http://www.bulgariainside.com/ Articles from category: Elena from bulgariainside.com http://www.bulgariainside.eu/en/articles/Elena/379/index.html <img src="http://www.bulgariainside.eu/images/galleries/th_126x95/b51660f74f0592449b287b89a08f29b3.pjpeg" height="95" width="126" border="0" hspace="5" vspace="0" align="left" > Elena is considered one of the most beautiful Bulgarian towns. It is situated in the northern part of Bulgaria, on the bank of Elenska River. The town is situated 38 km away from Veliko Turnovo. Much of Elena&rsquo;s history is still unknown. Ancient remains have been found in the region, showing that it was probably populated in antiquity. The first data concerning the modern settlement appeared in 1430 when the town was known under the names Eliana and Strumena. During the revival period, Elena turned into a craftsmen center. It was also a cultural center. Many Elena residents participated in Bulgaria&rsquo;s liberation struggles. Elena acted as the only major Bulgarian town that had three churches. Because of their history, the three churches enjoy strong visitor interest today. St. Nikola church is the oldest one. It existed back in the 16th century. The... Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:06:00 +0300