Offers » Adventures » Feel the Spirit of Ancient Melnik near Rojen Monastery

The Spirit of Ancient Melnik Package is the most original way for you and your guests to experience the traditions from the past.

It includes a folklore program with live music, fascinating stories about the culture of the Macedonian region, combined with delicious food, so typical of Melnik , that had satiated our ancestors for hundreds of years, and the clearest wine, that used to elate their hearts. We invite you to feel like one of us, being a guest of the Kamenarov family (Formation Leb i Vino – artists, whose cultural activity is significant to the region and outside it) and the hospitable inn-keeper Blago (from Rojen Inn, the village of Rojen).

The lunch or dinner for tourist groups consists of specially arranged dishes on a common table, as tradition requires. The pleasant setting of Mehana Rojenski Han (Rojen Inn and Tavern) is complemented by Leb I Vino`s musical performances.

Short Information:

1. Folklore Program – presentation of authentic musical instruments by playing them (2 types of tambura, dvoyanka, gaida, tarambuka and others), a capella songs (harvest-time, bee-time, comitadji) and demonstration of typical dances (maleshevsko, djanguritsa, chetvorka, tup-tam, shirto, tarchi-laji and others). Additional musical performances for the guests` good spirits.
2. Story – explanation of the songs and their content (lyrics), detailed introduction to every instrument and its principle, and to the costumes and their meaning.
3. Workshop – Under Leb I Vino`s instructions the group can try to dance an accessibly explained traditional dance (horo). If they wish, group members can try to play a traditional instrument.

The package includes a free visit to the Leb I Vino Studio, Melnik, for a demonstation of crafts and an exhibition of icons, textile, painted Pirin stone plates and folklore theme paintings. The visit and its duration is optional for the tourists, after an arrangement for the day and time.

The Spirit of Ancient Melnik package price for 30-35 people is: 1085 BGN.

The price includes:

• The Spirit of Ancient Melnik Folklore Program, Story and Workshop
• Tasting of 3 selections of wine (Shiroka Melnishka – homemade wine: 100g, Menik 55: 100g, Shiroka Melnishka with Merlot or Cabernet: 100g) and discussion about the wine production in the region
• Soft and alcohol drinks – lemonade, airan, tea with honey, rakia: 50g
• Salads – baked peppers, eggplant puree, lutenitsa (homemade puree from tomatoes and peppers), Easter salad (lettuce and eggs)
• Appetizers – rice and minced meat, wrapped in vine leafs, peppers, filled with beans, peppers, filled with eggs and cheese, red tomatoes, filled with urda, beans in a pot
• Soups: Nettle soups, kurban chorba (Lamb soup)
• Dishes: Lamb with fresh onions, Lamb Rojen (paper grill), grilled veal in a pumpkin, hare (rustic style), vegetarian gyuvetch (hotchpotch)
• Deserts – ashure (wheat specialty), pumpkin pastry, cheese pastry, semolina and khalva, sheep yoghurt with fig jam, honey pie
• A traditional welcome with round loaf of bread and salt

If you wish, you can discard or replace a dish with another one from the Master Chef`s menu

The guide, the interpreter and the driver are not charged for the package, when included in the total number of people. Otherwise they receive a 10% discount.

Note: Please, inform your guests that no photographs, video or audio recordings are allowed during the musical performances. Memory photos can be taken afterwards.
The Spirit of Ancient Melnik Program is different from similar programs, it is not a fun show or an attraction, but a presentation of a part of a millennial tradition and culture. We would like the guests in our region to respect, understand and appreciate this wealth of a National and Universal value.