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The town of Troyan is a mountain resort famous for the healing of pulmonary diseases. It has a population of 26,541 and is situated 450 metres above sea level on the plains of the Beli Osum River at the foot of the Troyan-Kalofer Mountain which is 35 km south of Lovech. The ancient Roman Road of Via Trajana which crossed the Balkan Range and linked the River Danube with the Aegean Sea, gave its name to the settlement which grew up much later.
During the 19th century a huge market-place developed near the Troyan Monastery and is still there today with a huge fair of Traditional Village Crafts being held from June to September which attracts literally thousands of people. One of the most popular products is the Troyan style clay pottery with its warm and rich colours.
There are traditional cultural celebrations in May and during the autumn for the town, which include exhibits by local artists and a Celebration of the Plum with lots of tastings and competitions concerning the local plum brandy.
There are regular bus and railway services to Sofia, Pleven, Lovech, Veliko Turnovo, Gabrovo and Plovdiv. The links with the smaller settlements are also excellent. The railway station is the last along the Levski-Lovech-Troyan line.
Troyan monastery is 10 km. southeast of the town, and the Museum of Natural Science is 12 km. to the east just past the monastery. Beklemeto is a tourist resort 20 km. from Troya where there are many private country houses, hotels and restaurants. The village of Shipkovo with its balneotherapy resort and mineral swimming poolsis 18 km. outside the village on the Teteven Road. The National Park Central Balkan is in the Troyan region, and 30 km to the northwest is the Sopot Dam lake.
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