us tomatoes, grapes, cucumbers, honey etc from their garden. We have beautiful views across the foothills from our balcony and bedroom and instead of traffic you hear birdsong and goat bells.
What makes this property unique
Merdanya is a lovely place to hang out but it's also very close to Veliko Turnovo, the old medieval capital which has some excellent restaurants and cafes, not to mention incredible history and a very impressive castle.