Tsarino

Tsarino is a settlement of about fifty houses, hand-built in the traditional Rhodopean style. Following its gradual abandonment, most of the houses have fallen into disrepair. The village is surrounded by hills covered in deciduous and evergreen pine forests, with fields and a stream lower down in the valley. See Tsarino for more information. 

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Accommodation and studio space

All participants and members of the organisation stay in traditional hand-built houses. Each guest has a private bedroom and studio in a house shared by a maximum of two people, furnished with beds, tables, chairs, carpets, and a wood-burning heater in each room. Most houses have one or two bedrooms, a kitchen and one or two studios. In addition, there is extra working space available to meet individual needs — participants are invited to make use of foundation-owned abandoned structures in the village of Tsarino and the surrounding fields and forests. 

 

Outside, there are composting toilets and wood-fired showers. During the summer, a solar-powered heating system provides hot water. Drinking water is available on tap, directly from a spring close to the village. Clean sheets, towels, and blankets are provided for the colder periods.

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Please note that as the programme and its facilities continue to develop gradually, the amenities provided will be basic but functional.

 

Kitchen

Our communal, roofed outdoor kitchen, situated near the houses, is available for everyone to use for cooking, working, or relaxing. Cooking is generally done on a wood-fired stove or over an open fire. Each house is also equipped with a gas burner to make a quick coffee or tea. Meals can be enjoyed in the shade on the adjacent terrace or under the roof by the fire when it is raining or cold.

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Weather and Heating

Spring and autumn in Tsarino are pleasant, with moderate temperatures and occasional showers. Summers are sunny and hot, typically remaining dry for several months. Winter is the wet season, characterised by abundant rain, fog, and potentially heavy snowfall. On colder days, wood-burning stoves provide warmth, and firewood is readily available. Waterproof shoes or boots are essential during this period (wellies can be purchased locally). In winter, temperatures can drop significantly, sometimes causing water taps to freeze, though they generally stay above zero. When the sun is out, days can be pleasantly warm even in winter.

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Electricity

There is a solar-powered charging station that can charge phones, laptops and other small devices, and power tools and appliances up to 500 watts. Please note that electricity is generally limited and depends on weather conditions, particularly during the winter season. However, there is one generator available for more energy-intense applications, and devices can also be charged in Chorbadzhiysko.

 

Tools

Each house is equipped with a basic set of hand tools. Battery-powered tools and gardening equipment are available on request. 

 

Groceries

Groceries can be purchased in Chorbadzhiysko, which we usually visit for the Wednesday market. For convenience, we recommend doing your weekly shopping together with us during these trips. Depending on the time of year, the market offers a variety of fruits and vegetables, clothing, tools, household items and knickknacks.

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Chorbadzhiysko 

A stay in Tsarino tends to include regular excursions to the neighbouring village of Chorbadzhiysko, located about nine kilometres away (approx. 30 minutes by car or two hours on foot). It is where most families settled after leaving Tsarino. Today, Chorbadzhiysko is home to about 1500 people, including Muslim and Christian Bulgarians, Turks, and Roma communities. Many families are involved in agriculture, traditionally cultivating paprikas and tobacco, as well as the local forestry industry. It is a small regional hub, with good public transport (bus) links and a Wednesday market that attracts visitors from nearby villages and hamlets.
 
Shops and facilities in Chorbadzhiysko include a cultural centre, several small grocery shops (each doubling as a café), hardware and household shops, a bakery, a cash machine, a small hospital, a post office, a police station, a petrol station, a sawmill, a blacksmith, a sewing studio, and garages.

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Support

During your stay, we will be available to assist you with technical support, organising materials, and Bulgarian communication. We can provide around eight hours of support per week. Additionally, we are always on hand to answer your questions or provide advice. Specific project support and any general help required can be discussed with our staff during your residency.