Help to renovate an old house in a mountain village near Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    I am a friendly English guy who loves travelling -I've been lucky enough to visit many countries and especially over the last 15 years with trips to India , S.E Asia, South/Central America , Russia,Mongolia and Europe .I decided to buy a house in beautiful Bulgaria and am now looking to renovate it with the help of workawayers ! I've been a Workawayer and had a great time with my hosts and got some nice feedback. I've also done other volunteer work in Ecuador and Spain.

    The house is approximately 100 years old, has some nice original features ,a large garden with stunning views out to the mountains and would make a really nice hostel/retreat centre .It's in a lovely mountain village only 16kms from the old capital of Veliko Tarnovo - I have fantastic neighbours who are helpful and friendly and kind enough to keep me supplied with home grown vegetables and rakia during the year!

    There is a lot of work to be done at the house and I’m particularly interested in Workawayers with experience in dry stone wall repairs/ construction and/or carpentry skills. There is also a lot of painting to be done, repairs, general maintenance, gardening etc.

    There are apple,pear and walnut trees as well as grape vines and home grown tomatoes.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Language practice
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
    Help with Computers/ Internet
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Travellers will benefit from having a real Bulgarian village experience with the opportunity to learn about this beautiful country, it's past and present while helping to bring back to life a traditional old house.

  • Help

    Help

    At the moment I'm looking for volunteers to help with a variety of tasks including:

    * Pruning/felling/deadwooding trees.
    *️️️️️️️️️️ Painting and decorating (must have at least some experience and be able to help with care and attention to detail).
    *️️️️️️️️️️ Re cobbing a barn (clay,straw and sand mix) and painting it.
    *️️️️️️️️️️ Applying timber treatment to barn .
    *️️️️️️️️️️ Dry stone wall repairs.
    *️️️️️️️️️️ Gardening (Digging, planting,weeding etc).
    *️️️️️️️️️️ Collecting tinder wood for fire.
    *️️️️️️️️️️ Concreting.
    *️️️️️️️️️️ Carpentry.
    *️️️️️️️️️️ Cooking.
    *️️️️️️️️️️ Building.
    *️️️️️️️️️️ Help with creating a website.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    German: Intermediate
    Spanish: Intermediate
    Bulgarian: Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
    You can contact them directly for more information.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    The house is only partially renovated but is liveable with a new kitchen fitted and modern cooking facilities.

    Volunteer guest rooms are freshly renovated with view to the garden and mountains.

    Hot showers are available and there's a log burner for chilly evenings .

    Camping is also possible during warmer weather with access to showers and kitchen , I can supply tents if required.

    Meals will be taken together and will be healthy and simple ; salads ,pasta ,delicious local cheese,seasonal fruit and vegetables, fresh eggs-maybe the occasional home made curry. If you can cook too that's a bonus!

    I am able to collect/drop off individuals (I have a van with one passenger seat) from/to Veliko Tarnovo which is a 20 minute drive away and has good transport links to Sofia,Varna and Burgas as well as international rail/bus links to Romania,Turkey & Greece.

    WIFI Internet has now been installed at the house !

    There's a bike available for Workawayers to use to explore the local area should they wish to during free time.

    If all this appeals I'd love to hear from you so please get in touch detailing your skills/experience and availability and I'll get back to you.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    The surrounding countryside is very beautiful , ever changing and with an abundance of wildlife -great for photographers, nature lovers,walkers,artists and birdwatchers.

    The village itself has a population of about 150 people , there's a small shop where you can buy basic provisions and beer,community centre,post office,doctor and a bus service that runs most days (3 times per day) to Veliko Tarnovo .

    A taxi to/from Veliko Tarnovo will cost around 20 Levs ( 10 Euros).

    Veliko Tarnovo- the old capital of Bulgaria - is a great town with a large university, there are many good restaurants bars and clubs as well as a good selection of shops and a fantastic fruit and veg market . There are some interesting sites and attractions around Veliko Tarnovo -the sound and light show is spectacular and shouldn't be missed. A visit to Tsarevets Fortress, the many churches,monasteries and museums in the area are also worth seeing.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

Host ref number: 179222512865

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Photos

The image depicts a dining room with a wooden table and chairs on a rug, a white wall, and a doorway to the right, featuring a painting and a window to the left.
The image depicts a room with white walls, wood floors, and ceiling, featuring two windows, a door, and a built-in shelf, illuminated by a light fixture.
The image depicts a kitchen with wooden cabinets and countertops, featuring a stove, sink, and various cooking utensils, set against a white wall background.
The image depicts a cozy room with a wood-burning stove, a wooden table, and a stained glass window, evoking a warm and inviting atmosphere.
The image depicts a serene white house with brown trim, surrounded by lush trees and a stone wall, set against a clear blue sky.
The image depicts a serene rural scene featuring a stone building with a thatched roof, surrounded by trees and a lush grassy area, set against a hazy mountainous backdrop.
The image depicts a serene scene of a group of sheep grazing in a fenced area, with a few trees and a clear sky in the background, evoking a sense of peace and tranquility.
The image depicts a man sitting on a chair outside a white house, engaged in woodworking with a power tool, surrounded by a serene natural setting.
The image depicts a serene winter scene featuring a white house with a dark roof, surrounded by snow-covered trees and a stone wall, set against a clear blue sky.
The image depicts a serene white house with brown trim, surrounded by lush green trees and vibrant purple flowers, set against a clear blue sky.
A man is kneeling in front of a fireplace, wearing a dark jacket and shorts, with a bucket nearby, in a room with a white wall and mantle.
The image depicts a picturesque town nestled on a hillside, with a rainbow stretching across the sky and a river flowing through the valley below.
The image depicts a serene scene of a person standing in a grassy area, surrounded by trees and a fire pit, with a yellow shirt and dark pants.
The image depicts a serene rural landscape, featuring a rustic stone house with a tiled roof, surrounded by lush greenery and a picturesque mountainous backdrop.

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