Our Story
We are happy to share a little more about the history of our house and family.
We strive to provide a peaceful retreat, inspiring a more sustainable lifestyle.
The idea of relocatng to live in a village was conceived long ago, when we still led the hectic lifestyle of city dwellers. We realized that we needed regular contact with nature to maintain our health and "recharge our batteries".
We built a spacious house so that there's room for each of us, even when our kids create their own families. It seems we built it too big indeed so there is a whole spare floor left for guests too.
We are not an overnight destination. Our guests plan their stay with us weeks ahead and look forward to spend valuable time in touch with nature. We don't do promotions or run advertisements. We pamper our guests and we are delighted when they choose our place again for yet another vacation.
We are a large family, we love spending time in nature, mountaineering, travelling. We value the warmth of quality family time, mutual respect, healthy lifestyle, and self-improvement books.
We purposely stay away from the "values" of civilization - you will not find a TV in our rooms, nor disposable cups. We create a relaxed atmosphere that nurtures creativity.
Instead of car horns, you hear bird songs. The forest begins at our doorstep. Pine and oak trees fill the air with a mix of fragrances and particles that sooth and heal.
We are a favorite destination for families with children. Sometimes taking care of little ones can get in the way of a relaxing holiday. We've designed for everyone to have peace of mind:
There is always room for the little guests - even if the weather doesn't allow games on the lawn, the indoor play area awaits them with countless toys and books. In the courtyard, children have swings, a sandpit and a playhouse.
As we have children ourselves, we have made sure that there are no dangers for them around the house. The electrical outlets in the play area are secured against curious little "electricians". The pool is fenced with glass walls so that parents can restrict access as needed.
The swimming pool is a favourite attraction for every age. It's next to the kitchen and the barbecue area to make the enjoyment complete.
It's open in the summer from May to September, weather-permitting. The water temperature is between 27-32 degrees Celsius, depending on the month and weather. It is warmest in July and August.
Its depth ranges from 1.35m to 1.45m. There is no safeguard on duty. The safety of young pool users is the responsibility of their attendants/parents.
The pH and clorine status are measured daily to keep the water clear, bathable and at the same time not aggressive to the skin.
There is a spacious dining room with a warm fireplace. We haven't found anything better than watching the snow falling outside with a glass of wine in hand. Perhaps there is - when paired with homemade appetizers and pickles.
During cold days the house is centrally heated. The rooms are, of course, pre-warmed at least a day before your arrival. Each radiator is adjustable with a thermostat, according to the occupant's preference.
As we keep everywhere extremely clean, we would greatly appreciate your willingness to leave your outdoor shoes on the shoe rack provided at the entrance and bring your flip flops or slippers.
Hunger is the enemy of the good mood! How to avoid it? There is a spacious modern kitchen, fully equipped with appliances, cooking utensils and crockery. Oven, stove, electric grill, mixer, dishwasher, fridge, freezer - await for your kitchen inspiration.
If cooking is not your element and you prefer someone else to provide food - restaurant "Iskar" in the town of Svoge (10 km from the house) will cook for you and deliver it. See their menu here: www.iskarsvoge.com
There are also a few modest local eateries in the village, some seasonal, others offering pizza, grilled meat and salads.
The Mala Planina and Ponor mountains offer numerous trails to hike. For the more ambitious, there are also beautiful peaks to climb - Mount Tseria, Mount Serbenitsa, Mount Prepasnitsa, Mount Kreta, Mount Kayshov, Mount Grohòten, etc.
The fauna in these mountains includes birds including golden eagle, hares, foxes, wolves, roe deer and wild boars.
Few of the trails are properly marked, but we will be happy to provide guidelines. For your convenience we have created several guides to great places to visit in the surrounding area, detailing difficulty and location. Look those up in our blog on the home page.