Let me be clear from the start. This is not a chocolate box village. It is probably more akin to a box of frogs kind of village. It is essentially a working village set amidst forest and agricultural land. Some people have second homes here to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. but it is not yet quite a commuting village – unlike nearby Zdravets and Benkovski.
Now to prevent any geographical misunderstandings and confusion. The village is located in north-eastern Bulgaria in the province of Varna. This is our Avren – there is another one in south-eastern Bulgaria close to the border with Greece. A bit further afield and a lot colder are the Avren Rocks in Antartica – they were actually named after the two villages here in Bulgaria. You might be a bit shocked at the journey time if you accidentally put Avren Rocks into your satnav.
The village is located approximately 300 metres above sea level on a plateau 30 km south-west of Varna, the largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. It has a church (1886) dedicated to Saint Petka and an observatory that I believe is still used by astronomical groups. It was built here because of the altitude and probably also the low levels of light pollution. There are a couple of small grocery shops in the village and a gardening/DIY store. Sadly, the only pub closed soon after we arrived here. I’m sure there is no causal link!
Avren village is the administrative centre for the municipality of Avren, which covers 380 square kilometres and encompasses 17 other villages. Its southern border consists of 20 km of coastline that enjoys special protection because of its ecological importance – e.g., for migratory and water birds such as the black stork. Similarly, the Kamchia Reservation covers 842 hectares along the banks of the River Kamchia and is listed as a UNESCO biosphere reservation.
And that’s about it. I found much of the information on Wikipedia, and just added a sprinkle of my perspective and wit where possible. Hopefully this has set the scene for that which is to follow – daily life in the village, getting the house in order, tending to the garden, introducing the neighbours and so forth.
Psychologist on the Move 