Zhitnitsa lies about 30 km north of Plovdiv and around 5 km from the centre of the municipality of Kaloyanovo. Horse-riding activities, the history of the settlement, the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary and recurring community festivals offer a range of themes for a stay.
Horse Riding in Zhitnitsa
The Trakiets riding centre in Zhitnitsa offers horse riding and introductory lessons with qualified riding instructors in indoor and outdoor arenas. The training is aimed at children, adults, tourists and recreational riders. The centre was built in 2012 along the Tikla River. Additional areas include pastures, paddocks and meadows totalling 130 decares (13 hectares). For up-to-date information about the facilities, it is advisable to enquire before travelling.
Local History and Church
The history of Zhitnitsa’s settlement is connected with an Ottoman çiftlik recorded in 1646 between a nearby gorge and the Tikla River. After Paulician settlers were relocated from Sopot and Kalabrovo (now Iganovo), the settlement grew around the çiftlik.
The Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary in Zhitnitsa was consecrated on 16 September 1923. During a major renovation in 2019–2020, it received a new interior design and a renovated altar area. In 2021, a new digital organ and a new statue of the Virgin Mary were consecrated in the church. The early history of the settlement and later chapters in the church’s history thus stand alongside one another, each with its own dates.
Recurring Festivals
Zhitnitsa’s festival calendar includes three recurring community events: a carnival on the Sunday before Lent, a traditional fair on the seventh Sunday after Easter, and the Zhitnitsa festival on the third Saturday in September. The dates of the first two follow the movable Easter calendar; the September festival falls on the third Saturday of the month. If a festival is the reason for your trip, check the date for the relevant year.
Food and Wine
Trakiets Restaurant welcomes visitors who are not staying at the hotel, as well as hotel guests. It serves home-style meat and vegetable dishes prepared with fresh produce and spices from Zhitnitsa. As the menu may change, check the current offerings before visiting.
The winery at Complex Trakiets offers wine tastings paired with gourmet dishes for groups of more than ten people, by prior reservation. Booking policies may change; confirm them with the provider in advance. The restaurant visit and wine tasting differ mainly in their planning requirements: the menu at the restaurant may change, while advance booking is important for a group tasting.
Choosing Zhitnitsa as a Destination
If you are travelling to Zhitnitsa for a festival, plan your search around the specific date; for the restaurant and wine tasting, check the providers’ current terms.
Discover more destinations: Otets Paisievo, Duvanlii, Dalgo pole
For the broader travel guide: Kaloyanovo.
